Selwyn A. Pieters - Barrister & Solicitor

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Our goal is the passionate pursuit of truth, social justice, equity and human rights through grass root community work and fearless advocacy. We achieve this goal by providing the highest quality legal services to you in an effective and efficient manner. Honesty, integrity and professionalism are our watch words. We invite you to talk with us about how we may be of service to you. Highlights include:

Family of man allegedly beaten by cop wants 'Justice', ‎Toronto Sun - Chris Doucette, May 14, 2010
A bad week in In-Between City, ‎Toronto Star - Rick Eglinton, May 14, 2010
Black youth are painted into a corner, ‎Metro Canada - Toronto - John Sewell, May 14, 2010
Mother's Day march for dead teen, ‎Toronto Sun - Tamara Cherry, May 9, 2010
Family blames police in Toronto teen's death, ‎CBC.ca, May 10, 2010
Family blames police for son's death, demands probe, ‎Toronto Star - Rick Eglinton - 7 May 2010
Crime and Punishment - Does the punishment fit the crime? Are we letting criminals off too easy? Why are we so slow to prosecute white collar criminals? Does getting tough on crime act as a deterrent? Is getting to the root causes of crime the real solution? Discussing these issues is Selwyn Pieters, a criminal defence lawyer and activist involved in human and civil rights. Our second guest is Lorrie Goldstein, the Sun's Senior Associate Editor. on Canoe Live at 5:30pm ET. - September 16, 2009
Tamara Baluja "Charges stayed in University of Toronto sit-in", Toronto Star, September 11, 2009.
John Bonnar, Students and community demand charges against U of T 'Fight Fees 2, Rabble.ca , ‎August 5, 2009‎;
Rankin, Jim and Contenta, Sandro, School, Interrupted, part 1 of 3: Lingering in limbo, Toronto Star, June 06, 2009
Are schools too quick to suspend? Sandro Contenta Jim Rankin, June 08, 2009
Students thrown into limbo Metro Canada, June 4, 2009;
Racial bias runs surprisingly deep, Toronto Star - Jun 27, 2009
Six-month-long trial was slow and costly exercise in justice, Globe and Mail - April 6, 2009
Selwyn Pieters was interviewed by CBC Radio News on Justice Minister Nicholson's legislation to kill two-for-one prison-time credit.... March 25, 2009
Another lawyer leaves HIV trial, PressDisplay.com - Nov 28, 2008
Charles' case moved to Ontario Superior Court, Canada.com - Oct 27, 2008
Charles' lawyer maintains his client's innocence, Canada.com - Oct 17, 2008
High-profile lawyer takes (Adrian) Charles' case, Canada.com - Oct 18, 2008
Bendale school shooting suspect named Toronto Star, September 19, 2008;
Botched robbery recalled Toronto Sun, September 18, 2008;
Teen shooting victim faces robbery charge
Globe and Mail, September 18, 2008;
Third Teen Suspect In Bendale School Shooting Finally Surrenders To Cops, CityNews, September 29, 2008 ;
TIMOTHY APPLEBY, "Mother guilty of lying at son's bail hearing", Globe and Mail, July 30, 2008;
TIMOTHY APPLEBY AND KATE HAMMER "Inner-city residents buoyed as Toronto crime drops" The Globe and Mail, July 1, 2008;
Master's student earns top marks for dissent, Globe and Mail, 22 June 2008.
