Latest news with #legaladvocacy
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Sexual assault survivors reach out to Waterloo region center following hockey trial ruling
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region say they have received a number of calls from victims after five former world junior hockey players were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London courtroom last week. Many of the calls are from people who are reaching out wondering what the London verdict could mean for their own cases. Lyndsey Butcher, the director of care at the centre, said the verdict has been difficult for the people they help. On Friday, the day after the verdict, 20 survivors, volunteers and staff gathered for a community care drop-in event, including victims of sexual assault who had not reported the incident. "We had three new survivors come to our centre. All three who had been considering whether or not to report," said Butcher. "And because of this verdict, all three of them said that they were so hesitant and so afraid of what reporting would look like and if they were to take that step what they would be faced with." Butcher says the three people would be supported by the sexual violence legal advocacy program, which supports survivors from the moment they make the decision whether they want to report to police. "We help them to understand what police reporting looks like, what the investigation would entail and then if charges were laid, what a trial would look like," Butcher said. "We are quite honest with them about what impact it may have on them and what type of things they would have to endure in a trial like being cross-examined, like not being believed," she said. For survivors who choose to report to police, Butcher says the centre will make an appointment for them and be there every step of the way, from early discussions with police to the court case. LISTEN | : Restorative justice offers alternative to a trial Sexual assault survivors and advocates would like to have the option to deal with allegations of sexual assault outside the court system through what's known as restorative justice. It focuses more on the rehabilitation of the offender of a crime and reconciliation with the victims and less on punishment. The Kitchener non-profit Community Justice Initiatives offers a restorative justice program. Kate Crozier is the organization's interim executive director and says before proceeding, they give the sexual assault survivor as much information as possible. "So there's just a lot of conversation around what could it look like and she and our staff member will talk about options such as direct dialogue, letter writing and connecting online," said Crozier. "We'll talk about what the survivor's vision of healing and justice looks like. We're really curious, what does it mean to them? What could it look like to them?" From there, Crozier says they reach out to the person who caused the harm and invite them into a dialogue. She says they often find that they meet with people who acknowledge that harm happened but struggle with taking responsibility for it. LISTEN | : Crozier would like to see more funding for restorative just for sexual assault cases in Ontario. "A restorative process is a fraction of the cost of the legal system and held in the hands of survivors, healing and justice needs," said Crozier "We need to divert cases from the legal system so that people can have their day and not have cases dropped out. And we can do this affordably. So we are looking for an investment into restorative justice processes by the province so that we can have survivors have their their opportunity for this." The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has a 24 hour support line that is staffed by volunteers who have completed a comprehensive training program. The number to call is (519) 741-8633. Anyone experiencing a domestic violence crisis and/or is in danger, call 911. For non-urgent situations, you can contact regional police at the non-emergency number (519) 570-9777. Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region is available at (519) 742-5894 in Kitchener-Waterloo and (519) 653-2422 in Cambridge. Women in rural areas can connect by calling either number. The Waterloo Region Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Centre is available at (519) 749-6994.
