| Access to justice 'basic right'
Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin has issued a call to action to governments, lawyers and judges to find solutions to the access-to-justice "crisis" imperilling the country's legal system, which is now too expensive and complicated for the vast majority of Canadians. In a speech to the Canadian Bar Association yesterday, the country's top judge declared access to justice "a basic right" for Canadians, like education or health care. Although McLachlin has spoken out about the problem in the past, she sharpened her remarks yesterday and went further than she has before, citing what she described as an "increasingly urgent situation." The justice system risks losing the confidence of the public when "wealthy corporations," or the poor, who qualify for legal aid, have the means to use the court system, she said, noting that for "middle-class" Canadians, resolving a legal problem of any significance often requires taking out a second mortgage or draining their life savings.
Rigas heading for prison with hope of new trial; Former Adelphia and Buffalo Sabres owner still fighting on eve of ...
COUDERSPORT, Pa. — In less than 24 hours, John Rigas reports to a federal prison, and barring a successful appeal or doctor order, it could be the last time anyone sees him on free ground.However, the one-time cable giant with Adelphia Communications and owner of the Buffalo Sabres is not going in without a fight. Each day the past two weeks, Rigas has caught some of his grandchildren's baseball games and working at the farm, but mostly his time has been spent on conference calls with attorney's, looking up case law and checking e-mails with the hope some good news would show in his inbox.These 15-hour days are being logged by an 82-year-old man who still has cancer treatments and occasional heart problem facing a 15-year prison sentence. The family has filed a Rule 33 asking for a new trial.
Canada's top judge says middle class hurt most by high legal fees
CALGARY (CP) - Canada's middle class is being hurt the most by exorbitant legal costs that limit access to the judicial system, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin said Saturday. In a speech to the Canadian Bar Association's annual meeting in Calgary, McLachlin said high costs are contributing to an "increasingly acute" crisis that impedes some Canadians from pursuing justice and forces others to represent themselves without a lawyer. She said that large, wealthy corporations able to pay handsomely for good legal advice "have access to very good justice." And the poor, when facing serious criminal charges, can obtain free legal aid. "Middle-income Canadians, however, are often hard hit, left with the very difficult choice that if they really want to access justice they have to put a second mortgage on the home or use funds set aside for their child's education or for retirement.
Something Rotten in the State of FDA?
An objective reporter is supposed to keep his mind open and to tell both sides of the story. But after more than a decade of striving to do so in the case of CDRH enforcement, a tortuous trail of "no comments" and unanswered e-mails leaves me paraphrasing Hamlet: Something’s rotten in the state of FDA. I confess that I have failed to figure out what that something is. I know the symptoms but not the cause. In case after case, the symptoms are the same. CDRH selects a small company for tough enforcement action on the basis of deficiencies in its documentation. There is no evidence of product defects or risk to public health, but CDRH demands so-called remedial action that would affect sales. The company, because it has no other revenue stream or because it feels outraged, pushes back.
Brad Pitt Reports For Jury Duty
Brad Pitt reported for jury duty on Thursday in Los Angeles, the Web site TMZ reports.The "Ocean's 13" star arrived to court in a chauffeured SUV, the report said, and had a Subway meal delivered as lunch.The site reported that the lawyers in a DUI case struck a plea agreement and in turn Pitt and other jurors were dismissed."Access Hollywood" reported Thursday that the actor received several extensions."He obtained all his extensions by the book. He called in just like everyone else did and had to serve today," the rep told the show.The 43-year-old actor, who has four children with actress Angelina Jolie, arrived in Los Angeles via red-eye flight, TMZ reported. .
Big-case attorney young but skilled
A Hackettstown area attorney challenging the constitutionality of the state's Highlands Act is being honored for his leadership and courtroom record. The New Jersey Law Journal's annual "40 Under 40" program recognizes 40 New Jersey lawyers younger than 40 years old and among this year's honorees is John J. Abromitis. A 39-year-old partner with Courter, Kobert & Cohen, Abromitis handles litigation primarily involving real estate, commercial and insurance law for corporate clients. His client list includes builders Toll Brothers Inc. and K. Hovnanian and Hackettstown-based candy manufacturer Mars Inc. One of his most publicized victories came recently when Abromitis won the right to take depositions from former Gov. James McGreevey and former Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell regarding the Highlands Act.
UBS reports 2Q profit up 79 percent
ZURICH, Switzerland -- UBS AG, Switzerland's largest bank, posted a 79 percent increase in second-quarter earnings Tuesday after it sold a stake in private bank Julius Baer, but warned that second-half profits could drop if turbulent market conditions persist. The bank, which earlier this year replaced its chief executive and closed down its Dillon Read Capital Management hedge fund, also said it would seek to quickly close the chapter on that failed venture. New CEO Marcel Rohner said the closure of Dillon Read had cost UBS 230 Swiss million francs ($190 million) in the second quarter. "However, the books are now transferred ... and we have therefore closed this failed initiative," he said. Rohner, who was promoted from deputy CEO in July with the departure of former chief executive Peter Wuffli, also said during a conference call that the bank was paying close attention to its subprime exposure, but that any losses were within its earnings capacity.
(AFX UK Focus) 2007-08-14 13:33 GMT: Reporters told to testify in leak case
WASHINGTON (AP) - Five journalists must identify the government officials who leaked them details about a scientist under scrutiny in the 2001 anthrax attacks, a federal judge said Monday. U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton ordered the reporters to cooperate with Steven J. Hatfill, who accused the Justice Department and FBI of violating the federal Privacy Act by giving the media information about the FBI's investigation of him. The reporters named in the opinion are Michael Isikoff and Daniel Klaidman of Newsweek, Allan Lengel of The Washington Post, Toni Locy, formerly of USA Today, and James Stewart, formerly of CBS News. Walton denied Hatfill's request to demand information from the media companies ABC, The Washington Post, Newsweek, CBS, The Associated Press, The Baltimore Sun and The New York Times.
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