Aziga's rights violated in jail: defence, The Hamilton Spectator Page: A03 Section: Local Edition: MET Pubdate: June 19, 2008 Barbara Brown The Hamilton Spectator;
Ont. man charged with spreading HIV to go on trial, Canada.com - Jun 19, 2008
Drop charges: defence Claims HIV-murder suspect's rights violated in jail
The Hamilton Spectator Page: A05 Section: Local Edition: MET Pubdate: June 11, 2008 Rachel De Lazzer The Hamilton Spectator;
Laina Dawes, Black, Canadian and rooting for Obama, Toronto Star Page: L2 Section: Living Edition: MET Pubdate: May 12, 2007;
Paul Legall Ministry to pay for HIV defence, The Hamilton Spectator Page: A06 Section: Local Edition: MET Pubdate: January 26, 2008 The Hamilton Spectator;
Royson James Enough - stop campaign of racism against guards, Toronto Star Page: A8 Section: News Edition: MET Pubdate: January 18, 2008 By Toronto Star;
Police insist slain man was involved in a gang Son targeted because he was a snitch, family says Toronto Star Page: A1 Section: News Edition: ONT Pubdate: November 13, 2007 By Bob Mitchell Toronto Sta
Family denies dead son was in gang Man killed because he testified against one of his accused killers, family lawyer says , Toronto Star Page: A6 Section: News Edition: MET Pubdate: November 12, 2007 By Philip Mascoll and Bob Mitchell Toronto Star
Creba link investigated in shooting Man with gang ties and on probation was visiting inmate at Don Jail before being killed nearby Toronto Star Page: A8 Section: News Edition: MET Pubdate: October 23, 2007 By Betsy Powell Toronto Star
Shelter employee fired for alleged racism wins lawsuit -The Record Page: A4 Section: FRONT Edition: Final Pubdate: October 19, 2007 The Canadian Press
Toronto (Don) Jail decision in the Charlton v. Ontario (Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services) 2007 CarswellOnt 4099. See also, Breach of a contractual provision creating expectation of a psychological benefit entitles employee to damages, tribunal rules September 19, 2007; "Harassed jailer awarded $20Gs" Toronto Sun, June 29, 2007 and Letter was 'vicious and hateful', Toronto Star, June 29, 2007; ANTHONY REINHART's The Festering Problem of Racism, Globe and Mail, January 17, 2008; Royson James, Enough – stop campaign of racism, Toroto Star, January 18, 2008; Sarah Green, Stone walls, racial hatred, TorontoSun.com February 03, 2008.

Wednesday, March 19, the Black Law Students' Association’s luncheon at noon with human rights lawyers Selwyn Pieters and Raj Dhir. Professor David Tanovich’s Racial Profiling class will commence at 1:30 p.m. with featured speakers. Attendance is limited to 20 additional people. Reservations can be made by e-mailing blsac@uwindsor.ca.
K.B. and T.M. v. Toronto District School Board, has now been completed with the Judgment of Madam Justice Swinton dismissing the judicial review. This case has generated quite a bit of litigation, see also, K. B. and T. M. v. Toronto District School Board et al. (May 03, 2006, Chapnick J., Div. Ct). For other decision in this case see, K. B. and T. M. v. Toronto District School Board et al. [2006] O.J. No. 1380; K. B. and T. M. v. Toronto District School Board et al. [2006] O.J. No. 362 (sealing order); K. B. and T. M. v. Toronto District School Board et al. [2006] O.J. No. 746 (striking part of affidavit and sealing order); K.B. v. Toronto District School Board [2006] O.J. No. 1026 (intervention of JFCY).
Decision in Karen Butler-Lynch v. Dr. Roz's Healing Place renderd orally by Klowak J., see CBC.ca and Globe and Mail. The case is even covered in the Turkish Daily News.
David Latchana was killed as retribution for being summoned in a criminal trial as a witness. The accused persons made a track that could be found on myspace.com calling the deceased a "snitch" and telling him that "I won't forget this till your time is up." Victim killed doing the right thing, Toronto Sun, November 12, 2007; Video on myspace labelled gun victim as snitch, lawyer says Globe and Mail, November 12, 2007; Family denies dead son was in gang Toronto Star, November 12, 2007
The Agenda with Steve Paikin on Monday, October 29th, 2007: Can governments really affect crime and criminal behaviour?
Judicial review decision in Moussa v. Canada
Summons to appear in District Court in Michigan.
Racial Profiling decision in R v. Egonu and preliminary decision in the LCBO matter.
