Precedent-Changing Legal Cases with Our Ottawa Law Firm
Harbic Law has provided the defence in many landmark cases of national and international significance, examples of these follow. Although all of these cases are matters of public record only the clients initials are referred to out of respect for their privacy.
R v R.B. (1979), Rape case where fraud vitiates consent featured in "National Lampoon" magazine application brought to question jury as to racism.[1]
R v R.S. (1982), One of the very first constitutional challenges to a section of federal legislation.[2]
R v L.B. (1984), First successful Charter challenge at Appellate court level in Canadian history.[3]
R v G.A. (1986), Successful appeal to Appeal Court on similar fact evidence. [4]
R v E.B. (1987), Jury finds client not guilty on false allegations of rape.[5]
R v C.L. (1991), Ontario Court invokes Charter in staying historical sexual assault.[6]
R v R.D. (1991), Barbarella strip club murder charges where accused convicted of reduced charge of manslaughter.[7]
R v P.R. (1991), Sexual Assault charges stayed due to denial of client's right to trial without delay.[8]
R v C.H. (1990), First successful "marijuana for Iquana defence" featured on NBC's "Current Affairs" [9]
R v G.P. & C.M. (1992), Police officer acquitted of Obstruction of Justice.[10]
R v M.R. (1993), Defence Counsel praised by trial judge as a "knight in shining armour who has done his usual fantastic job" on behalf of his client.[11]
R v B.C. (1994), "J.R. Dallas Bar" Gatineau lover triangle shooting trial ends with second degree murder.[12]
R v P.C. (1996), Infamous " Seven Hill Road body parts" double murder case in Caledonia.[13]
R v R.T. (1996), First "Cumberland Murder Trial" -longest murder trial in Canadian legal history[14]
R v A.P. (1999), "Vanier inferno murder" trial goes to Supreme court of Canada on reasonable doubt.[15]
R v M.C. (2000), First double murder acquittals of the new millennium.[16]
R v C.H. (2000), Alleged "madam" found not guilty of running sex escort service.[17]
R v J.D. (2002), Arson murder acquittals in Lanark County.[18]
R v B.J. (2004), Accused confession ruled inadmissible due to police misconduct during questioning.[19]
R v J.B. (2007), Acquittal in Vanier stabbing homicide.[20]
R v J.W.F. (2007), Jury take less than 10 minutes to acquit client accused of sexual assault.[21]
R v J.F. (2008), Accused with "Asperger Syndrome" acquitted of criminal harassment.[22]
R v D.M. (2008), Client acquitted in international cyberspace "child pornography" case.[23]
R v A &F.& al (2009), Court of Appeal upholds illegality of police search & stay of drug charges.[24]
R v S.S. (2012), Baffin Island money laundering trial in Iqaluit, Nunavut.[25]
R v T.P. (2012), Conditional sentence for repeat offender of multiple crack cocaine trafficking charges.[26]
R v M.A. (2012), "911 call heard around the world" results in acquittal on sexual assault charges.[27]
R v K.R. (2012), Acquittal in By Town Market arson trial.[28]
R v R.S. (2012), CEO of company acquitted on corruption charges by Quebec jury.[29]
R v S.D. (2013), Physician client acquitted of failure to provide necessities of life.[30]
R v A.A. (2013), Teen acquitted of "human trafficking".[31]
Footnotes
[1]"Psychic Healer" by Denis Foley, Ottawa Citizen, 15/10/79; "Psychic Case in National Lampoon" by Geoff Johnson, Ottawa Citizen, 19/07/80; "Psychic M.D." by Bob Avery, Ottawa Journal, 15/10/79
[2] R v R.S. (1982), O.J. No. 687
[3] R v L.B. (1984), 48 OR (2d) 732; "Charter coming to life" by Rick Hallechuck, Toronto Star, 23/12/84
[4] "Court of Appeals Orders new trial in Sex Assault conviction"
staff, Ottawa Citizen, 11/10/86
[5] "Friends cheer as jury clears man of rape" by Abbey Deveny, Ottawa Citizen, 22/3/87; "E.B. est juge innocent" by Andre Poulin, Le Droit, 22/3/87
[6] Ontario Court (Provincial Division) Michel J., 24/10/91; "Childhood incident led to sex charge" by Sean Upton, Ottawa Citizen, 25/10/91
[7] "Power trip killing" by Bruce Ward, Ottawa Citizen, 14/12/91
[8] ONCJ (General Division) Chadwick J., 11/2/91
[9] Pot luck by Glen Troelstrip National Examiner, 4/4/90
[10] R v G.P.&C.M. (1992), O.J. No. 3550 ON CA
[11] R v M.R. (1993), ON CJ, Nicholas J. No. 93-13517, 93-2138
[12]"Condamme a perpeteite" by Regis Bouchard Le Droit , 7/9/94
[13] R v P.C. (1996), O.J. No. 4836 ON CJ (General Division), Doyle J.
[14] R v R.T. (1996), O.J. No. 1131 ON SJ, McWillaim J.
[15] R v A.P. (1999), SCC No. 278
[16] R v M.C. (2000), ON SC No. 971025, Rutherford J.; "Man acquitted in firebomb deaths" by Kelly Egan, Ottawa Citizen, 18/7/2000
[17] R v C.H. (2000), ON SC, McKinnon J. 11/12/00; "Judge acquits book keeper" by Lisa Lisle, Ottawa Sun, 12/10/00; "Prostitution charges thrown out" by Jake Rupert, Ottawa Citizen, 12/10/00
[18] R v J.D. (2002), ONCJ, Fontana J., murder charges dismissed
[19] R v B.J. (2004), Carswell ON 3433, Rathushny J.
[20] R v J.B. (2007), O.J. No. 1520 ON SC, Hackland J.; "Two acquitted in fatal stabbing" by Paula McCooey, Ottawa Citizen, 21/4/07
[21]"Father acquitted of sex assault" by R. Marleau, Ottawa Citizen, 8/6/07
[22] R v J.F. (2008), Mclean J. ONSC
[23]"Man didn't intend to import child porn lawyer argues" by Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen, 21/4/07; "Ottawa man not guilty of possessing & importing child porn" by Andrew Seymour, Ottawa Citizen, 19/11/08, R v M (2008), ONSC, Hackland J.
[24]ON CA (2009), 28
[25] R v S.S.NCJ 08/10/97, Cooper N.C.J. 2012-01-16
[26]2012 ONSC 06-630394 Ratushny J. 25/6/12
[27]London Daily Mail, 15/5/12
[28] R v K.R. (2012), ONCJ, Renaud J. , 31/5/12
[29]Quebec Superior Court, Plouffe J., 7/12/12
[30]ONCJ McPhee J., 2/10/13; "Cornwall's Dr. D. Acquitted" by Dianne Hunter, Cornwall Standard Freeholder
[31]ONCJ Alder J., 5/9/13; "Teen acquitted of human trafficking" by Chloe Fedio, Ottawa Citizen, 6/9/13