Law Times

Page 16 September 29, 2014 • Law Times www.lawtimesnews.com LAWPRO BASE PREMIUM FROZEN Lawyers are once again getting a break on their LawPRO premiums next year. Last week, benchers of the Law Soci- ety of Upper Canada approved a freeze of the base premium lawyers must pay. It's the fifth consecutive year of a premi- um freeze, LawPRO said last week. The insurer touted strong financial results and moderating claims for the continuing premium freeze at $3,350. "In recent years, we have seen an upward trend in the number of open claims files as well as an increased number of large claims," LawPRO said in its report to Convocation. "This trend may now be reaching a plateau with count and cost remaining at a similar level as last year." Despite the generally positive outlook, LawPRO noted changes to the main solvency test for insurance companies, the minimum capital test, might affect its financial situation. "Fortunately, there has recently been announced a three-year phase-in period that will allow LawPRO to take appropriate action over time to moderate the effect of these changes," LawPRO said in its report. "It should be noted, however, that our capital reserves will be under extra scrutiny during this period." LAWYER IN TROUBLE FOR CELEBRITY PHOTOS LOS ANGELES — Times are tough, so it's under- standable that lawyers are looking for different ways of getting their names out there. But according to Reuters, a Los Angeles lawyer has landed herself in trouble by posting fake photos of herself with celebrities. She may have her law licence suspended after a state bar investigation found she had superimposed im- ages of herself into numerous celebrity photo- graphs posted on her web site's publicity page. In an 18-page decision, a state bar court judge recommended suspending Svitlana San- gary for six months and that she remain on probation for another 2-1/2 years for deceptive advertising and misconduct stemming from an investigation of the photos. The ruling, issued this month, is ultimately subject to review by the California Supreme Court. Each of the photographs in question shows Sangary posing with political figures or celeb- rities, including President Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton. "This court finds that many, and perhaps all, of these photos were created by taking orig- inal celebrity photos and then overlaying re- spondent's image in order to make it appear as though [she] was in the presence of that celeb- rity," Judge Donald Miles wrote in his opinion. He said the photos, posted beginning in De- cember 2012, "were part of an advertisement and solicitation for future work . . . and they were false, deceptive and intended to confuse, deceive and mislead the public." Sangary has denied the allegations. According to Reuters, Sangary suggested she was in a position to pose for pictures with prominent people through her political and philanthropic connections. "Nothing in my life is more valuable to me than realization of the fact that I was able to come all the way from being an impover- ished kid in Ukraine to a major political and charitable donor in California, and able to so- cialize and take pictures with the people I've always admired," she said. ACCUSED ATE NAPKINS TO HIDE EVIDENCE NEW YORK — Napkins probably don't taste good and they won't get you out of insider- trading charges either. According to Reuters, a Brooklyn mortgage broker found that out the hard way recently. He has pleaded guilty in relation to a scheme in which he would scribble secret stock tips on napkins and pass them to an accomplice in Grand Central sta- tion before eating them, federal prosecutors said. Frank Tamayo, 41, was the middleman in what prosecutors called a three-man scheme that generated $5.6 million in illegal profits over five years based on tips about a dozen transactions negotiated by a prestigious New York law firm. Tamayo, who had been co-operating with authorities, pleaded guilty to securities fraud, tender offer fraud, and conspiracy charges in the federal court in Trenton, N.J., according to U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman. Authorities had in March accused Steven Metro, a managing clerk at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, of passing tips about the law firm's clients through Tamayo to Morgan Stanley stockbroker Vladimir Eydelman, who would then trade for himself, his family, cus- tomers, and Tamayo. Prosecutors said the scheme lacked sophis- ticated computerized techniques or coverups now often associated with insider trading. Rather, they said Tamayo would typically meet Metro, a friend and former law school classmate, at Manhattan bars or coffee shops and write the ticker symbols of stocks to buy on napkins or Post-it notes. Tamayo would then meet Eydelman near the main clock in Grand Central, show him a symbol, and once satisfied Eydelman had memorized it, "chew the paper or napkin to de- stroy it," prosecutors said. LT The title insurer that puts you front row, centre Putting the legal community front and centre has made us the #1 choice with Canadian lawyers for over a decade. Stewart Title does not support programs that reduce or eliminate the lawyer's role in real estate transactions. For more information call (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. Untitled-2 1 7/19/11 12:31:45 PM u Bizarre Briefs By Viola James u The InsIde story KIMBERLY MURRAY TO RECEIVE LFO AWARD This year's recipient of the Law Foundation of Ontario's 2014 Guthrie award is Kimberly Murray. Murray, executive director of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, is also a member of the Kahnesa- take Mohawk Nation as well as co-director of Osgoode Hall Law School's intensive pro- gram in aboriginal lands, re- sources, and governments. "Kimberly Murray is an ex- ceptional community leader and advocate for aboriginal access to justice, with a two-decade his- tory of dedication to this cause. It will be an honour to present her with the 2014 Guthrie Award," said Mark Sandler, chairman of the Law Foundation of Ontario. "Ms. Murray has demonstrat- ed an unwavering devotion to the advancement of human rights and access to justice for aborigi- nal people. She fights tirelessly to promote a fair and just applica- tion of the rule of law in Canada," said lawyer Margaret Froh, who nominated Murray for the award. The Guthrie award recogniz- es people for their contributions to access to justice and excellence in the legal profession. NEW HIRE AT NORTON ROSE Norton Rose Fulbright Can- ada LLP says the former head of BlackBerry Ltd.'s global regulatory team has joined the law firm. Stephen Whitney, who oversaw the regulatory as well as the devices and emerging solu- tions teams at BlackBerry, has joined the firm as counsel and will be working in the Waterloo, Ont., region. "Stephen is an outstanding addition to our technology and innovation team," said Andrew Fleming, managing partner of Norton Rose Fulbright's Toron- to office. Fleming touted Whitney's BlackBerry experience as "a tre- mendous fit for our clients." POLL RESULTS The results of the latest Law Times online poll are in. According to the poll, 89 per cent of respondents say the legal profession doesn't do enough to support lawyers with mental ill- ness in light of the stigma and pressures of law practice. Recently, the Ontario Bar Association's new president, Orlando Da Silva, spoke openly about his struggles with depression in an interview with Law Times. Da Silva said he decided to open up about his mental illness to encourage other lawyers with similar struggles to seek help. He said he did so against the advice of some of his closest friends but em- phasized he wants others to know about the success he has enjoyed despite his depression. LT Law Society of Upper Canada "Mr. Ferguson? He's two doors down. Is he in trouble again?"

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