Discussion with Jack Boland, Sun TV regarding Richard Steele release from jail and his situation as a Crown witness. Also, Jane Creba shooting witness released from jail, June 08, 2007, cbc.ca
TVO Program Inner City Youth
April 19, 2007, I received the Race Relations Award at the Celebrating 25 Years of the Charter and Constitutional Protection Against Racism, Urban Alliance on Race Relations Awards Dinner and Tribute
Colliding cultures in R. v. Roach, 2005 O.J. No. 5278 (Ont. C.J.) the Court said this about the code of silence engaged in by the Toronto Police Service and its lead Detective Blanchfield: "¶ 36 Constable Blanchfield, in my view, in his preparation of his notes, in his trial preparation in response to defence requests for information about the case and about the pepper spray and about the Use of Force Reports, if they existed, and in his initial testimony before me, before he was cross-examined, did a remarkable imitation of the child parable of the three monkeys, hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil. " In R. v. Steele the Court said this about the code of silence amongst the jail population: "Mr. Steele may be considered a 'rat' by some individuals....But the fact some individuals have a misguided, in fact, perverse notion of what it is to be a citizen is a not a basis to quash a subpoena."
The Boxing Day shooting Investigation (Project Green Apple) has spawned a number of litigation in which I am involved:

Representing Valarie Steele and daughter Joy Steele in action against Toronto Police Services Board regarding "Boxing Day Shooting Investigation" in which their home and property were destroyed by during the execution of a search warrant.
Representing a Young Black Lawyer who alleged that he was racially profiled on his birthday by Toronto Police Service's Guns and Drugs Task Force Officers. See, Lawyer Claims He Was Racially Profiled By Cops, CP24.com, January 04, 2006; Young black lawyer sues Toronto police, Toronto Star, January 04, 2006; Black TO lawyer says cops harassed him, Hamilton Spectator, January 02, 2006; Sued cops deny racial profiling, Macleans, March 08, 2006.
Represented the family of the late Andre Thompson whose picture was posted in a story by Sam Pazzano, dated January 25, 2006 entitled “Boxing Day Suspect stays in jail”, notwitstanding that the person captioned died eight years before Creba died.
Representing Valarie Steele who was charged with perjury as a result of testimony given in a previous bail hearing for her son Richard Steele.
Represented Richard Steele in Project Green Apple

"I am satisfied that Detective Kyriacou's preparation of this affidavit amounted to a reckless disregard for the Truth and for the role of a judge on an ex parte application." Mr. Justice Trafford, June 20, 2007 in R. v. Ebanks, 2007 CanLII 23028 (ON S.C.). See also, Questions raised about Creba detective's work
Successfully defended a Toronto Hip Hop artist Ken Masters on charge of causing a disturbance. Watching a free-style hip-hop battle cannot constitute a criminal offense. See, R. v. Roach, 2005 O.J. No. 5278 (Ont. C.J.) (Criminal Law - Causing a Disturbance): " I've concluded that it would be unsafe to convict on the uncorroborated testimony of Constable Blanchfield. His testimony is, as stated in the written submissions by the defence, riddled with inconsistencies and omissions and there are serious omissions in his notebook." Justice Paul Reinhardt. See also, Beating the Rap with Truth, Toronto Star, December 10, 2005, A1.
Presently providing representation before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal in Jamaal Williams and Peel Regional Police Services Board (Respondent) and Ontario Human Rights Commission (Racial Profiling - Peel Regional Police Service).
Providng advise and representation to a youth in Project XXX.
Providing representation to Paul Carty in his lawsuit against the RCMP: See, Alleging harassment, constable sues RCMP, Oliver Moore, Globe and Mail, August 17, 2006, RCMP Sued for Discrimination, Bob Mitchell, Toronto Star, August 15, 2006; Officer files $3.5-million lawsuit against RCMP, CBC, August 15, 2006; $3.5m lawsuit alleges colleagues, supervisors routinely made slurs against cop, Chronicle-Herald, August 15, 2006.
