Law Times

PAGE 16 u BIZARRE BRIEFS By Viola James BRIDE FAKED CANCER FOR WEDDING MONEY NEW YORK — She' a New York woman who faked having terminal cancer in order to swindle well-wishers into funding her dream wedding and honeymoon was obviously engaging in conduct that didn't reflect well on her role. And according to Reuters, she must now s not exactly bridezilla, but repay more than $13,000 to her victims. Jessica Vega, 25, pleaded guilty last month to fraud and forgery charges for deceiving people in the Hudson Valley area of New York into thinking she had only a few months to live, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. Moved by her tale, individuals and busi- nesses donated thousands of dollars to pay for her wedding in May 2010 and her honeymoon in Aruba. Her scheme unravelled after her husband, Michael O'Connell, contacted the Times Herald- Record in Orange County to say his bride had faked her illness. Police didn't charge him and the couple has since divorced, although the Times Herald-Record reported he was there to pick her up from jail. "To prey on people' to have a terminal illness is unconscionable," s emotions by pretending Schneiderman said in a statement. "I am pleased that the community mem- Vega received a jail sentence of time already served, must do 300 hours of community ser- vice, and spend five years on probation. She spent eight weeks in jail before her release, Reuters reported. Besides repaying $13,368.48 to her victims, " HOME INVADED FOLLOWING FACEBOOK CASH PHOTO SYDNEY, Australia — Posting pictures of wads of cash online is an invitation to thieves, an bers, who felt so compelled to generously help a neighbour in need, will be given back their hard-earned money. Australian girl has found out. According to the Daily Telegraph, the girl, intruders wanted to know about the cash, but the mother told them her daughter wasn't home and didn't live there anymore, the Telegraph reported. They ended up searching the home and taking a small amount of cash and other personal property. While there were no injuries, police used 17, took a photo of the cash after helping her grandmother count her personal savings. Later on, she posted the photo on her Facebook page. The same day, two men armed with a knife and a club broke into her family's home. The the case to warn about the dangers of posting private information on social media. CLOTHED SUSPECT EASILY IDENTIFIED AT NUDE RESORT KISSIMMEE, Fla. — With identity being at the heart of so many criminal matters, a robber made a big mistake when he fled to a nudist resort while wearing clothes. According to the Orlando Sentinel, a man went on a crime spree earlier this month that included an attempted robbery at a Lowe' store. At one point, he allegedly held scissors to the neck of a clerk during the robbery attempt. After staff and customers chased him, he s ended up jumping the fence at the Cypress Cove Nudist Resort & Spa. "We usually don't get the outside world June 4, 2012 • Law Times u The INSIDE STORY SHIBLEY RIGHTON SNAGS TAX LAWYER Tax lawyer Bernie Katchen has joined Shibley Righton LLP' counsel. Katchen was a member of the firm between s Toronto office as 1979 and 1984 before creating tax-related entrepreneurial structures and returning to law in 2001. "Bernie brings an entrepreneurial back- ground along with extensive legal experi- ence and will be a great addition to our team," said Sandra Dawe, Shibley Righton' Bernie Katchen "While effective tax planning always requires extensive knowl- edge of the Income Tax Act, Bernie's experience from the business world will also be invaluable to us." s managing partner. ONTARIO ADULT COURT CASES RISE: STATSCAN The number of cases completed in adult court increased by two per cent in Ontario between 2010 and 2011, a report by Statistics Canada shows. The report notes the number of director positions at Canada's top 500 organizations. According to a press release by coming through our gates like that," the Sentinel quoted Ted Hadley, owner of the nudist resort, as saying. "We don't get a lot of crime in the Cove, so this was definitely unusual for us . . . definitely a lot of excitement." While at the resort, the man allegedly took of cases completed in adult courts declined in British Columbia by seven per cent and by six per cent in Alberta and Quebec. The number of cases in Saskatchewan, mean- while, increased by five per cent. Adult criminal courts in Canada completed nearly 403,000 cases between 2010 and 2011. Of those, 77 per cent involved non-violent offences. The report notes the courts' out a knife from his pants and carjacked a golf cart. But police had no trouble identifying him as he was one of the only people wearing clothes. Charged in the case is Milton J. Hodges Jr., LT 20. caseload nationally was largely the same as the previous year following three consecutive annual increases. NEW HEAD OF FEDERAL LAWYERS' ASSOCIATION The Association of Justice Counsel has named Lisa Blais its new president. Blais, for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada, won the post by acclamation. She'll serve in the role for five years. Others on the association' a lawyer the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers, senior-level pro- fessionals can apply to be in the database before June 22. The council' the number of visible minorities, people with disabilities, women, aboriginals, and people from the gay and lesbian community who sit on Canada' s goal is to increase place on June 4 by teleconference. For more information, see An information session will take s corporate boards. cabl.ca. COMPLETED YOUTH CASES FALL: STATSCAN The number of cases complet- ed by youth courts in Canada between 2010 and 2011 fell in every province except Manitoba, Statistics Canada reports. The largest decline in the in Ottawa number of cases occurred in Nova Scotia, where they fell by 15 per cent. By comparison, completed cases in Manitoba increased by three per cent from the previous year. In Canada, youth courts executive committee include Ed Bumburs as vice president of finance, Sid Restall as vice presi- dent of labour relations, Francis Descôteaux as vice president of communications, and Margaret McCabe as vice president of com- pensation and working conditions. Blais succeeds Marco Mendicino in the president's role. "But I am! I tell you, I am!" Recruiting? Post your position on GREAT RATES. GREAT REACH. GREAT RESULTS. Contact Sandy Shutt at sandra.shutt@thomsonreuters.com for details. www.lawtimesnews.com JobsInLaw 1-8 pg 5X.indd 1 2/15/11 4:12:27 PM NEW DIVERSITY DATABASE CREATED The Canadian Board Diversity Council has created a diversity database for board s occurred in cases of fraud, mis- chief, and uttering threats. By comparison, completed cases increased in the areas of criminal harassment, breach of probation, and fail- ure to appear, according to the report released last week. Roughly 60 per cent of com- the number of completed roughly 52,900 cases between 2010 and 2011. Some of the largest declines pleted cases in Canada involved older youth aged 16 to 17, the report noted. Males were involved in three-quarters of all cases. About 57 per cent of youth cases resulted in a finding of guilt. LT

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