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
Sexual assault survivors reach out to Waterloo region center following hockey trial ruling
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region say they have received a number of calls from victims after five former world junior hockey players were found not guilty of sexual assault in a London courtroom last week. Many of the calls are from people who are reaching out wondering what the London verdict could mean for their own cases. Lyndsey Butcher, the director of care at the centre, said the verdict has been difficult for the people they help. On Friday, the day after the verdict, 20 survivors, volunteers and staff gathered for a community care drop-in event, including victims of sexual assault who had not reported the incident. "We had three new survivors come to our centre. All three who had been considering whether or not to report," said Butcher. "And because of this verdict, all three of them said that they were so hesitant and so afraid of what reporting would look like and if they were to take that step what they would be faced with." Butcher says the three people would be supported by the sexual violence legal advocacy program, which supports survivors from the moment they make the decision whether they want to report to police. "We help them to understand what police reporting looks like, what the investigation would entail and then if charges were laid, what a trial would look like," Butcher said. "We are quite honest with them about what impact it may have on them and what type of things they would have to endure in a trial like being cross-examined, like not being believed," she said. For survivors who choose to report to police, Butcher says the centre will make an appointment for them and be there every step of the way, from early discussions with police to the court case. Restorative justice offers alternative to a trial Sexual assault survivors and advocates would like to have the option to deal with allegations of sexual assault outside the court system through what's known as restorative justice. It focuses more on the rehabilitation of the offender of a crime and reconciliation with the victims and less on punishment. The Kitchener non-profit Community Justice Initiatives offers a restorative justice program. Kate Crozier is the organization's interim executive director and says before proceeding, they give the sexual assault survivor as much information as possible. "So there's just a lot of conversation around what could it look like and she and our staff member will talk about options such as direct dialogue, letter writing and connecting online," said Crozier. "We'll talk about what the survivor's vision of healing and justice looks like. We're really curious, what does it mean to them? What could it look like to them?" From there, Crozier says they reach out to the person who caused the harm and invite them into a dialogue. She says they often find that they meet with people who acknowledge that harm happened but struggle with taking responsibility for it. Crozier would like to see more funding for restorative just for sexual assault cases in Ontario. "A restorative process is a fraction of the cost of the legal system and held in the hands of survivors, healing and justice needs," said Crozier "We need to divert cases from the legal system so that people can have their day and not have cases dropped out. And we can do this affordably. So we are looking for an investment into restorative justice processes by the province so that we can have survivors have their their opportunity for this." The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has a 24 hour support line that is staffed by volunteers who have completed a comprehensive training program. The number to call is (519) 741-8633. Anyone experiencing a domestic violence crisis and/or is in danger, call 911. For non-urgent situations, you can contact regional police at the non-emergency number (519) 570-9777. Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region is available at (519) 742-5894 in Kitchener-Waterloo and (519) 653-2422 in Cambridge. Women in rural areas can connect by calling either number. The Waterloo Region Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Centre is available at (519) 749-6994.
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Prominent Chicago defense lawyer Thomas Durkin, a zealous advocate for clients, has died at 78
Thomas Anthony Durkin, a nationally prominent criminal defense attorney who for five decades was a fixture in Chicago's courthouses and who was known for his relentless advocacy for a roster of notorious clients, has died. He was 78 years old. Durkin died Monday after a brief battle with cancer, said a daughter, Alanna Durkin Richer, an Associated Press journalist in Washington. Durkin participated in some of Chicago 's highest-profile court cases, but his influence spanned beyond the city through his representation of Guantanamo Bay detainees, lectures at law schools across the country and legal essays and news media interviews in which he sounded the alarm about the perils of unchecked government power. His career was driven by a conviction that all defendants, no matter their alleged crime or society's perception of them, were entitled to a rigorous defense and to the protection of their constitutionally afforded civil rights. So committed was he to the defense of the unpopular that the headline of a 2016 Wall Street Journal article described him as a 'terror suspect's best hope in court.' 'I don't do this because I think my clients are wonderful people who should be exonerated,' he was quoted in the story as saying. 'I do it because I think I have a role in the system.' Durkin was born on the South Side of Chicago to a steel mill worker who saved enough money to put his son through the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1968 and whose home football games he rarely missed. He later received a law degree from the University of San Francisco, where he was exposed to criminal defense by serving as a student adviser at a local public defender's office. Returning to Chicago, he clerked for Judge James Parsons of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before entering private practice with a specialty in federal criminal cases. From 1978 through 1984, he served as a federal prosecutor in Chicago. Over more than 40 years in private practice, he cultivated a reputation as one of the country's foremost advocates of defendants other attorneys would pass on representing. 'He took on the most challenging, controversial and complex cases that other lawyers would run away from,' said Joshua Herman, an attorney who worked on national security matters with Durkin. 