Law Times

PAGE 20 Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 doprocess com www The Inside Story PRIVACY PROTECTIONS ON THE RISE, SAYS REPORT Ontario Information and Pri- vacy Commissioner Ann Ca- voukian says a series of court rulings helped make 2007 a year of progress in terms of freedom of information and protection of privacy. "I have never felt as positive about the future of privacy in Ontario as I do right now," said Cavoukian last week in a release following the unveiling of her 2007 annual report. "And there have been some very important advances related to access to gov- ernment-held information." Cavoukian said a July 2007 Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that overturned a City of Os- hawa bylaw was groundbreak- ing. The ruling struck a bylaw that forced used-goods retailers to gather personal information from anyone who wanted to sell second-hand items to them. The information was to be stored in a police database without judicial oversight. An Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruling by Justice Ed- ward Belobaba also found sec- tions of the Adoption Informa- tion Disclosure Act breached Charter rights. "As the court noted, the Char- ter . . . 'is intended primarily to protect individuals and minori- ties against the excesses of the majority,'" said Cavoukian. "And, accordingly, in this case, the Charter protected the minor- ity who wished to preserve their privacy." In terms of access to infor- mation rulings, an Ontario Di- visional Court ruling upheld two of the commission's own decisions regarding application of the solicitor-client exemp- tion to legal fees. Cavoukian said that decision shows that "governments should actively disclose information about the expenditure of public funds." An Ontario Court of Appeal LAWYERS ENCOURAGE NETWORKING FOR JOBS A survey suggests lawyers are strong promoters of the power of networking when it comes to landing a job in the profession. "In the tight-knit legal com- munity, knowing the right per- son is often the most effective way to discover the best opportu- nities," said Robert Half Legal executive director Charles Volk- ert in a release. "Lawyers can use professional networking sites, in addition to traditional network- ing activities, to meet new people and uncover job leads." The survey commissioned ruling widened the terms under which the public interest over- rides some exemptions to ac- cessing information under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The full report is available at • Pay it forward — help others within your network of con- tacts, even if they have yet to give you a boost. An independent research firm conducted the survey. It consists of responses from 300 lawyers with at least three years' experi- ence from large law firms and corporations in Canada and the U.S. LT DD LT GRLBBE-05 S&R bw 3/27/08 3:07 PM Page 1 www.ipc.on.ca. T For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "But the Supreme Court won't hear my case until June 24, 2010!" Search & Registration Services ry our Securities Searches/Due Diligence and receive a $25 Cara Gift Certificate For complete details contact Lorie O'Sullivan by email: lorie_o'sullivan@dyedurham.ca or phone: 1-800-668-8208 ext 4541 Offer expires June 30th, 2008. Limit one gift per new user. C eservicedd.ca • 1-888-668-8208 • lorie_o'sullivan@dyedurham.ca Choose Dye& Durham your ONE source supplier www.lawtimesnews.com • Say thanks to show people you appreciate their help — thank you notes or e-mails are all it takes. • Take notes on any new con- tacts for a refresher in the future. • Be up front with your need for help, and have a concise pitch that details your strengths. • Expand your base of contacts by including professionals at different stages of the career ladder. by the legal staffing service indi- cates that 48 per cent of lawyers interviewed think networking is the most effective way to land a job in the field. Other popular job-searching techniques uncovered by the sur- vey include use of a staffing or placement firm (16 per cent), in- ternship (13 per cent), law school recruiting programs (8 per cent), internet or job board postings (5 per cent), classified ads (1 per cent), and other (1 per cent). The service offers the follow- ing tips for would-be networkers: • Make time for networking — it is a long-term resource that builds throughout your career. DONKEY IN THE HOOSEGOW TUXTLA GUTIERREZ, Mex- ico — It's usually drunk and dis- orderly people taking up space at the local lockup, but an ass of a different stripe was behind bars last week. Police in Chiapas state say the animal was locked up after it bit and kicked two men at a ranch just outside of town. Policeman Sinar Gomez said the donkey will remain behind bars until its owner agrees to pay the men's medical bills. "Around here, if someone commits a crime they are jailed," Gomez said — "no matter who they are." bit Genaro Vazquez, 63, in the chest; then, as Andres Hernan- dez, 52, came over to assist, the donkey hoofed him and frac- tured his ankle. It apparently took six burly Mexicans to get the angry burro under control. Owner Mauro Gutierrez is The victims said the donkey trying to reach an amicable agree- ment to pay the $420 in medical bills for the injured men, accord- ing to the Associated Press. I'LL TAKE THAT IN TWENTIES FORTH WORTH, Tex. — If you're going to commit fraud, no point in doing it in half measures. That' MAY 26, 2008 / LAW TIMES Bizarre Briefs By Viola James When contacted by police, the woman said she' him permission to take or cash the cheque. No word on whether it would have bounced. Good on the staff at the Fort d neither given Worth bank for their vigilance in calling police when a young man barely out of his teens presented a cheque bearing 10 zeros! Police arrested Fuller and charged him with forgery, un- lawfully carrying a weapon, and possessing marijuana. He was released on $3,750 bail. Fuller was thinking when he tried to cash a cheque for $360 billion. Fuller, 21, said the money was to help him launch a record business. He claimed the cheque came from his girlfriend's mum. s probably what Charles Ray LARRY BIRD NOT TAKIN' A LICKIN' INDIANAPOLIS — Hall of Fame basketball "Legend" Larry Bird worked hard to get what he's got and he's not letting just anybody ride on his coattails. Last week, Bird filed a law- suit against Georgianna Lincoln and Christopher Cooke claim- ing they were illegally profiting off his trademarked nickname. Lincoln and Cooke bought Bird's 12-acre Indiana estate last summer and opened a b&b called the Legend of French Lick Resort. They advertised it as "the former home of Larry Bird." The suit, filed by Indianapo- lis law firm Ice Miller LLP, seeks a name change and damages. "The commercialization of Larry Bird's name in association with this former property is wholly and completely unauthorized and is blatantly being done for the sole purpose of profiting il- legally from Larry Bird's name," the lawsuit states. According to the Associated Press, Cooke tells a different tale saying they had permission to associate the home with Bird's name and wouldn't have pur- chased it otherwise. "All I know is they told us cer- tain things when we were con- sidering purchasing the property, and after we bought it, they had a different story," said Cooke. NO 'LEGAL WEED' IN CALIFORNIA SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Vaune Dillman thought he was being clever by including the name of the town where he makes his beer on the caps of the bottles. But the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau aren't finding Dillman's "Legal Weed" so funny and have ordered him to stop selling bottles with caps that say "Try Legal Weed." The regulators say the message amounts to a drug reference that will mislead consumers. Dillman, who started the Mount Shasta Brewing Co. in 2004, scoffs at the notion that his label has anything to do with smoking pot. "I've never tried marijuana in my life," he said. "I don't ad- vocate that. It's just our town's name." YOUTUBED! LEEDS, England — Andrew Kellett hasn't been deemed Leeds' "dumbest criminal" for nothing. Kellett, 23, has been served with an interim anti-social behav- iour order at Leeds Magistrates' Court that bans him from post- ing any image or description of unlawful activity on the internet. Kellett's 80-video YouTube collection, posted under the handle mrchimp2007, mostly involve reckless and high-speed driving, stealing gas and, just for good measure, also features some drug use, theft, trespassing, and other criminal acts LT Confidential m a W e ' r e a y C a n a p d i n o a n

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