Kenny Lawler Suspension & RETURN!!

[blue_gold_84]

We know he didn't plead guilty until this year.

He had still been charged with the offense, though. That would've come up in CPIC when his work permit for last season was being processed by an immigration official.

So much of this just doesn't make sense.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

He had still been charged with the offense, though. That would've come up in CPIC when his work permit for last season was being processed by an immigration official.

So much of this just doesn't make sense.

Don't know many details but recall he did not leave Canada last off-season and maybe hasn't left since the incident occurred.  He could have been delinquent or had an agreement through his lawyer to have his work visa suspended pending the outcome of his trial.  All speculation, I don't think we'll ever know the true story.

[blue_gold_84]

Don't know many details but recall he did not leave Canada last off-season and maybe hasn't left since the incident occurred.  He could have been delinquent or had an agreement through his lawyer to have his work visa suspended pending the outcome of his trial.  All speculation, I don't think we'll ever know the true story.

Even if he hadn't departed the country, he would've still had to apply for a new and updated work permit showing his (at the time) new employer and duration of employment.

I'm just so confused how a serious criminality issue gets overlooked in that instance. Somebody really crapped the bed.

[theaardvark]

Even if he hadn't departed the country, he would've still had to apply for a new and updated work permit showing his (at the time) new employer and duration of employment.

I'm just so confused how a serious criminality issue gets overlooked in that instance. Somebody really crapped the bed.

Until the case is decided, by a judge, a jury or by a guilty plea, the person is not convicted of a crime, and has all the same rights to VISA, work permit or whatever.  Innocent until proven guilty. 

Yes, DUI is a serious offense, and needs to be taken seriously.   And Mr/ Lawler (and the rest of the CFL) is learning a valuable lesson.

[Blue In BC]

Until the case is decided, by a judge, a jury or by a guilty plea, the person is not convicted of a crime, and has all the same rights to VISA, work permit or whatever.  Innocent until proven guilty. 

Yes, DUI is a serious offense, and needs to be taken seriously.   And Mr/ Lawler (and the rest of the CFL) is learning a valuable lesson.

He pleaded guilty didn't he?

[Slingin Sammy]

He pleaded guilty and received his sentence in April of this year.  It was reported in the media that he received a fine of $1,500.  He would have also received a minimum of a one year driving suspension.  He has until Sept. 30 to pay the fine.

https://winnipegsun.com/sports/football/cfl/winnipeg-bluebombers/bombers-lawler-entered-guilty-plea-in-april-triggered-immigration-snafu

[theaardvark]

He pleaded guilty didn't he?

Yup, but not until after he signed with us, and while he was in the country.  To my knowledge, he has not crossed the border since pleading guilty, so no red flags. For all we know, he had an in force legitimate work visa when we signed him, it's status would only have changed after his plea.  I'm not sure how gov't departments interact, or how quickly, if possibly the Manitoba courts would have informed immigration, who then stepped in.

Maybe Lawler thought that his in place work visa would be honoured to its end, and then his renewal would be subject to the DUI and need a special waiver.

Not an unreasonable thought...

[blue_gold_84]

Until the case is decided, by a judge, a jury or by a guilty plea, the person is not convicted of a crime, and has all the same rights to VISA, work permit or whatever.  Innocent until proven guilty. 

To be clear, I'm not talking about the presumption of innocence or his rights as a temporary resident*. I'm talking about how a criminal charge, irrespective of a conviction, gets seemingly overlooked when he would've been required to apply for a new and up-to-date work permit when he was signed by the Elks last year.

To me, it comes across as a pretty glaring oversight that has led to the current situation he's facing. And it's unfortunate because he seemed to have made an attempt to do the right thing by pleading guilty back in April and it's all blown up in his face.

The road to hell is not only paved with good intentions but red tape as well.

* rights come with responsibilities, namely complying with the law as a foreign national while maintaining residency in Canada

[theaardvark]

To be clear, I'm not talking about the presumption of innocence or his rights as a temporary resident*. I'm talking about how a criminal charge, irrespective of a conviction, gets seemingly overlooked when he would've been required to apply for a new and up-to-date work permit when he was signed by the Elks last year.