'Above all, he valued the rule of law the most and raised his strongest objections to what he saw as abuses of power.' Durkin's clients included Adel Daoud, who was accused in a plot to bomb a Chicago bar, and Mohammed Hamzah Khan, who as a teenager was arrested on charges of conspiring to provide support to the Islamic State. He won an acquittal on terrorism charges for Jared Chase, one of the so-called NATO 3 defendants accused of plotting to bomb the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago, and he represented Matthew Hale, a white supremacist leader accused of domestic terrorism offenses for soliciting the murder of a federal judge. 'I used to tell him he was my favorite 'cause' lawyer,' said Dan Webb, a former U.S. Attorney in Chicago who said he had known Durkin for more than 40 years and spoke to him just a week ago for a case they were working on together. 'When he got committed to a cause, he would not stop until he accomplished his goal.' He also was a go-to lawyer for numerous local elected officials who found themselves in legal trouble. The work, Durkin said, appealed not only to his commitment to civil liberties but stimulated him intellectually and spiritually as well. 'I think these are the cases of our day. They point out all the problems that terrorism has spawned, with the reaction on our side, both good and bad. I find them fascinating,' he said in a 2014 Chicago Reader piece. 'There are some days I find it hard to believe that people are paying me to be involved in what I'm involved in. There's a tremendous amount of history you have to learn, which I enjoy. There's a lot of theology you have to understand, which I enjoy.' Beyond Chicago, he did legal work for detainees at Guantanamo Bay, including helping represent Ramzi bin al-Shibh, an accused facilitator of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, and representing others who have since been returned to their home countries. His experiences there, he said, helped show him the 'dark side' of American intelligence. 'I think I've been involved in some pretty wild stuff around here but I've never been involved in anything as wild as this,' he said in a 2009 Chicago television interview. Since 1984, he operated a law practice, Durkin & Roberts, with his wife, Janis Roberts, whose own legal career he was proud to pay tribute to. 'Without Roberts,' he has said, 'there is no Durkin.' Besides his wife and his daughter Alanna, he is survived by five other children: Erin Pieplow, Krista Mussa, Catherine Durkin Stewart, James Stewart and Matthew Stewart, and 15 grandchildren.
Globe and Mail
18-07-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan Unveils Business Milestone with Super Lawyers Recognition
The Kew Gardens personal injury firm maintains its momentum in New York's legal landscape with continued Super Lawyers recognition for 2024-2025. Kew Gardens, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - July 18, 2025) - The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan has announced a major business milestone with its continued recognition by Super Lawyers for 2024-2025, showing the firm's continued excellence and standing within the legal industry. The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan Unveils Business Milestone with Super Lawyers Recognition To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The selection represents a business achievement that underscores the firm's commitment to serving clients in personal injury law, including sanitation worker injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and other complex injury cases across New York City. The Super Lawyers honor is reserved for a small percentage of attorneys who demonstrate high peer recognition and professional accomplishments, aligning with the firm's steady advancement as a trusted legal resource for New Yorkers. Dennis Ryan, founder of the practice, has consistently earned selection to Super Lawyers and was previously included in the Metro New York Rising Stars list each year since 2014. This continued recognition signals a milestone for the practice, which focuses on advocating for workers, including representing those injured on the job, and offering guidance on complex claims processes. The achievement reflects the firm's work in sanitation worker injury claims, supporting those searching for a Sanitation Worker Injury Lawyer in New York. The firm's business progress comes as it maintains its focus on supporting local workers and injured individuals in pursuing fair compensation. Known for its experience in representing clients in personal injury matters, the firm has expanded its visibility in the industry while maintaining its client-centered approach. The firm's continued acknowledgment by Super Lawyers further positions it among Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyers in the region, reinforcing its role in the legal community while handling cases with diligence and respect. The award, recognizing Dennis Ryan Injury Attorney in Kew Gardens, NY, arrives as the firm continues to manage a wide range of personal injury claims, including line-of-duty injuries and cases involving sanitation workers, consistent with the founder's advocacy for worker safety. Operating from its office in Kew Gardens, the firm has built a reputation for clear, consistent communication with clients while navigating the complexities of personal injury law. The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan has remained active in litigation, mediations, and arbitration, aiming to secure outcomes that reflect each client's situation while maintaining procedural integrity within the court system. The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan has also focused on representing workers facing challenging claims processes, offering guidance to help clients understand their options and protect their rights. The firm's approach reflects its mission to provide clear, straightforward legal representation to injured individuals, including those seeking a Sanitation Worker Injury Lawyer in New York. Clients seeking legal support from Dennis Ryan Injury Attorney in Kew Gardens, NY, can expect a team that prioritizes communication and respects the challenges faced by those navigating injury claims. About The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan The Law Offices of Dennis P. Ryan is a New York-based personal injury law firm focusing on representing clients in cases involving sanitation worker injuries, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and other personal injury matters.
