Law Times

Page 16 April 3, 2017 • lAw Times www.lawtimesnews.com LOOPSTRA NIXON NAMES NEW MANAGING PARTNER Allan Ritchie has been ap- pointed Loopstra Nixon LLP's managing partner and head of the executive committee. Ritchie assumes the role from Ian Scarlett, who has served in the position since 2009. During Scarlett's tenure, the firm underwent significant ex- pansion, growing from 16 law- yers to its current 41-lawyer team. Scarlett will return to full-time private practice with a continued focus on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law and will serve as a member of the firm's governing executive committee. "Ian has been a steady hand at the wheel during a period of rapid growth and expansion for the firm. The positive impact of his lead- ership will be felt for years to come," said founding partner Chuck Loopstra in a press release. Ritchie originally joined Loopstra Nixon in 2003, where he worked until 2007. He returned as a partner in 2010 and has played significant roles in the restructuring of the firm's student and lateral hiring programs, as well as serving as the firm's primary representa- tive with LawExchange International, the global network of 32 law firms of which the firm has been the Canadian representative mem- ber since 2012. In addition to the managing partner role, Ritchie will continue to lead the firm's cross-border business law practice. CATZMAN AWARD CALL FOR NOMINATIONS The Catzman family, The Advocates' Society and the chief justice of Ontario's Ad- visory Committee on Profes- sionalism are calling for nomi- nations for an award in memory of the late Justice Marvin A. Catzman, recognizing indi- viduals who have demonstrated a high degree of professionalism and civility in the practice of law. The award will be present- ed by the chief justice at the Opening of the Courts in September. Nominators should provide a brief statement outlining the reasons for their nomination, the nominee's curriculum vitae and two letters of support. Nominations should be sent to: Rachel Stewart at rachel@ advocates.ca. The deadline is May 26. FEORE TO SPEAK AT DINNER The Advocates' Society pres- ents its 2017 End Of Term Dinner with special guest key- note speaker Colm Feore, best known for his role in 24. The member-only event will be held June 15 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building. 28 % NO, I DO NOT AGREE YES, I AGREE 72 % LAW TIMES POLL Last week, a Law Times col- umnist wrote that criminal law is out of step and argued there should be an immediate mora- torium on HIV non-disclosure prosecutions, unless there is al- leged intentional transmission. We asked readers what they thought. Seventy-two per cent said yes, the unjust criminaliza- tion of people living with HIV needs to change. The law has become more draconian even as HIV has become more manage- able and as transmission risks decrease. Twenty-eight per cent said no, the law should remain as it is, and the Ministry of the Attorney General should not change its approach. LT u Bizarre Briefs By Viola James u The InsIde story MAN FACES LEGAL TROUBLE FOR GETTING BEAR HELP SALEM, Oregon — A 41-year-old man may be in legal trouble for taking care of a bear he found out in the wild while hiking. According to the news report by News 96.5 WDBO, Corey Hancock was out in the wild when he found a baby bear and could find no trace of its mother. Media reported that Hancock said the bear was barely breathing, and so he took it to the Turtle Ridge Wildlife Center in Salem, Oregon. The bear reportedly needed medical care and was malnourished, said the report. It is now receiving care from the Oregon De- partment of Fish and Wildlife. However, Han- cock could face charges for his actions. According to the report, a department spokeswoman said that while Hancock had good intentions, he may have actually harmed the bear in the long run and hurt its survival skills and it may not be able to return to living in the wild. The media report said Hancock could be charged for capturing or holding an animal captive without a permit, which carries a fine and could mean up to a year in jail. Hancock, meanwhile, has turned to social media with his message. "What would you have done if you were in my boots?" he said in a Facebook message, ac- cording to the media report. WATCH OUT FOR EXPENSES FROM BEDBUGS, AGGRESSIVE PEACOCKS Bedbugs in hotel rooms and aggressive pea- cocks are some of the creatures behind an up- tick in animal-related insurance claims filed by U.S. businesses, according to a study published by insurer Allianz SE. According to the study, U.S. claims involv- ing bedbugs increased 50 per cent between 2014 and 2015, to 99 from 66, according to Allianz. The insurer has already counted 70 bedbug claims through September 2016, heading for a total that could surpass the previous year's, said Larry Crotser, the chief claims officer for the insurer's Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty unit, according to Reuters. The findings were included in a global report by the Allianz unit, which analyzed more than 100,000 corporate liability claims from roughly 100 countries paid by Allianz and other insur- ers between 2011 and 2016. The claims involved everything from avia- tion to cybersecurity. The analysis included nearly 1,880 U.S. ani- mal-related business liability claims, represent- ing about 2 per cent of all commercial claims in the study. Animal claims increased 28 per cent be- tween 2011 and 2015, to 365 from 287, accord- ing to Allianz. The average animal-related liability claim is about $10,400, with all animal claims totalling nearly $20 million, according to Reuters. Bedbugs accounted for 21 per cent of U.S. business liability claims involving animals. Some claims, however, were peculiar, such as a hotel guest whose room was invaded by a f ly- ing squirrel and another whose hearing aid and slippers were destroyed by a rodent. Two claims involved people who were attacked by aggres- sive peacocks, according to the study. Bedbugs, found on every continent except Antarctica, have been biting people for thou- sands of years. Hotel companies typically file insurance claims to cover costs of reimbursing guests who encountered bedbugs during their stays and in- advertently brought the insects home in their suitcases, causing infestations, Crotser said, ac- cording to Reuters. Deer incidents, such as collisions with farm vehicles, were the most common involving ani- mals, accounting for 58 per cent of U.S. animal- related liability claims insurers received, ac- cording to the study. Other business claims involved damage from dogs, roaming cattle, horses, cats, rodents, snakes and sheep. LT Allan Ritchie is the new managing partner and head of the executive committee at Loopstra Nixon LLP. "When Albert grows up, he wants to be a vexatious litigant." YOUR INSTANT CONNECTION TO CANADA'S LEGAL NETWORK • an up-to-date alphabetical listing • contact information • legal and government contact information ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! Call 1.800.387.5164 or visit www.carswell.com for a 30-day no-risk evaluation CANADIAN LAW LIST 2017 Hardbound • Published February each year • L7798-5933 • On subscription $174* • One time purchase $194* Multiple copy discounts available * Plus shipping/handling and applicable taxes Untitled-6 1 2017-03-28 1:35 PM

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