Law Times

PAGE 20 u BIZARRE BRIEFS By Viola James WOMAN PLEADS GUILTY BUT REFUSES SENTENCE SAN DIEGO — She pleaded guilty to several counts back in June, but that didn't stop a woman from telling a judge he couldn't sentence her. "What I am stating is that the court has no jurisdiction over me," ABC 10 News quoted Di- anne "Harmony" Brown as telling Superior Court Judge Leo Valentine Jr. Brown had already pleaded guilty to counts including burglary, filing a false instrument, and rent-skimming, ABC 10 News reported. But dur- ing sentencing, she repeatedly interrupted the proceedings. "I object," she said. "I do not consent nor volunteer, nor do I waive the rights." Brown ended up receiving a 332-day jail tion. While police never recovered any weapons, Boudreaux is facing charges of carjacking, fleeing a law enforcement officer, and driving with a sus- pended licence, the Sentinel reported. There was no information on the baby's condi- BILL LETS LOTTO WINNERS HIDE FROM GREEDY RELATIVES TRENTON, N.J. — The state of New Jersey wants to do something about aggrieved lottery winners seeking protection from greedy family members. According to nj.com, the state assembly reg- sentence for filing false deeds on foreclosed homes that didn't belong to her and then rent- ing them out, ABC 10 News reported. Her hus- band and son also pleaded guilty to their roles in the scam. DRIVER CARJACKED BY EXPECTING FATHER ORLANDO, Fla. — You may be in a rush to get your pregnant girlfriend to the hospital, but that' escaped a man who took drastic action when his girlfriend' ulatory oversight and gaming committee has approved a bill that would allow lottery win- ners to remain anonymous for a year aſter their win. Current laws deem winners' identities to be public information. State assembly member John Burzichelli, no excuse for carjacking an innocent driver. That obvious piece of wisdom appears to have s lando Sentinel, the pair then walked some distance before the girlfriend announced she was dehydrat- ed and bleeding. Robert Boudreaux, police allege, proceeded to pick up the girlfriend and block a car. The driver, the Sentinel reported, refused to take them to the hospital but relented aſter Boudreaux, 31, allegedly threatened to shoot him. At a red light, Boudreaux allegedly forced the s car ran out of gas. According to the Or- and there that surfaces about how this new- found wealth becomes a game changer for people," nj.com quoted him as saying. The proposal follows stories about numerous OctOber 1, 2012 • Law times u The INSIDE STORY ANDRAE MARROCCO JOINS DICKINSON WRIGHT Andrae Marrocco has joined the Toronto office of Dickinson Wright LLP as of counsel. Marrocco, former vice president and general counsel of AISystems Inc., was recently senior associate at Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP. He advises private and pub- lic corporations, businesses, and entrepre- neurs on a range of corporate and finance transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, structured finance agreements, restructurings, corporate governance, and international transactions. Andrae Marrocco sponsor of the bill, said lottery jackpots have grown significantly since they began in the 1970s. "Aſter some reading, there' s a story here INTERPRETER SHORTAGE A 'SERIOUS SITUATION' The lack of accredited interpret- ers continues to be a challenge for the court system, a new rul- ing indicates. In R. v. Pecson, Superior violent incidents involving lottery winners. In Il- linois, for example, winner Jeffrey Dampier was kidnapped and killed by his sister-in-law and her boyfriend over his money. Not everyone, however, likes the bill. Critics evacuation and closure for the day. The courthouse closed aſter a water main broke just outside the Laurier Street entrance to the building, causing water to pour in. The burst pipe caused delays 20-year-old driver out of the car aſter he refused to run a red light. The couple then proceeded to the hospital, driving erratically, as police pursued them, the Sentinel reported. Police eventually stopped him at the hospital parking lot. Accord- ing the Sentinel, he had two working cellphones that he likely could have used to call for help. point out that there have been numerous legal actions over tickets purchased as a group and claimed in secret. Allowing claimants to remain anonymous would make things difficult for the other purchasers, critics say. "If they had a provi- sion for him to remain anonymous, my clients would not have known," said Eric Kahn, lawyer for five people who sought their share of lottery winnings from a co-worker who claimed the money for himself. "It would have been speculation. When there' a pool involved and there's a dispute and they're s allowed to remain anonymous, it could cause a major problem. It would be much harder to prove what has been proven." LT Court Justice Leonard Ricchet- ti faced the dilemma of a trial with no accredited interpreter for Taga- log available. "Given the Ministry of the Attorney General's poli- cy regarding the use of accredited interpreters for trial and the fact there are no accredited Tagalog in- terpreters in Ontario, this creates a very serious situation in criminal matters," Ricchetti wrote in the Sept. 18 ruling. "This is a matter which needs to be addressed by the Ministry of the Attorney General imme- diately." Aſter the Crown suggested two Tagalog interpreters for the trial of Dennis Pecson, defence counsel objected to a court inquiry as to their competency. Ricchetti, how- ever, decided to go ahead anyway given his conclusion that the ac- cused had the right to a compe- tent, but not necessarily an accred- ited, interpreter. In the end, Ricchetti noted, de- fence counsel suggested Sophie Reyesleger, a conditionally ac- credited interpreter, for the trial. As a result, the court rescheduled Pecson' chetti emphasized the need for the province to act quickly on the lack of interpreters. "One suggestion is that any applications for accredita- tion for Tagalog interpreters be ex- pedited as I understand one of the two proffered Tagalog interpreters is waiting to be tested, s trial for Jan. 7. But Ric- " he wrote. "Look! If I want your opinion, I'll ask for it! OK?" OTTAWA COURT CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD A flood brought a temporary halt to proceedings at the Ottawa courthouse last Tuesday. The flood forced the building' s assault trial. When service workers shut off of several cases, including a po- lice sergeant' s high-profile sexual the water main, it shut off the wa- ter to the courthouse and city hall. The lack of running water for toilets and other necessities created a health and safety issue that prompted officials to close the building. "We were about to recom- mence a jury trial and it turns out there' criminal vault downstairs where they keep the exhibits and things and it was filling up with water, s been a pipe that broke in the said James Foord of Foord Da- vies LLP who' " the Defence Counsel Associa- tion of Ottawa. "I guess when- ever they have that type of situa- tion, the water will keep flowing until it fills the room which could include the cellblock." Foord said everyone in custody s also president of awaiting bail hearings or sentenc- ing had their matters adjourned until Wednesday morning. POLL RESULTS The results of the latest Law Times online poll are in. It appears many Law Times readers agree with the Cana- dian Civil Liberties Associa- tion' to the system given concerns about disclosures of records related to withdrawn criminal charges, findings of not guilty, charges never laid, and non- criminal interactions such as mental-health situations. LT and disclosure of non-convic- tion records by police. About 73 per cent of respondents agreed with the CCLA' s report on the retention s call for change Don't miss out on your chance to reach 150,000 up-market GTA households Untitled-4 1 www.lawtimesnews.com Produced by 12-08-29 2:02 PM LEGAL RESOURCE GUIDE 2 0 1 2 Serving the Greater Toronto Area WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU A CURVEBALL, THIS GUIDE WILL HELP MAKE IT A BIT EASIER TO GET THROUGH YOUR LEGAL ISSUES AWYER? NEED A

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