Providing representation to an Ahmadi Muslim who has sued the RCMP for religious discrimination and violating his equality rights.
Providing representation to a family in a malpractice lawsuit against a law firm.
Provided representation to the Jane-Finch Concerned Citizens Organization in relation to contractual issues with Chrysler Financial concerning the recently concluded Hip Hop Summit "Get Your Money Rights" in Toronto.
Providing representations to various students, and administrators in matters before the College of Teachers.
Successfully represented Dan Freeman-Maloy (co-counsel with Peter Rosenthal) in the Ontario Court of Appeal in the matter of Freeman-Maloy v. Marsden (C43539). The issue on appeal is whether the President of York Univerity is a "public officer" for the purpose of the tort of misfeasance or abuse of public office. The Ontario Court of Appeal said yes. A President of a University is a public officer and can be sued for abuse of public office. This is the first case that deals "squarely deals with the issue of precisely which statutory office holders are subject to being sued for their malicious acts." See, Freeman-Maloy v. Marsden (Ontario Court of Appeal, March 31, 2006), overturning Hoy J. decision in Freeman-Maloy v. Marsden [2005] O.J. No. 1730 (S.C.J.). Leave to Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada denied with costs. See also, Student can sue York, Kirk Makin, Globe and Mail, September 18, 2006, A12.
Appeared in the Ontario Court of Appeal (co-counsel) in Bangoura v. Washington Post, Bangoura v Washington Post, 258 D.L.R. (4th) 341, 2005 CarswellOnt 4343, [2005] O.J. No. 3849, 17 C.P.C. (6th) 30, 2005 CanLII 32906 (Ont. C.A. Sep 16, 2005), an important libel and Slander matter on the issue of jurisdiction. See also Bangoura v. Washington Post, (2005-12-19) (decision on costs): "This case represented the first time that this court has had the opportunity to consider the application of the real and substantial connection test in respect of jurisdiction in a libel case. The case attracted the attention of the Media Coalition who intervened in the appeal. The members of the Media Coalition publish newspapers, magazines and books worldwide. They also broadcast radio and television programming in North America and elsewhere. They publish Internet websites that have been accessed by millions of viewers in more than 200 countries." Chief Justice McMurtry.
Appeared as co-counsel in the Federal Court of Appeal (October 12, 2005) in The Honourable Sinclair Stevens v. The Conservative Party of Canada, 2005 FCA 383, 2005 F.C.J. No. 1890 (Fed. C.A.) (2005-11-17): "This is the first time this Court will be asked to interpret sections 400 to 403 of the Canada Elections Act (S.C. 2000, c. 9), which came into force on September 1, 2000 (Can. Gaz. Part I, Spec. Ed. Vol. 134, No. 6)." Justice Decary. Also, worked on motions in this case: The Honourable Sinclair Stevens v. The Conservative Party of Canada et al. (A-642-04, February 25, 2005, Rothstein J.A.); The Honourable Sinclair Stevens v. The Conservative Party of Canada et al. (A-642-04, March 03, 2005, Decary J.A.).
Appeared in the Federal Court in Ottawa as counsel for an applicant in a matter of judicial review of a classification grievance of 119 Refugee Protection Officers at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada seeking to have their classification upgraded. See Adamidis v. Canada (Treasury Board) [2006] F.C. 243 (Fed. Ct.); Adamidis v. Canada (Treasury Board) [2005] F.C.J. 1747 (Fed. Ct.) (administrative law, Rule 380).
Successfully represented a 11 year old boy, in Rudder (Litigation guardian of) v. Ontario Amateur Softball Assn. [2005] O.J. No. 3358, who was seeking a release from the Ontario Amateur Softball Association to play for another team on the basis of a racial slur from his coach.
The participation in the Inquest into the Death of Negus Topey on behalf of a public interest organization. Selwyn has also appeared before the Coroner on behalf of a public interest group seeking standing in the Inquest into the Death of Dwight Haughton, Otto Vass and Jeffrey Reodica.
