Canadian Bar Insurance Association News
The CBIA offers CBA members, their employees and their families a full range of customized insurance products, including term life, accident, disability and business expense insurance, individual and group health and dental benefits, as well as home and auto, and outside director’s liability insurance at very competitive rates, on a not-for-profit basis.

On May 1, 2002, in response to many requests, CBIA launched a health and dental plan for retired lawyers or law firm employees. So long as the application is received within 60 days of the individual’s loss of existing benefits due to retirement, no medical information is required. CBIA is also refining a Critical Illness rider to the term life plan, likely available later this year, with benefits of up to five times the current term life insurance. Critical Illness (CI) insurance provides a lump sum payment on diagnosis of a specific level of certain serious illnesses, whether or not the insured claimant is disabled. CI insurance can cover extraordinary medical expenses and other immediate needs during the life of the insured, leaving the term life insurance for the protection of the surviving family.

CBIA has also arrived at agreement in principal with CBA to form a new financial services company, which will follow the CBIA not-for-profit model and offer a range of investment services to CBA members.

Please contact your BC CBIA sales representative, Eric Mass 604.688.8790, or your CBIA BC Directors, Elizabeth Lyall and John Ankenman, for further information.


CBABC Special Meeting
On June 21, the CBABC convened a special meeting at the written request of 50 members. The two resolutions for consideration at the special meeting were:

1. That the CBA (BC Branch) withdraws its support for the April 12, 2002 “Joint Statement” signed by the President of the Branch and the Attorney General.
2. That any further “constructive engagement” with the Attorney General begin from the proposition that, so long as it is collected, the special 7.5 per cent tax on legal services be dedicated to the provision of legal aid.

The meeting was held at 11 satellite locations in BC, with 230 members in attendance. The resolutions passed by a large majority and the joint statement was withdrawn.


New Agreement With Bank of Montreal
Law Foundation Chair, Don Silversides, QC commends Bank of Montreal for its commitment to paying a competitive rate of return on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts. Recognizing the severe overall impact of low interest rates on the Law Foundation’s revenues, a new interest rate agreement was recently concluded.

As of May 1, 2002, interest paid to the Law Foundation on lawyers’ pooled trust accounts will be at a rate of prime less 3.00 per cent, with no service charges. Thanks to David Fraser, Senior Commercial Sales Leader Vancouver Centre, and Janice Phelps, Senior Commercial Service Manager, for ensuring that Bank of Montreal remained competitive in addressing customer’s needs.

Increased revenues enable the Law Foundation to fund programs that make the justice system accessible to British Columbians, particularly those who have the greatest access problems as a result of their economic, social, physical or mental special needs. The funded programs include both professional and public legal education, law reform, legal research, legal aid and law libraries.

The CBABC, the Law Foundation, and the Law Society encourage lawyers to consider which financial institutions provide the best support to the Law Foundation when deciding where to place their trust accounts.


Input Sought on 2001 BCMA Medical Legal Fee Increases
In June 2001, the BC Medical Association’s Board of Directors approved a review of BCMA medical legal fees (examples at right). The CBABC Auto Insurance Committee would like to hear from CBA members concerning these changes, including any impact these increases have had, or are having, on members’ practices or their clients. Email Michael Kew (mkew@netidea.com).

Fee Item	Description	Prev Fee	Revised Fee
A00072	Medical Legal Report	$473	$750
A00073	Medical Legal Opinion	$737	$1,250
A00074	Expert testimony in Court	$1,618	$2,000
A00075	Expert Testimony in Court per Half-Day or Less	$811	$1,250

Online News Sources
Recent news delivery disruptions drew attention to online news sources. The selection of sites proved vast; here’s a few worth visiting:

Local
The Province and Vancouver Sun: www.canada.com

National
Globe and Mail: www.globeandmail.com
National Post: www.nationalpost.com

International
BBC: www.news.bbc.co.uk
Bloomberg: www.bloomberg.com
CNN: www.cnn.com
DMOZ: www.dmoz.org/News/ (directory of news venues)
New York Times: www.nytimes.com
Wired: www.wired.com (technology news)


Where is the McNeill Cup?
Members of the Cariboo Bar Association are still trying to locate the McNeill Cup, which has been missing for almost three years. The Cup is awarded at the annual convention for excellence in a competition of the host community’s choice.

There is a reward offered for the return of the McNeill Cup: free registration to the 2003 Convention to be held in Prince George.

If you know where the McNeill Cup is or can offer a tip on where it might be found, please contact President Andrew Kemp at 250.563.0681 or Past-President Berga Moen at 250.782.8155 or any member of the Cariboo Bar Association. All information will be treated in strict confidence.


Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP)
LAP provides confidential support, counselling and referrals for lawyers, their families, support staff, judges and students suffering from alcohol and/or chemical dependency, stress, depression or just about any type of personal problem.

For assistance or information on meetings and resources please call 604.685.2171 or toll free 1.888.685.2171.

The LAP office is located at 415-1080 Mainland Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2T4.

These articles were published in the August 2002 issue of BarTalk. © 2002 The Canadian Bar Association. All rights reserved.