Monday, April 11, 2016

SAMWORTH RECEIVES AWARD
The Medico-Legal Society of Toronto announced the winner of its annual Medico-Legal Society Award is Philippa G. Samworth. She is a partner at Dutton Brock LLP. 

“This award is the highest expression of esteem which the Society can convey and is intended to honour those members of the medical, legal, or scientific community who have made a significant contribution to their profession as well as either to the society or the community at large, and whose contributions are consistent with the values of the society,” said a society news release.

The release indicates Samworth is in insurance defence with a specialty in accident benefits. She also offers mediation and arbitration services.

“Ms. Samworth has a number of achievements and was retained by the Ministry of Finance of Ontario as a consultant to provide analysis and technical advice to the Ministry on its preparation and drafting of Bill 59 and its regulations,” says the release.

“In 2000, she was asked by the Government of Ontario to chair an advisory committee regarding the definition of catastrophic impairment.”

The release also notes that, in 2004, Samworth “was again retained by the Minister of Finance to conduct stakeholder consultations and provide advice and recommendations on proposals to replace the DAC [Designated Assessment Centre] system.”

Samworth was the first recipient of the Canadian Defence Lawyers Lee Samis Award of Excellence in 2002, and the recipient of the Ontario Bar Association’s Award of Excellence in Insurance Law in 2006. She has also served as the former president of the Advocates Society and former president of the Medico-Legal Society of Toronto.

Samworth will receive the award at the society’s annual dinner May 18. Tickets to the dinner can be purchased by calling 416-523-4469.

NEW ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE JUDGE APPOINTED
Justice Stephen Edwin James Paull has been appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice.

A news release from the Ministry of the Attorney General said Paull has practised family and civil law as a sole practitioner in Kitchener. He also worked at Dueck Sauer Jutzi and Noll LLP, and was a member of the Office of the Children’s Lawyer Legal Panel.

“Justice Paull is an advice counsel at Carizon Family and Community Services in Kitchener, where he provides legal advice to clients involved with the Family Violence Project of Waterloo Region. Justice Paull also volunteers his time with the Elder Abuse Response Team at Carizon Family and Community Services,” said the release.

Paull will preside in Woodstock, Ont.

WINE AND CHEESE WITH THE BENCH
The Advocates’ Society is having a Wine and Cheese with the Bench on April 21.

The event will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Campbell House, at 160 Queen Street West, in Toronto. 

Tickets can be purchased by contacting Rachel Stewart at [email protected].

LAW TIMES POLL
In this week’s poll question, all eyes turned to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Readers were asked what they considered to be the most important consideration when choosing the next Supreme Court justice, in addition to the person being super qualified.

Readers could indicate if they preferred a justice who was bilingual, a woman, aboriginal, or from Newfoundland.

Almost 24 per cent indicated they prefer a justice who is bilingual, almost 12 per cent indicated they prefer a justice who is a woman, 26 per cent preferred an aboriginal justice, and 38 per cent preferred a justice from Newfoundland.