Today On The Dobranos......

.....Who (Still?) Loves' Ya Baby?

EverybodyLawyers-Up
LINOVille


This week, a continuing plotline in the BC RailGate 'Trial of the Century' starring The Dobranos has been the increasing focus on the apparent actions, deeds and words of former Finance Minister Gary (no longer Farrell) Collins.

Luckily for him, however, Mr. Collins had the foresight to lawyer-up before the trial began.

As a result, Mr. Collins has had a very fine solicitor by the name of Clark Roberts watching his back, both inside and outside, of Studio......errrrr.....Courtroom 54 in downtown Vancouver.

All of which led us to wonder just who might be paying for Mr. Roberts services.

Well, after an assist from GWest on the comment threads, we found an answer, sort of, by reading Bill Tieleman's latest piece in The Tyee:

Victoria lawyer Clark Roberts has been in B.C. Supreme Court every day since the defence disclosure application began, representing Gary Collins and speaking on his behalf on several occasions to rebut defence allegations.

But Roberts left the court without speaking to the three remaining media -- myself for 24 hours newspaper and The Tyee, Rob Brown for B.C. CTV and Mark Hume for the Globe and Mail newspaper -- after Bolton's statement.

But Roberts himself disclosed some other interesting details earlier in the day, including that his fees for attending court daily from Victoria may be paid by B.C. taxpayers.

"I'm here to protect Mr. Collins' reputation," Roberts told journalists at a break in the proceedings.

When I asked if Collins is personally retaining him at his own expense, Roberts allowed that he may in fact be paid by taxpayers.

"Mr. Collins asked me to act for him but who is paying the bill is not clear at this time. I understand Mr. Collins has an indemnification as a former cabinet minister."

Hmmmm......

Two things:

1) What kind of lawyer takes on a case without knowing who is paying the bill?

2) If Mr. Roberts is being compensated from some sort of Indeminfication for the Dobrano Nation payment plan, who authorized the payout from the public purse*?


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*Somehow, given the way they've apparently been targetted by The Dobranos media manipulation machine, we don't think it could even remotely possibly be a 'former' Premier.


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