Law Times

PAGE 24 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 Real Estate • Corporate • Estates www doprocess com The Inside Story BARRACK LANDS AT TGF Mike Barrack has left McCa- rthy Tétrault LLP's litigation department for Thornton Grout Finnigan LLP, in a move the firm says will help it deal with key briefs from BCE, Hollinger, Portus and Norshield. "Michael is one of the top litigators in the country and a perfect fit for us," said TGF founding partner Bob Thornton in a release. "This rep- resents an important milestone towards our goal of creating Can- ada's premiere 'go to' law firm in the areas of commercial litigation and restructuring." Barrack was Stelco's lead counsel during the company's recent restructuring, and has worked on trials, arbitrations, mediations, and appeals in courts across Canada. His resume includes a term as president of The Advocates' Society, a founding director of Pro Bono Law Ontario, and member of the Supreme Court Institute. NEW SIU DIRECTOR Toronto lawyer Ian Scott has been named Ontario's new Spe- cial Investigations Unit director amidst controversy, as an im- pending ombudsman report on the unit has critics questioning the timing of the appointment. Scott was called to the bar in 1983 and has practised crimi- nal law and administrative law, acting as both a Crown counsel and defense lawyer throughout his career. The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General pointed out in announcing the hire that Scott has worked on hearings and ap- peals under the Criminal Code and Police Services Act, as well as coroner's inquests. "Ian Scott's impressive legal career and broad range of crimi- nal law experience will serve the SIU well in moving forward," Attorney General Chris Bent- ley said in a release, in which he thanked outgoing director James Cornish for his work since being appointed in 2004. NDP justice critic Peter Ko- rmos told the Canadian Press, however, that the timing of the appointment — Ombuds- man André Marin will release a much-anticipated report on the unit Tuesday — is an attempt to ease any criticism of the SIU. An SIU spokesman told Law DON'T ASK FOR PAY- MENT IN LAP DANCES CHICAGO — Illinois lawyer Scott Robert Erwin has been suspended after offering to cut his legal fees for a stripper if she offered up a few nude lap dances for him. The DeKalb, Ill., lawyer re- September 29, 2008 • Law timeS Bizarre PENIS PUMP was not isolated but occurred over and over again. Briefs By Viola James alized a stripper he met at the Heartbreakers club was a wom- an he'd discussed legal matters with over the phone at some point prior to his club visit. He made the offer to chop his fees if she made some "personal" appearances at his office. In suspending him, the Illi- Times that Scott has decided not to speak with the media until he takes over for Cornish on Oct. 16. The spokesman said Scott feels it would be premature for him to speak on the direction he'll take the SIU before the ombudsman's report is released, and while he's still acting as a Crown lawyer. AIDSBEAT ON TAP It's lucky number 13 for AIDS- beat, and the annual Bay Street law firm fundraiser has its sights set on growing its total raised for AIDS research further into million-dollar territory, all while featuring one of the hottest events of the year for Toronto's legal community. The event will again feature Oct. 3 at the Kool Haus at 132 Queens Quay E. More in- formation is available online at www.aidsbeat.com LT 3703.DD.Law Times Ad.pdf 9/17/08 1:42:35 PM For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com Experience. Expertise. Evolution. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K * *Ontario Search and Registration and Corporate Supplies. ©2008 Teranet and the Gateway design are registered trademarks of Teranet Inc. Dye & Durham and the Dye & Durham logo are registered trademarks of and used under license from The Cartwright Group Ltd. All rights reserved. www.lawtimesnews.com Add to that our commitment to becoming your first choice for search and registration services and watch the future unfold. Find out how you can leverage our combined expertise to evolve your business. Call us at 1-800-668-8208. "I'm terribly sorry Dear! Would you prefer to see yet more pictures of the Prime Minister cuddling babies rather than addressing serious national issues like, say, gun control?" Imagine Dye & Durham's Ontario search and registration services combined with the innovation of Teranet. From searches to registrations to the ordering of minute books – you can do it all with one call and experience the same exceptional customer care you've come to rely on. five musical acts, each represent- ing the city's legal community, in a "battle of the bands" set- ting. AIDSbeat includes celeb- rity judges, dancers, a fashion show, prizes, a light show, and of course, plenty of food and drink. The event happens Friday, nois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission also affirmed that Erwin inappropri- ately touched the woman — al- though a grand jury refused to indict him on a related charge. The bar overseers found out about the unusual financing arrangement after the stripper, who has since left the world of exotic dance, complained when she only got a $534 credit on her $7,000 bill for her efforts. Erwin's suspension was based on ethics charges including bat- tery and that his own interests could interfere with proper rep- resentation of the client. JUDGE DISBARRED OKLAHOMA CITY — Loyal readers will remember one of our favourite Bizarre Briefs about the Oklahoma judge who exposed himself and used a penis pump to masturbate while sitting in the courtroom. Well Donald D. Thompson was officially disbarred by the Oklahoma Supreme Court last week. The court said the former Creek County district judge's conduct "displayed a complete abdication of judgment." "His criminal behaviour is not only socially unaccept- able, but is an affront to the judicial branch of government and the legal profession," the judgment reads. In June 2006, a jury convict- ed Thompson of four counts of indecent exposure. He was sen- tenced to four years in prison and fined $40,000. He was re- leased after serving 20 months. The judge of 22 years had retired from the bench in 2004 before criminal charges were filed. His lawyer says Thomp- son never intended to practise law after that. The high court's disbarment order noted that his conduct VICTORY FOR FREE SPEECH ROME — Italian comic Sa- bina Guzzanti, who said Pope Benedict would be punished in hell for the church's treatment of homosexuals, won't be going to jail for her comments. In 1929, dictator Benito Mussolini signed a treaty with the Vatican that protected the honour and dignity of the pontiff. It provides that offences against the Pope be punished the same way as of- fences against Italy's president, which could garner an offend- er five years in the slammer. But the treaty also has a provision that the Italian gov- ernment would need to ap- prove any investigations that could lead to charges before they could go forward. In this case, Justice Minis- ter Angelino Alfano decided to block any further inquiry into Guzzanti's fiery opinions. "I decided not to authorize it, knowing well the stature and capacity of the pope for forgive- ness," Alfano told Italian media. The Vatican said it consid- ered the case closed and added there was no point dredging up the "deplorable" comments in a legal battle. LT Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@ gmail.com. Confidential

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