Participation on behalf of a student J.A. in motion for production of a student's Ontario Student Record in an Arbitration proceeding: Toronto District School Board v. Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (Brown Grievances).
Bazodee Connection v. Toronto Mas Band Assn. [2006] O.J. No. 2625. See also, Caribana's marching orders land troubled festival in court, by Jeff Gray, Globe and Mail, June 27, 2006, A1. See also, Caribana has lost its essence, Rosie Dimanno, Toronto Star, June 17, 2006.
Another ongoing saga with the Toronto District School Board - a case of non-disclosure of information: Toronto District School Board (MO-2046-I Interim Order, Apr. 24, 2006); Toronto District School Board (MO-2054-I Interim Order, May 23, 2006). In this case the saga continues with the parent now being banned from McDonald Block by the Ministry of Education. See, "Province Bans Parent From Building" Moira MacDonald, Toronto Sun, June 26, 2006, p. 22.
Currently providing representation to numerous students under the Education Act, Human Rights Code, College of Teachers Act and Regulations and Youth Criminal Justice Act. Has been involved in several cases that resulted in ground breaking settlements including Safe Schools Act Cases from Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board that before the Ontario Human Rights Commission , the recent case of Featherstone v. Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board [2005] O.J. No. 4431 that was settled at the Superior Court of Justice. See, Appealing for Justice, PULSE24.COM, October 31, 2005; Question Period, Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Hansard, October 31, 2005.
Appeared in proceedings in Superior Court in the matter of Tewogbade v. Toronto Police Services Board; McLean v. Peel Regional Police Services Board.
Representative on the Coalition of African Canadian Organizations (the Coalition) formed in August 2005 in response to the escalating incidents of gun violence across the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, which has had a disproportionate impact upon the African Canadian Community. The membership of the Coalition is comprised of a broad cross-section of African Canadian membership and service delivery organizations serving the African Canadian community. See, The Faces Remaking Black Toronto, Now Toronto, February 23, 2006; Black group calls for action on gun violence, CTV.ca, January 03, 2006. Macleans, Canada, January 02, 2006; Duffy Live: Legal Analyst Steven Skurka and Lawyer Selwyn Pieters, January 03, 2006;
Successfully represented a 17-year old University of Toronto before Scarborough College Sub-Committee on Academic Appeals in a petition for late withdrawal from a course which contained videos and other materials of extreme violence, not suitable for minors. A retroactive late withdrawal from a course is an extraordinary remedy reserved for the most serious cases. The Committee considered all of the medical and other evidence submitted by the student. It was the opinion of the Committee that the medical evidence and other evidence met the test for granting the extraordinary remedy of late withdrawal.
Acted as lead legal counsel for the Association of Black Law Enforcers (ABLE) in the negotiation of a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. based National Black Police Association; contracts and other legal matters associated with the hosting of an international conference in Toronto in August 2005.
The successful resolution of a case with the Toronto Police Service in which a Black Inspector complained of being treated differentially in relation to his White colleagues. Also successfully represented a Deputy Chief of Police on a complaint that violates his/her freedom of expression and equality rights.
Selwyn also provided representation in Bail hearings. See for example, R. v. Cox et al. 2005 WL 2883047 (Ont. CJ.) (Criminal Law - Bail)
The landmark settlement against Canada Customs and Revenue Agency (now called Canada Border Service Agency) in a racial profiling complaint.
Representing various persons who suffered various abuses in their interactions with the police.
Representing victims of racial profiling by the police, private security agents, Toronto Transit Commission, various school boards, stores and shopping malls (consumer racial profiling).
Providing representation to a young black male who was racially profiled as a bank robber and assaulted by officers of Peel Regional Police.
Successful settlements of client's complaints of Consumer Racial Profiling against several corporations
Selwyn has appeared before panels at the Immigration and Refugee Board in more than 400 Refugee Law Cases.

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