Roderick P. Wacowich

Roderick Phillip Wacowich is a former Canadian Master in Chambers in the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.[2][3][4]

Roderick P. Wacowich
Roderick P. Wacowich in 2019
Supreme Court of Alberta
Personal details
BornMarch 2, 1949[1]
EducationBachelor of Arts (1970)
Bachelor of Laws (1972)
Alma materUniversity of Alberta

Career

Roderick P. Wacowich joined the Bar of Alberta in 1975.[lower-alpha 1] Throughout the 1970s, Roderick P. Wacowich worked as a lawyer for the office of the Solicitor General of Alberta, which at that time was known as the Attorney General of Alberta.[6][7][8][9] In the 1980s, Wacowich also worked as a crown agent in the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta.[10]

In April 1985, a previously completed inquiry into the death of James Townshend was reopened following the introduction of new evidence by Wacowich.[11] After Townshend attempted an armed robbery in Edmonton's Abbottsfield Mall, he was shot and killed by Edmonton police. The Edmonton Police Service claimed that Townshend raised and pointed a shotgun toward them, prompting police retaliation; however, Wacowich obtained a letter written by a police informant which questioned the accuracy of the police narrative.[12][13]

Throughout the 1980s, Wacowich supported the anti-abortion movement; in 1983, Wacowich signed the Right-To-Life Signature Proclamation, an Alberta pro-life petition, and in 1987, the Edmonton Journal reported that Wacowich was challenging pro-life doctors in court.[14][15][16] When Albertan doctors began charging fees for abortion referral letters in 1987, the Edmonton Journal reported that "Wacowich said the $84.50 fee covered everything involved with securing the therapeutic abortion and he question the doctors' desire to charge for the letter. 'What are they going to start charging for next -- Band-Aids?' he asked."[17]

Throughout the 1990s, Wacowich served as the Assistant Deputy Minister for Alberta Court Services.[18][19]

In 2003, Wacowich became Master in Chambers for Alberta Justice.[19][20] Wacowich retired on 28 February 2019.[21]

Notable trials

In June 1985, Roderick Wacowich represented Canadian psychologist Louise Nadeau in McNair v Nadeau et al.[22]

In 2018, Wacowich delivered judgement in Woitas v Tremblay and cited Kuipers v Gordon Riley Transport for Samuel Sereth Lieberman's dismissal of the plaintiff's suggestion that "the actions of the other drivers established a 'chain of causation' leading up to the collision involving the plaintiff."[23][24][25]

Notes
  1. In 2003, the Edmonton Journal reported "Wacowich has been with Alberta Justice for 28 years."[5]

References
  1. Lumley, Elizabeth, ed. (2003). Canada's Who's Who. 38. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 1396. ISBN 9780802088659. OCLC 832765900.
  2. Lumley, Elizabeth, ed. (2008). Canada's Who's Who. 43. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. p. 1348. ISBN 9780802040718.
  3. Zemanek, Rick (August 31, 1976). "Witness Tells Inquest Fatal Task Unnecessary". The Red Deer Advocate. p. 11.
  4. Flowers, Don (September 2, 1976). "Dangers Unknown To Victim Declares Coroner's Inquest". The Red Deer Advocate. p. 13.
  5. "Masters In Chambers Named". The Edmonton Journal. June 25, 2003. p. B2.
  6. "Judge Asks Motels To Conform to 1974 Fire Safety Regulations". The Edmonton Journal. May 9, 1979. p. H18.
  7. Solomon, Howard (October 5, 1979). "Judge Orders Arrest of City Businessman". The Edmonton Journal. p. C1.
  8. "Injury Registry Urged By Dead Player's Father". The Red Deer Advocate. June 3, 1980. p. 2.
  9. Masterman, Bruce (May 9, 1981). "Road Was Impassable, Inquiry Told". The Calgary Herald. p. B8.
  10. Rempel, Else (November 26, 1982). "Crown Applies To Force Suspect To Give Evidence". The Edmonton Journal. p. G8.
  11. Sadava, Mike (April 24, 1985). "Informant Suspected Police, Inquiry Told". The Calgary Herald. p. B11.
  12. Sadava, Mike (April 24, 1985). "He Never Had A Chance To Surrender". The Edmonton Journal. p. A1.
  13. Sadava, Mike (April 25, 1985). "Fatal Shooting Was A Suicide, City Police Lawyer Tells Inquiry". The Edmonton Journal. p. B2.
  14. "The Right-To-Life Signature Proclamation: Campaign Life". The Red Deer Advocate. May 10, 1983. p. 36.
  15. Morningstar, Lasha (January 23, 1987). "Abortion Battle Moves Into Court". The Edmonton Journal. p. A4.
  16. Walker, Robert (January 24, 1987). "Doctors Accused Of Using Loophole". The Calgary Herald. p. A2.
  17. Morningstar, Lasha (January 24, 1987). "Verdict Reserved On Abortion Letters". The Edmonton Journal. p. B1.
  18. Canadian Almanac & Directory. Toronto: Scobie & Balfour. 1998. pp. 3–106. ISBN 9781895021356. OCLC 317294112.
  19. "Masters In Chambers Named". The Edmonton Journal. June 25, 2003. p. B2.
  20. Hamilton, Jonnette Watson. "Is Proof of Irreparable Harm to the Plaintiff or Proof of Wilful Delay by the Defendant Required to Defeat an Application to Set Aside Default Judgment? |". Retrieved 2020-08-06.
  21. "RESIGNATIONS & RETIREMENTS". Vol. 115 no. I. Queen's Printer of Alberta. 15 March 2019. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  22. Harrington, Carol (June 29, 1985). "Lawyer Says Patient Never Told Of Rights". The Calgary Herald. p. B2.
  23. "Summary of Woitas v Tremblay". CanLII Connects. November 19, 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  24. "Case Summary: Woitas v. Tremblay - Insurance - Canada". www.mondaq.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  25. "Woitas v Tremblay, 2018 ABQB 588".
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