Vandermaas/McHale in Settlement Conference re: Fantino

(Note to Readers: The rules of settlement conferences are that neither part can discuss what happened at the conference but Vandermaas did anyways)



Fantino fined by Court for no-show at settlement conference

http://voiceofcanada.wordpress.com/2009/03/10/fantino-fined-by-court-for-no-show-at-settlement-conference/


March 10, 2009 · No Comments

Today, Gary McHale and I attended a pre-trial settlement conference in connection with our Small Claims Court suits against OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino for comments he has made since November 2007 in which he falsely accused us - among several things - of being “involved” in violence.
Vandermaas notice to Fantino
McHale notice to Fantino
Fantino fined for not appearing at pre-trial conference
According to the rules of the Court the Defendant is required to attend the pre-trial conference, or request permission for teleconferencing. Although two of his lawyers were present, Fantino didn’t show. The judge took exception to his absence and fined Fantino twice - once for my case and once for McHale’s.
Unfortunately, I cannot report who the fines must be paid to, I cannot disclose the amount of the fines, nor can I explain the judge’s full reasoning for imposing them.
Fantino’s lawyers will be arguing a motion for ‘Summary Judgement’ on June 23/09 in an attempt to convince the hearing judge (not the same judge who presided over today’s settlement conference) that our case has no merit and should be decided without holding a trial.
Stay tuned.
P.S. Today wasn’t a good day for Fantino; he failed - for the second time - to have an adjudicator removed from an OPP disciplinary hearing into his actions in laying charges against two senior officers under the Police Services Act:
Yahoo News/Canadian Press, March 10/09: Fantino loses second bid to have adjudicator tossed from discipline case REPRINT
Mark Vandermaas, EditorVoiceofCanadainfo@voiceofcanada.ca