Law Times

Page 16 OctOber 2, 2017 • Law times www.lawtimesnews.com LAPPER RESIGNS Robert Lapper has submitted his resignation as chief execu- tive officer of the Law Society of Upper Canada. Lapper will be in the position until Oct. 31. "After almost six years as CEO of the Law Society of Up- per Canada (Ontario) I have decided that it is time to leave, to focus on new opportunities and life priorities. The opportu- nity to have been involved in so many of the ambitious and in- novative policy and regulatory initiatives of this Law Society over the past five years has been deeply gratifying and unfailing- ly interesting," he said in a news release. "I leave feeling pleased and passionate about the accom- plishments of this organization over that time, knowing that the Law Society has both a strong organizational foundation and an openness to new ideas that will serve it well as it approaches future challenges in legal ser- vices regulation and access to justice." Diana Miles, executive di- rector of organizational strategy and professional competence at the Law Society of Upper Cana- da, will be acting CEO after Lap- per's departure. NEW CLA PRESIDENT Michael Lacy, a partner at Brauti Thorning Zibarras LLP, has been acclaimed as the next Criminal Lawyers' As- sociation president. "One of the priorities for the Criminal Lawyers' Association is ensuring that Legal Aid Ontario is properly funded and that cases that are approved for Legal Aid are funded properly. The reality is that there are many 'working poor' Ontario residents who come into conf lict with the law that are not quali- fying for Legal Aid assistance to help them navigate through the criminal justice system," said Lacy. CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned manslaughter convictions for two co-appellants following a rare concession by the Crown. The decision, released Sept. 25, overturns the sentences im- posed against George Cooke and his nephew Matthew Cooke in a 2015 jury trial presid- ed over by Justice Jane Milan- etti and orders a new trial. Christopher Hicks, a part- ner with Hicks Adams LLP, represented George Cooke at trial. Jessica Zita, associate with Hicks Adams and jun- ior counsel on George Cooke's appeal, says the concession and the ultimate decision came in response to their factum, as Matthew Cooke's counsel argued their appeal on different grounds, but the co-appellants both suffered from the same jury charge and, therefore, both had their convictions overturned. 76 % NO, I DO NOT AGREE YES, I AGREE 24 % LAW TIMES POLL Some lawyers say the Law Soci- ety of Upper Canada needs to implement entity regulation to significantly boost diversity in the legal profession. Readers were asked if they thought that entity regulation was necessary to best achieve di- versity initiatives. About 24 per cent said yes, any efforts will be largely incon- sequential without bringing law firms under the LSUC's regula- tory control. Another 76 per cent said no, the measures already taken are an important first step that will have noticeable effects. LT u Bizarre Briefs By Viola James u The InsIde story Robert Lapper has resigned as the chief executive officer of the Law Society of Upper Canada. JUST A 'LITTLE BIT' OF WEED FRUITVALE, Colo. — A Mesa County sheriff 's deputy was driving south on 29 Road in Fruit- vale Sept. 23 with his window down when he smelled something fishy. Well, skunky. The patrol deputy, who was not working with the Western Colorado Drug Task Force, had pulled up behind a white Penske moving truck with Indiana plates when — from inside his own vehicle — he caught a whiff of fresh marijuana, the deputy wrote in an arrest affida- vit, reports The Daily Sentinel. After pulling the driver over on a speed- ing violation, the deputy approached the truck and found the smell "overwhelming." He asked 53-year-old driver Sinh Chan Hoang if there was any marijuana in the truck. "Yes," Hoang replied, according to the depu- ty's report. "Just a little." When the deputy asked to see, Hoang agreed, opening the truck's overhead door and pulling out a large black plastic trash bag. He ripped a hole in it with his fingers and pulled out the marijuana buds inside. "It's just a little bit," Hoang repeated, accord- ing to the deputy. "I can throw it out." In Colorado, adults 21 and older can legally possess 28 grams of marijuana or THC. Hoang and his passenger, Larry Tran, both of California, were arrested on suspicion of pos- session with intent to distribute marijuana. GRANDE AMERICANO, HOLD THE ACRYLAMIDE LOS ANGELES — Coffee could carry an omi- nous cancer warning in California if a non- profit group prevails in a Los Angeles court- room, according to the Associated Press. A lawyer representing the Council for Edu- cation and Research on Toxics is presenting evi- dence to a judge in a seven-year-old case aimed at Starbucks and distributors and retailers. The council says coffee companies violated a state law requiring they warn consumers about a chemical created in the roasting process that could cause cancer. Acrylamide is on the state's list of dangerous chemicals that must be disclosed to consumers. Lawyers for about 90 companies acknowl- edge acrylamide is present, but they say it's at harmless levels and is outweighed by benefits from drinking coffee. They also claim coffee should be exempt be- cause the chemical results naturally from cook- ing coffee beans that's necessary to make them tasty. Although the case has been percolating in the courts since 2010, it has received little at- tention. A verdict in favor of the little-known Council for Education and Research on Toxics could send a jolt through the industry with as- tronomical penalties possible and it could wake up a lot of consumers, though it's unclear what effect it would have on coffee-drinking habits. BUM RAP? COLOMBO — A Sri Lankan man who raised suspicion by the way he kept looking around in an airport departure lounge was found to be carrying nearly a kilogram of gold stashed in his rectum, reports Reuters. The 45-year-old, headed for India, was ar- rested at Colombo airport on Sept. 24 after cus- toms officials noticed "suspicious movements," customs spokesman Sunil Jayarathne told Reuters. The suspect was carrying 904.77 grams of gold worth about $85,300, but he was freed af- ter payment of $1,895, he said. Such methods of smuggling were not unusual, said the spokes- man. "The gold was wrapped in plastic bags in- serted in to his rectum," Jayarathne said, adding that there were four bags. "This is not the first such detection and this is a common method of smuggling." LT "The Jordan decision has increased delays in civil matters because resources are being diverted to the criminal justice system. So, I think the best way for you to expedite this case is for you to give that court officer a poke in the tummy and then steal his wallet." THE ULTIMATE SOURCE For Today's Legal Profession Canlawyer.lawtimes@tr.com | 416.609.3800 | 1.800.387.5164 Online bitly.com/CanLawyer-Subscription Free preview bitly.com/CanLawyer-FreePreview Subscribe today! ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION INCLUDES: • 11 issues print and digital editions • FREE exclusive access to Canadian Lawyer digital edition archives • FREE weekly e-newsletter: Canadian Legal Newswire Untitled-5 1 2017-09-27 2:31 PM

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