Friday, April 23, 2010

Doug Christie Gets Dinged

The lawyer to Canada's far right is out about $22,000. Most interesting bit from the decision: His [Christie's] average pre-tax income over the preceding five-year period was slightly over $50,000.

10 comments:

The Mound of Sound said...

I have watched Christie argue his clients straight to the gallows. He often uses the courtroom as a publicity forum for their causes although I have seen moments where a trace of genuine intellect shone through. He's a hopeless zealot and I suppose that explains why his pre-tax averages 50-grand. I wonder what additional costs he'll get for the Court of Apples stunt - factum, authorities brief, motions, on and on and on.

Reality Bites said...

I've often thought that choosing some lawyers is evidence that you actually want to lose, not win.

Were I a person facing charges relating to spreading hate, I'd choose a lawyer whose free speech credentials are impeccable, not one who only seems to care about free speech for bigots.

And I definitely wouldn't choose a lawyer who's been one for 40 years yet earns less than I do.

Ti-Guy said...

I'd choose a lawyer whose free speech credentials are impeccable

Yeah, but I bet they're expensive.

The Mound of Sound said...

They're not 'expensive' Ti-Guy, just precious.

Ti-Guy said...

I think, in Canada, lawyers whose free speech credentials are impeccable would probably prefer to deal with libel and SLAPP suits, rather than take on these tawdry hate speech cases, for which a body of legislation and jurisprudence has, for decades, pretty much determined their outcomes, regardless of what each new generation of racists, genocidal haters and confused Canadian "first amendment" warriors thinks.

The Mound of Sound said...

You're right on that Ti-Guy. Alan Borovoy wasn't elbowing Christie out of the way so he could represent Zundl or Keegstra was he.

Ti-Guy said...

I don't remember. Was he? Given his recent disappointment over where civil/human rights legislation in this country has led us, I'd have thought he'd have taken on cases like these pro bono.

The Mound of Sound said...

no, as far as I know he steered clear of these characters. I'm not sure Zundl or Keegstra would want Borovoy anyway.

bigcitylib said...

Turns out S. Boisson was represented (at least briefly) by Levant back in 2003.

buckets said...

Turns out S. Boisson was represented (at least briefly) by Levant back in 2003.

How'd that turn out for him, then?