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PAGE 24 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com www The Inside Story INSURANCE FEES ON THE RISE Ontario lawyers will pay $150 more for LawPRO's base insur- ance premium in 2009, with the fee set to rise to $2,450. The increase follows a $300 drop in the base premium in 2008 compared to the 2007 lev- el. The new numbers were un- veiled to Law Society of Upper Canada benchers at September Convocation. LawPRO reported that, "Rev- enues from supplemental pre- mium levies (real estate and civil litigation transaction levies, as well as claim history levies) are budgeted at $22.5 million for the purposes of establishing the base premium for 2009 and other budgetary purposes." Also, $4.9 million likely will be drawn from the premium stabilization fund and applied to the 2009 premium, which ac- counts for about $220 for each insured lawyer. There is expect- ed to be a $14.6-million balance in the stabilization fund at the end of the year. TRIBUNALS COMMITTEE EXTENDS CONSULTATION The Law Society of Upper Can- ada's tribunals committee is going to be spending a little extra time consulting with the profession on new rules of practice and proce- dure for disciplinary hearings. Convocation last month back- ed a resolution extending the con- sultation period to Oct. 31 from Sept. 2. Benchers authorized the consultation in May. "Because of scheduling dif- ficulties the committee has just completed the first stage of the consultation with lawyers who appear regularly as counsel before hearing and appeal panels and is now ready to undertake the sec- ond part of the consultation," the committee's report stated. from Ralph's firm, Nancy Ralph & Associates. Ralph is a certified specialist in civil litigation who writes and speaks on insurance legislation matters. She received an award in 1998 from the Ontario Brain Injury Association for her work. The Ontario Psychological As- sociation honoured her in 2000 with a public service award. Ring articled with Ralph's firm and remained there after her call to the bar in 1997. She's a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. LT For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com recent personal injury trial re- sults which are the most notable personal injury cases in recent history," said the firm's Toronto office managing partner Brian Grant in a release, in reference to the Sandhu v. Wellington Place Apts. and Marcoccia v. Ford Credit Canada Ltd. cases. Marcoccia is the highest known personal inju- ry settlement or verdict in Cana- dian history, with a jury award- ing over $15 million. Sandhu, in which a judge awarded $13 mil- lion, is the second highest known result in Canadian history. "And Lerners worked with her on the appeals. She and Tammy Ring are leading prac- titioners in the personal injury field, and bring extensive experi- ence and a stellar reputation to Lerners. We are thrilled to have them join us." Both lawyers join Lerners LERNERS LANDS PAIR Lerners LLP has strengthened its personal injury presence, landing a pair of lawyers with impressive resumes in the practice area. The firm recently announced the additions of Nancy Ralph and Tammy Ring to its Toron- to office. "Nancy Ralph has had two BUSTED FOR BRIBE PORTLAND, Ore. — A lin- gerie model has been found guilty by a jury of trying to bribe a police officer with mon- ey tucked in her bust. Joy Sartin, 25, claimed she was simply trying to pay a traffic ticket, and that her money was in her bra because she' purse behind, reported the Bal- timore Sun. She had been pulled over for traffic infractions, such as rolling through a stop sign. Sartin said she was rushing home to her four-year-old son. The police officer told ju- d left her rors the model had offered him $270, extracted from her bra, af- ter he told her that her car would be towed because her licence had been suspended due to a drunk- driving charge. 'CONDOM-MOBILE' RIPPED OFF MEXICO CITY — Police in Mexico are on the prowl for a truck carrying 800 HIV tests, 5,000 condoms, and a seven-me- tre-tall, inflatable prophylactic. OctOber 6/13, 2008 • Law times Bizarre Briefs By Viola James Polo Gomez, who put to- gether an HIV/AIDS awareness tour, said the "Condomovil" dis- appeared one night while parked in front of a friend's house, re- ported the Houston Chronicle. He suspects the car was stolen. Police are investigating, but the public shouldn't have too much trouble locating the van. It's adorned with pictures of a peeled banana covered with a condom and a half-naked man commenting, "I protect my- self. Do you?" Gomez pegged the loss at US$19,000, and noted the pro- gram has circulated throughout Mexico since 1998. Its mes- sage of safe sex has led to some 1.2 million condoms being distributed to 700,000 people, he added. TWO ROBBERS, SAME BANK (AND DAY) SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A bank manager at a San Diego- area Wells Fargo branch likely needed a few stiff Scotches the night the location was twice struck by robbers. The FBI said separate rob- bers hit the bank about three hours apart, reports Fox News. The cops don't seem to be say- ing how much cash was taken, but it would appear that they had a fun brainstorming session to nickname the bandits. They cleverly dubbed one "The Hard Hat Bandit" — he struck banks three times in a week — because he wears the construction safety gear while carrying out his crimes. The "Chatty Bandit," as the other has been dubbed, has been attached to at least nine bank robberies. Police have been tight lipped on the genesis of his nickname. ROOF RAGE VICTORIA — A man is facing a mischief charge — and mental assessment — after it took police several hours to talk him down from a rooftop, from which he was yelling obscenities and chucking projectiles. Canadian Press reported that the man wearing a hard hat and orange safety vest stopped traffic in Victoria's downtown core as he sounded off on cops and a crowd, us- ing a bull horn from atop the three-story building. He even tossed a computer and paper money orders from his perch. The 36-year-old was eventu- ally taken into custody, and has since been charged with mis- chief, and police say his mental health will be assessed. LT "If you thought it was amazing when I pulled a copy of the Supreme Court of Jupiter decision SSJ No. 08/132, File No. B-44-08, Zumpo the Magic Lawyer v. The Bad Jelly People out of my hat, wait'll you see me, before your very eyes, make this demand from the Law Society for a practice review completely disappear!" Experience. Expertise. Evolution. 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