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PAGE 4 NEWS sepTember 13, 2010 • Law Times Open call to local school brought in $25,000 in art Continued from page 1 we have, and I think that's why it's here where nobody has to see it," she says jokingly. "Nobody uses this library anymore be- cause everything's online now." Th e fi rm began its collec- tion about seven years ago after moving into its new offi ce. "We renovated this space and, of course, we had blank walls," says Th ompson. "Apart from each lawyer with their own little piece of art in their offi ces, we didn't have anything as a fi rm." Th e fi rm then called on the local Dundas Valley School of Art to commission a number of pieces so it could choose some of its favourites. Partner Jeff rey Teal sat on the board of the school, while the wife of James Scarfone, another part- ner, had taken classes there. "It seemed to be a natural fi t," Th ompson says. "It was lucky that we all seemed to share an appreciation of art and a desire to support the local arts community. And the school was absolutely thrilled." After an open call to students and alumni of the school, the fi rm's partners made the trip to pick up about 20 pieces for a to- tal of approximately $25,000. "As a small law fi rm, that was quite a signifi cant investment," Th ompson says. Most of the selections were through consensus among the partners, but the lawyers also had their personal wild-card choice. Th at's when Th ompson made his pitch for the piece by Briand, who at the time was a fi rst-year student at the school. Over the next few years, the fi rm supplemented the collec- tion with additional works from the art school's annual auction until the walls were complete. "We should probably buy some more pieces," says Th omp- son, nodding to a blank space on the wall of his own offi ce. "We got all excited and bought a lot, but there's still some spots that need to be fi lled. We've become a bit complacent. Maybe this attention will spur us on." LT Th is is the sixth instalment in the Law Times summer series looking at law fi rms' art col- lections. Paul Duff's "James Street, between King and Main 1908" shows the streetscape outside the office of Scarfone Hawkins LLP more than 100 years ago. Root regrets not walking away from undercover cop Continued from page 1 name of James Kelly. Th ey rented the commercial property owned by Radojcic and set up a busi- ness called Shamrock EEzy Grow Hydroponics Ltd., which was a storefront enterprise that sold equipment for hydroponic grow operations. Nicholson and Radojcic met on a number of occasions and discussed business, court heard. Some of those conversations were recorded by the RCMP and were presented as evidence. According to the testimony, Nicholson made it clear to Ra- dojcic, who was his landlord, that the money he was using to pay the rent had come from the sale of drugs. "I held out to be a person who had funds that needed to be laundered," Nicholson testifi ed. Radojcic allegedly told him he knew a lawyer from a "blue chip" fi rm that might be interested in giving him advice and that he would help to set up a meeting. Court heard that Root and Radojcic weren't the focus of the police investigation that began in 2001. Th e police were actually investigating the Niagara chapter of the Hells Angels. According to the testimony, Root knew a num- ber of its members because he grew up in Welland, where some of them also lived and had estab- lished a clubhouse. Court heard Root and Nich- olson met on a number of occa- sions at a restaurant in Niagara Falls during which they alleg- edly discussed the laundering of money that had come from the sale of cocaine. Testifying in court, Nicholson said he had dis- cussed moving about $200,000 a week and that Root was going to fi gure out a way to do it. Nicholson also told court Root was interested in dealing with Announcement larger amounts. While a number of deals were allegedly discussed that ranged from $5 million to $25 million, no deal was ever struck. "He wanted to make three moves with me and then he would do the freedom 55 thing," Nicholson told court. During one conversation, Root, who allegedly claimed he was working with two other part- ners, told Nicholson he knew they could get $10 million into a duffl e or hockey bag, court heard. In turn, Root and his partners al- legedly wanted to receive 25 per cent for their trouble. Subsequently, Nicholson and Root didn't meet for a period of time because the lawyer, in a sepa- rate matter, was facing extortion charges. As that case was going through the courts, Root didn't want to bring too much attention to himself, court heard. At the time, Root and two Niagara Falls brothers, John and Th omas Clute, were charged with assault, extortion, and conspiracy to commit extortion. Th e charges in that matter against Root were eventually dropped. For his part, Root told court he had no intentions of ever going through with a money-laundering scheme but was only playing along with someone who pretended to be a big player with connections to people in the criminal world. "I had no intention of money laundering," he testifi ed. "I was curious to see what he could of- fer me in the future in legitimate business." Root also said some of the things he told Nicholson were total fabrication. In addition, he denied having any other partners but claimed he said so in order to have a way out of the deal. At the same time, Root said he didn't know Nicholson was a police offi cer and told court he should have walked away when the off er was presented to him, something he has regretted not doing to this very day. "Some members of the gen- eral public think I've done something wrong," he said. "It costs me clients every time this comes up." LT Federal & Ontario Insolvency Legislation 2010-2011 This edition contains amendments up to August 2010 with the substantial BIA and CCAA amendments now in force, and is organized under the following headings: Restructuring • • • Secured Lending • • • Fraudulent Preferences • • • ORDER your copy today Perfectbound • 802 pp. Published September each year On subscription $65 P/C 0825140000 One time purchase $75 P/C 0825010000 Multiple copy discounts available ISSN 1195-3144 Execution • • • • • Deemed Trusts or Liens • Selected sections from over 20 different relevant federal and provincial Acts, including s. 227 of the liability provisions of the Ontario and the and (Can.) (Can.) and regulations (Can.) (Can.) and regulations , 2006 canadalawbook.ca For a 30-day, no-risk evaluation call: 1.800.565.6967 Canada Law Book, a Thomson Reuters business. Prices subject to change without notice, to applicable taxes and shipping & handling. 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