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs Hits $1 Billion in Client Recoveries as It Celebrates Its 33rd Anniversary
With this achievement, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs sets a new standard for results-driven legal advocacy. The Houston-based law firm cites strong performance across personal injury and medical malpractice litigation as the drivers of its success and lasting legacy. Houston, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - July 18, 2025) - Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs has officially crossed the $1 billion mark in client recoveries, including verdicts, settlements and legal cost savings. The firm is excited to celebrate this milestone, which has become part of its anniversary celebrations as it marks 33 years of legal excellence in Houston. Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs Hits $1 Billion in Client Recoveries as It Celebrates Its 33rd Anniversary To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: This landmark achievement reflects the firm's more than 30 years of tough, results-driven advocacy and signals its litigation strength, long-term growth, and leadership in Houston's legal community. The $1 billion in recoveries is not just a financial milestone; it represents the firm's years of securing justice for victims of serious accidents, corporate negligence, and medical malpractice. Moreover, the achievement and anniversary prove the firm's staying power, ability to scale without losing the personal attention every client deserves, and its place as one of the most trusted personal injury law firms in Houston, Texas. Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs has built its reputation by handling some of the most complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases in Texas. Since opening its doors in 1992, the firm has helped thousands of individuals and families recover after life-changing injuries, becoming a fixture in the Houston legal community. The firm combines legal skills with aggressive representation and compassion to fight for and protect the rights of its clients. Backed by more than 100 years of combined experience, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs is known for going all in on every case to secure the best outcomes for clients. The firm's Houston personal injury lawyers, who include multiple Board-Certified personal injury trial attorneys, are backed by a collaborative, client-first approach. Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs' legacy also includes major recognitions for its leadership and litigation excellence. This includes being honored with prestigious awards such as the Ronald D. Secrest Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award, which was given to founding attorney Tommy Fibich in 2019. But more than awards, stats, or the 3-decade run, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs' commitment to serving clients remains at the core of everything. As Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs celebrates surpassing $1 billion in client recoveries and its 33rd anniversary, the firm recognizes that its success is deeply intertwined with the strength of its relationships with clients. Over the past three decades, the firm has built a stellar team of Houston personal injury lawyers who cultivate relationships with clients and collaborate closely on each cases to ensure satisfactory outcomes. Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs has also established itself as the go-to medical malpractice attorney in Houston, Texas. With this milestone and their anniversary behind them, Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs remains focused on the future and commits to fighting for their clients and protecting their rights for years to come. The firm promises to continue grounding its results in its legal strategy, compassionate support, and mission—"Fighting Wrongs, Protecting Your Rights." For more information, visit Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & Briggs. Contact Info:Name: Tommy FibichEmail: tfibich@ Fibich, Leebron, Copeland & BriggsWebsite: To view the source version of this press release, please visit Sign in to access your portfolio
