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Brandon Sun - ONLINE EDITION

VIDEO: Court orders seizure of computers in judge sex scandal

By: Mike McIntyre

9/09/2010 4:51 PM

Alexander Chapman leaves the Law Courts Building Thursday.

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Alexander Chapman leaves the Law Courts Building Thursday. (WAYNE.GLOWACKI@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

WINNIPEG - Sheriff’s officers have been ordered to seize all computers and files belonging to a Winnipeg man who claims he was sexually harassed by a Manitoba judge and her lawyer husband.

Queen’s Bench Justice Joan McKelvey made the ruling Thursday following a heated, two-hour court hearing in which Alexander Chapman claims he is the victim of a racist, corrupt justice system.

"I'm a black guy who has dirt on top officials. Tell me, where do black people get fair treatment in our system," Chapman said outside court.

McKelvey said the unusual order was necessary because there is evidence Chapman still has material evidence in his possession – including explicit nude photos of Associate Chief Justice Lori Douglas – which violates a previous legal agreement.

She said sheriff’s officers can go to Chapman’s home between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. next Monday and take possession of all relevant material, which will then be placed in storage and not examined by anyone pending further court arguments.

 

 

 "This is not to be a fishing expedition," said McKelvey.

Chapman told court he is trying to obtain a lawyer to represent him but is having difficulty because so many in Manitoba have connections to the parties involved in the case. He said he plans to bring a motion seeking to have all Queen’s Bench judges "disqualified" from hearing any further arguments about this case on the grounds there is a perception of bias.

If successful, it would require a judge or judges from outside the province to be brought in.

Chapman, 44, came forward last week with allegations his former lawyer, Jack King, tried to coerce him into having sex with King’s wife, Lori Douglas, while representing him on a divorce case in 2003. He said King also sent him numerous explicit nude photographs of Douglas, who was a lawyer at the time in the same firm of Thompson Dorfman Sweatman.

Douglas was appointed to the Court of Queen’s Bench family division in 2005 but announced last week she was temporarily removing herself from the bench pending the ongoing investigation.

Chapman has also filed a $67 million lawsuit against Douglas, King and their former law firm. King has filed a countersuit against Chapman, alleging he has breached terms of a confidentiality agreement which was struck in 2003. The deal saw King pay Chapman $25,000. In exchange, Chapman agreed to return all photos of Douglas, not seek legal action and not speak publicly about the case.

Chapman told court Thursday the seizure of his computers will likely impact his lawsuit against King and Douglas.

"All my evidence, all my private matters are on that computer," he said. "How am I supposed to defend myself?"

McKelvey admits this will be an "intrusion" on Chapman but said the circumstances have deemed it necessary.

"There is a definite concern evidence may be lost or those materials distributed further than they already have," she said. "Clearly he has no abided by terms of his 2003 settlement agreement"

King’s lawyer, Bill Gange, asked McKelvey to find Chapman in contempt Thursday for failing to turn over all of the pictures of Douglas, as she ordered during a hearing last week.

Chapman said he has made efforts to get the materials back from people he sent them to over the years, but many have refused. McKelvey has now ordered him to compile a detailed list of all people who were given the pictures, which will allow Gange to make separate motions against them.

Chapman also said a pornographic website which previously hosted pictures of Douglas has now put them back online in an attempt to capitalize on the publicity this case has received.

"They’re now charging people to see them, making money of them. I didn’t send them to them, I have no control over that," he said.

Chapman said he is angry he seems to be painted as the enemy. He initially refused to provide his home address to officials, saying his life is in jeopardy.

"For seven years I’ve been living in hell," he said.

Chapman also accused King’s lawyer of "slander" for bringing up the fact he was convicted of arson and uttering threats in 1993 in an attempt to discredit him. Chapman says he received a pardon for his crimes, which are registered under his previous legal name of Lenard Quaccoo.

McKelvey refused to hear any further argument on the issue, telling Chapman to file a formal motion against Gange if he wishes to pursue the issue further.

"I plan to," he said.

History

Updated on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 3:06 PM CDT:
Fixes typo

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