Law Times

Page 16 September 17, 2018 • Law timeS www.lawtimesnews.com u Bizarre Briefs By Viola James u The InsIde story "This is Professor Hubblestein who will evaluate the qualifications of Doctor Lee to evaluate the qualifications of His Royal Highness Prince Egon von Dribblesdorf III to evaluate the qualifications of Joe Smith to be our expert witness." CHINA TARGETS ONLINE SCAM BEIJING — China's crackdown on online rumor-mongers and fraud has snared a fresh target — a 17-year-old junior high school drop- out who pretended to be a billionaire, gave himself fake titles and posted Photoshopped pictures of himself with world leaders, reports Reuters. Police in northern China's Shandong prov- ince said they were investigating the suspect, identified by the surname Shi and one of the characters in his first name, who called himself the "Sh Runlong Jocker" on social media and claimed to be a Chinese New Zealander from Hong Kong. Shi made false claims about his identity, including that he was a board member of the Japanese Red Cross Society and a direc- tor at a fictional Shandong Internet Economic Research Centre. He also circulated fake images of himself with U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and Ger- man Chancellor Angela Merkel. "We will punish those who spread rumors on- line with an adverse impact on the society," the Public Security Bureau in Jinan, capital of Shan- dong province, said on its official Weibo account. Shi went viral on Chinese social media web- sites after his crafted online identify was exposed. Shi's Twitter-like Weibo account, which used to have more than 10,000 followers, could not be found on Sept. 12 when checked by Reuters. WOMAN CHARGED IN HAM SCAM BOLIVAR, Ohio — Authorities in eastern Ohio say a grocery store employee has been charged with felony theft for helping herself to deli ham for years, reports the Associated Press. Tuscarawas County Sheriff 's Deputy Brian Hale told The Columbus Dispatch that an eight- year employee of regional grocery chain Giant Eagle was charged Sept. 7 with stealing food es- timated by the store to be worth US$9,200. The store's loss prevention manager received a tip that an employee had been eating three to five slices of ham nearly every day over eight years. Authorities say she also sometimes ate sa- lami. Other details including her name weren't available immediately. The store is in Bolivar, south of Cleveland. VET GETS CASH IN FUND SCAM PHILADELPHIA — A homeless veteran who spent his last US$20 to help a stranded New Jersey woman will receive the more than US$400,000 that she and her boyfriend raised for him, online fundraiser GoFundMe and his lawyer said, after the couple was accused of spending most of the money on themselves, reports Reuters. Johnny Bobbitt, a former U.S. Marine in Philadelphia, sued Katelyn McClure and Mark D'Amico in August, accusing them of misman- aging funds raised to repay him for his kind- ness. He had come to McClure's aid in Novem- ber when she ran out of gas while driving on Interstate 95. The couple said the money would be spent on rent, a vehicle and other expenses until Bobbitt could find work. Chris Fallon, Bobbitt's lawyer, said his client received only US$75,000 of the donations and that the couple sold a camper and truck that they bought for him and kept the money. GoFundMe and Fallon's law firm, Cozen O'Connor, said in a statement that the crowd- funding website would ensure that Bobbitt, 35, receives the rest of the money. "Johnny will be made whole and we're com- mitting that he'll get the balance of the funds that he has not yet received or benefited from," the statement said. A judge told the couple to place the money in escrow. The Burlington County Times cited the couple's lawyer, Ernest Badway, as say- ing in court that they gave Bobbitt more than US$200,000 and arranged drug treatment ap- pointments and meetings with lawyers, but that he resisted their help. Fallon said Bobbitt would be entering a drug treatment centre. LT PRO BONO ONTARIO CELEBRATES HOTLINE ANNIVERSARY Lynn Burns, executive direc- tor of Pro Bono Ontario, says the organization has had almost 1,000 lawyers volunteer their time in the first year of the Free Legal Advice Hotline. The ser- vice was launched in September 2017, connecting lawyers to low- income Ontarians who call in for legal advice or legal drafting services. "The hotline has surpassed all expectations," says Burns. "It's such a new initiative and we weren't sure what to expect, but in our first year we provided 14,000 callers with free legal advice." Burns says she anticipates that number to double in the second year of the service. "It really has become the first place someone calls when looking for legal help with a civil matter," she says. Each caller receives 30 minutes of time from a volunteer lawyer, according to a Pro Bono release. The hotline recognized differ- ent-sized firms for their volunteer work with the hotline — Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Paliare Roland Rosenberg Rothstein LLP, BMO Financial Group's Legal, Corporate & Compliance Group — and Ronald D. Manes as an individual. MCCARTHY'S ADDS LAWYERS McCarthy Tétrault LLP an- nounced new members this month in its technology and cross-border law groups: Chris- tine Ing and Domenic Presta in the Toronto office will focus on technology, while Toronto lawyer Matthew Cumming will become a managing part- ner in New York. Cumming focused on private equity, merg- ers, acquisitions and securities in McCarthy Tétrault's Toronto office. Ing will join as equity partner and her team will focus on commercial transactions and emerging technology in fintech, Big Data and AI, McCarthy Té- trault's statement said. Presta, a partner, has a background in data security and regulatory compliance, according to the statement. CURRY WINS AWARD Tom Curry, managing part- ner at Lenczner Slaght LLP, has won the annual Catzman Award for Professionalism and Civility. The award was presented to Curry at the Open- ing of the Courts of Ontario Ceremony on Sept. 13. "The Catzman Award was created in 2008 by the Catzman family together with The Ad- vocates' Society and the Chief Justice of Ontario's Advisory Committee on Professional- ism. It's awarded in memory of the Honourable Marvin A. Catzman of the Court of Ap- peal for Ontario," said The Advocates' Society. YES, I AGREE 82 % 18 % NO, I DO NOT AGREE LAW TIMES POLL A Law Times column this week addresses efforts by some to amend the Criminal Code to allow for trial judges to depart from mandatory minimum sentences and restrictions on the use of conditional senten- ces. Readers were asked if they agreed with a move away from mandatory minimums. About 82 per cent said yes, in shifting discretion back to judges who are best equipped to carefully examine the circumstances of an individual, the courts will be in a better position to impose sentences that are appropriate, just and fair. Another 18 per cent said no, mandatory minimum sentences are just and fair and should continue. LT Just like our New Home Program New Condo Select is quick and easy Selected new condominium developments in Ontario qualify for an easy title insurance 1 application process. 1 The TitlePLUS policy is underwritten by Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO ® ). Please refer to the policy for full details, including actual terms and conditions. To learn more, call 1-800-410-1013 or visit titleplus.ca ® Registered trademark of Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company. © 2018 Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company Lawyers' Professional Indemnity Company (LAWPRO ® ) 250 Yonge Street, Suite 3101, P.O. Box 3, Toronto, ON M5B 2L7 • Prepopulated underwriting • Streamlined searches • Saves time and money Untitled-4 1 2018-06-14 1:05 PM Lynn Burns says a free legal advice hotline that is run with the help of volunteer law- yers 'has surpassed all expectations.'

• Cover