Law Times

www.lawtimesnews.com Page 16 March 31, 2008 / Law TiMes LAW COMMISSION WORK UNDERWAY The Law Commission of On- tario has issued its first consulta- tion paper, asking for the public's view on the practice of charg- ing fees for cashing government cheques. "Concerns have been raised that high fees for cashing govern- ment cheques are having a sig- nificant impact on low-income Canadians," says Dr. Patricia Hughes, executive director of the law commission. "Govern- ment payments often are aimed at some of the most vulnerable populations in Ontario, individ- uals who can least afford to pay high fees in order to access their benefits." Manitoba and British Co- lumbia have recently ushered in legislation allowing the govern- ment to set maximum rates so consumers get payments with- out high fees. In other jurisdic- tions, direct-deposit systems and indemnity programs with banks have been introduced. Currently in Ontario, some businesses cash cheques on the spot, as long as proper identifi- cation is presented. They usually charge a flat fee and take a per- centage of the cheque's face value. The consultation paper, re- leased March 26, is a summary of important issues and possible areas of reform, and will direct the consultation process. Writ- ten submissions will be accepted until June 13, and a final report with findings and recommenda- tions will be issued after that. The LCO was launched in September 2007. It is a partner- ship between the attorney gen- eral of Ontario, the Law Foun- dation of Ontario, the Law Society of Upper Canada, and Ontario's law schools. SAXE NAMED TOP LAWYER Euromoney magazine has named Toronto's Saxe Law Of- fice lawyer Dianne Saxe one of the world's top 25 environmental lawyers. Saxe will be included in the publication's "Expert Guide's to the World's Leading Lawyers — Best of the Best 2008." "You have been nominated to appear in the guide as a re- sult of being identified among the top 25 environment experts in the world, by in-house coun- sel and your peers following our research," said the magazine's Jonathan McReynolds in a let- ter to Saxe announcing the ac- complishment. Saxe, author of Environmen- tal Law: Year in Review 2007, has over 30 years of experience in the field and is a certified spe- cialist in environmental law. She holds one of Canada's rare PhDs in environmental law and drafted part of the Environmental Pro- tection Act and Ontario Water Resources Act. She's also a former senior prosecutor for the Ministry of the Environment. ZINN APPOINTED TO FEDERAL COURT Russel Zinn, a partner with Ogilvy Renault LLP in Ottawa, has been appointed a judge of the Federal Court by Attorney General Rob Nicholson. Zinn received a bachelor of laws from the University of Ot- tawa in 1979 and was called to the bar in 1981. He's been a partner with Ogilvy Renault since 2001 and was named senior partner in 2006. He previously practised at Zinn Hofley and Gowling Strathy & Henderson. Civil litigation, labour, heath law, employment law, human rights, and privacy are his main areas of practice. The new judge, who wrote The Law of Human Rights in Canada: Practice and Proce- dure, has been a member of the County of Carleton Law As- sociation since 1981 and has spoken and presented papers at many legal conferences. Zinn replaces Justice Pierre Blais, who was appointed to the Federal Court of Appeal. The Inside Story Confidential CRAIGSLIST GONE WILD IN OREGON 1 LEBANON, Ore. — It may have been an early April Fool's, joke but an Oregon couple whose name was attached to a baby being offered up for sale on internet site Craigslist.org aren't laughing. "I don't know if this is some- body's really sick April Fool's joke," Birdie Avery told Port- land's KPTV-TV, "but when we find out who did this and who is using my name, I will make sure they get prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Avery's name appeared on the popular internet site in a recent ad offering to sell a child her and her husband had been caring for, in order to buy drugs. The Oregon woman says she and her husband have hap- pily and lovingly raised their own kids, plus grandkids, and couldn't even imagine trying to sell a child. Not to mention, they don't even own a com- puter and probably had never heard of Craigslist. Local police are trying to hunt down the cretins who perpetrated this "sick joke." CRAIGSLIST GONE WILD IN OREGON 2 JACKSONVILLE, Ore. — Jokesters on Craigslist also played a nasty trick on Robert Salisbury, costing him much of what he owned. Two ads went up on the popular internet site saying homeowner Salisbury had to suddenly leave town and was therefore giving away free all his belongings, including his horse. Thing is, says the Jackson County Sheriff 's Department, Salisbury had no plans to leave and didn't even know anything was amiss at his home until he got a call while at his cottage from a woman who stopped by his house to get the horse. He rushed home only to pass trucks on the road loaded down with his belongings, in- cluding his ladder, mower, and weed whacker. He stopped one truck and asked for his stuff back but the driver refused. "I informed them I was the owner, but they refused to give the stuff back," Salisbury told local media. "They showed me the Craigslist printout and told me they had the right to do what they did." Same deal when he arrived at his house to find 30 or so people carting off his things. Cops are trying to get back Salisbury's things from those whose licence plates the hom- eowner turned over. Other de- tectives have contacted Craig- slist's legal team to try to trace the ad. DISBARRED TWICE FOR GOOD MEASURE NEW YORK — Israel G. Grossman, who was disbarred in 1988 for insider trading but readmitted in 2003, has been disbarred again, in part for fib- bing on his reinstatement ap- plication. While a law firm associate, Grossman was found guilty of insider trading for passing on confidential information to friends and family that netted them $1.5 million in profits. He was sent to jail for two years and found liable for $2.5 mil- lion to the Securities and Ex- change Commission. In mid-March, the Appel- late Division, 1st Department, ruled Grossman, 55, had con- sistently denied having a prior conviction on professional licensing applications to the state insurance department and the National Associa- tion of Securities Dealers. He failed to disclose these appli- cations in his successful quest for reinstatement to the bar in 2003, even though he was fac- ing criminal prosecution at the time for allegedly lying to the NASD about his past. "Under these circumstances, disbarment is the appropriate sanction, as respondent has en- gaged in a pervasive pattern of affirmative misrepresentations and failed to fully accept re- sponsibility for his serious mis- conduct," ruled the court. Read all the sordid details at: www.nycourts.gov/reporter/3dseries/ 2008/2008_02497.htm Seen, heard, or been involved in a bizarre brief? Tell Viola James about it at viola.james@gmail.com Bizarre Briefs By Viola James Enabling Lawyers through Technology Tel: 416.322.6111 Toll-free: 1.866.367.7648 www doprocess com Real Estate • Corporate • Estates For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com At Stewart Title, it's how we work that sets us apart. We deal in title insurance and related products, undertaking no part of the transaction that has traditionally fallen to legal professionals. Since our inception into the Canadian market, you will find that we have consistently combined comprehensive coverage with unparalleled support for legal professionals. We are dedicated to streamlining your practice and increasing your revenue through our programs and innovative technology solutions. At Stewart Title, we know it's our relationship with our customers that determines our success. That's why service is the foundation of our business and integrity, the keystone in all our dealings. Contact us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. STG_05_LT_BaseBar 8/16/06 8:52 AM Page 1 "Mr. Gillespie! You're wrinkling that new suit we just got you!" LT LT

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