Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, December 12, 2012 - Page 9
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Court Roudsman
LOCAL LAWYER FINED $5000 Briefs Apology
● Ken Lay ■ Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay is this week apoloigising to the Chief Judge of the County Court over his comments made whilst a case in in progress. "The [Chief Commissioner of Police] will be writing to the Chief Judge to explain how this occurred and to apologise,’’ a statement said.
Left ABC
■ John Beeston, former Executive Producer of the Australia Network's flagship current affairs program, Newsline, has left the ABC after an investigation into his alleged sexual harassment and bullying of two female staff found he sent sexually suggestive text messages to one of the women.
Cost cuts ■ A $1.1 million Federal Government funding cut to Wangaratta's hospital budget threatens to force staff redundancies.
■ Camberwell lawyer John Barrett has been reprimanded, fined $5000, plus ordered to pay $5000 costs, after being found guilty of two charges of professional misconduct. Barrett was also found guilty of two charges of unsatisfactory professional conduct, when the matter was taken to Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Senior Member Jonathan Smithers. Legal Services Commissioner Michael McGarvie said the case referred to charging a contingency fee to a client in a personal injury case. Barrett, a sole practitioner in Camberwell since 1972, the whole of his professional life, acted for Mary Brancatisano, who had a personal injuries claim underway. She had already expended up to $160,000 on legal fees elsewhere. She signed an agreement which called for a $10,000 retainer plus $1000 GST; an amount equal to 10 per cent of the damages awarded by the Court or by settlement. Barrett secured a result that 11 previous solicitors had been unable to achieve for the woman. Once Barrett became aware that Mrs Brancatisano was an undischarged bankrupt, he entered into a second costs agreement with her daughter, Connie Lando. Mrs Brancatisano won damages worth $150,000, and Barrett recieved $31,905. She later sought to have the costs agreements reversed. The Legal Services Commission conducted a check of Mr Barrett’s practice, and determined to bring proceedings against him regarding the contingency fee, and non-compliance with disclosure obligations. Barrett said he should have been aware that contingency fees were banned.
Gill’s last night
Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson
WEDNESDAYS 1.15AM. Jim Sherlock discusses movies/ DVDs with Andrew McLaren. www.3aw.com.au 10AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com 10PM. Rob Foenander presents Country Crossroads on Casey 97.7 FM www.3ser.org.au
THURSDAYS 9.15AM. Editor Ash Long talks with Bob and Judy Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au 10PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel with Walter Williams www.4bc.com.au
FRIDAYS ● Christine Heald ■ The Victorian Opera will witness a Gala Convert next Wednesday (Dec. 19) to farewell conductor Richard Gill. Christine Heald will be amongst the VO members performing at the big event. Observer arts correspondent Julie Houghton has all the details of the pre-Christmas night. ● Turn to Page 57
DEMI JOINS ‘BLAZE’
■ So You Think You Can Dance finalist and leading Melbourne hip hop dancer Demi Sorono will join the cast of international dance sensation, Blaze The Show. She joins fellow Melburnian and lawyer-come-break dancer Sid Mathur. The pair will champion Australian streetdance in this West End production which opens at the Arts Centre ’s Hamer Hall on Wednesday, January 23. Regarded nationally as one of Australia’s best B-girls, Demi Sorono shot to fame in 2008 when her acrobatics and break dancing skills took her to the finals of So You Think You Can Dance. She has since choreographed and performed in music videos, performed with Massive Hip Hop Choir and choreographed Arts Centre Melbourne’s award-winning
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● Demi Sorono eMotion, which saw hundreds of youngsters perform en masse at the Hamer Hall Opening Weekend in July. Sorono and Sid Mathur are the only Australian cast members in the
production. Mathur is a practicing solicitor who moonlights as a B-boy with his award-winning dance crew, The Collektive. As a choreographer and dancer, Mathur has appeared in music videos and live shows for local artists including Marvin Priest, DVS, Fawaz Ibrahim, and international stars including Mario, Fabolous, Li'l Kim and 50 Cent. Demi Sorono and Sid Mathur will dance alongside an international cast of dancers from across Europe, South America and the United States. Blaze The Show: The International Dance Sensation Venue: Arts Centre Melbourne, Hamer Hall Times: 8pm Wednesdayto Saturday, January 23-26. 3pm Friday- Sunday, January 25-27. Tickets from $42
‘Meet Me At The Mango Tree’ ■ A special screening of Brian Mckenzie's Meet Me At The Mango Tree will be held at The Barn, Montsalvat, Eltham at 6.30pm, Tuesday (Dec. 18). India comes to life in these five stories set in Tamil Nadu. The film goes from Chennai and further south where the coastal road wends its way between fishing villages. Behind each roadside vendor there is a family grappling with the vicissitudes of climate, disappearing rail lines and their precarious market niche. Tickets: $60 for couples; $50 for singles includes wine, festive Indian treats and a copy of the 2 volume DVD Prepaid bookings are essential: 9439 8700
AM. Ted Ryan talks racing with Denis Scanlan on The Pulse 94.7 www.947thepulse.com 2.30PM. Jim Sherlock talks movies/DVDs with Denis Walter on 3AW www.3aw.com.au
SUNDAYS 9AM. Mike McColl Jones talks the Top 5 with Bob Phillips on 3RPP. www.rppfm.com.au 12 NOON. Kevin Trask presents That’s Entertainment on 96.5FM. www.innerfm.org.au 8.20PM. Kevin Trask presents The Time Tunnel on Remember When. www.3aw.com.au
MONDAYS 2PM. Yvonne Lawrence presents Life And Style on 3WBC 94.1FM www.3wbc.org.au 8PM. Len Baker presents Harness Review on 97.9FM www.979fm.net 10PM. Kevin Trask presents Memories Are Made Of This on 4BC www.4bc.com.au
TUESDAYS 6AM. Rob Foenander presents The Big Breakfast on 88.3 Southern FM www.southernfm.com.au
ALSO BE LISTENING FOR Julie Houghton discusses the arts on 3MBS-FM, 3MBS Digital, Online www.3mbs.org.au
AND WATCH FOR Country Crossroads TV show on Aurora Channel 183, Foxtel www.aurora.tv
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