To me, it comes across as a pretty glaring oversight that has led to the current situation he's facing. And it's unfortunate because he seemed to have made an attempt to do the right thing by pleading guilty back in April and it's all blown up in his face.

The road to hell is not only paved with good intentions but red tape as well.

* rights come with responsibilities, namely complying with the law as a foreign national while maintaining residency in Canada

We have seen careers ended by false accusations, and that is why we have a legal system.  Should he have plead guilty right away, and gotten this all behind him?  Sure, in a perfect world.  Who knows, maybe he hired one of those "we beat your ticket" guys who "only get paid if we get you off the ticket".  Those guys just try to run the clock out, and hope the arresting officer doesn't show, or you get off on some other technicality. 

I'm pretty sure, when he signed, he had a valid work visa, and WBB knew that he had been charged with DUI, and had even suspended him one game when it happened.  Should the club have explored in more depth that the issue had been resolved?  You think they would have.  Obviously they did not dig deep enough.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We have seen careers ended by false accusations, and that is why we have a legal system.  Should he have plead guilty right away, and gotten this all behind him?  Sure, in a perfect world.  Who knows, maybe he hired one of those "we beat your ticket" guys who "only get paid if we get you off the ticket".  Those guys just try to run the clock out, and hope the arresting officer doesn't show, or you get off on some other technicality. 

I'm pretty sure, when he signed, he had a valid work visa, and WBB knew that he had been charged with DUI, and had even suspended him one game when it happened.  Should the club have explored in more depth that the issue had been resolved?  You think they would have.  Obviously they did not dig deep enough.

Possibility that Lawler's agent or lawyer snowed the Bombers in the assurance all would work out quickly.  Without an in depth knowledge of the legal process he was facing, Bombers took this opinion as fact and are now getting burned for their naivety. 

[Ridermania]

Bombers have there own lawyers, who would have provided legal input prior to offering him a contract.

Someone erred in this situation.

[blue_gold_84]

Possibility that Lawler's agent or lawyer snowed the Bombers in the assurance all would work out quickly.  Without an in depth knowledge of the legal process he was facing, Bombers took this opinion as fact and are now getting burned for their naivety. 

Same with the 3-4 weeks to be resolved narrative.

Many eggs on many faces.

[TecnoGenius]

Maybe Lawler thought that his in place work visa would be honoured to its end, and then his renewal would be subject to the DUI and need a special waiver.

Lawler shouldn't have thought anything.  He made $300k last year.  He should have had the best DUI lawyer in all of Canada.  There are people who are experts on all of this, people who get all the VIPs and bigwigs and politicians off with slaps on the wrist.  That is who you hire.

The only thought Lawler should have had was "who's the best law firm".

To me, it comes across as a pretty glaring oversight that has led to the current situation he's facing. And it's unfortunate because he seemed to have made an attempt to do the right thing by pleading guilty back in April and it's all blown up in his face.

The first rule of trouble with the law is do not say anything, the second rule is do not do the "right thing": hire the best lawyer and do what they say.  Lawler is the perfect new example of "no good deed goes unpunished".  It's sad and I don't like it, but this is the way the system is setup.

Ironic, given that the name "Lawler" is one letter away from "lawyer".

[bluengold204]

Lawler shouldn't have thought anything.  He made $300k last year.  He should have had the best DUI lawyer in all of Canada.  There are people who are experts on all of this, people who get all the VIPs and bigwigs and politicians off with slaps on the wrist.  That is who you hire.

The only thought Lawler should have had was "who's the best law firm".

The first rule of trouble with the law is do not say anything, the second rule is do not do the "right thing": hire the best lawyer and do what they say.  Lawler is the perfect new example of "no good deed goes unpunished"[\b].  It's sad and I don't like it, but this is the way the system is setup.

Ironic, given that the name "Lawler" is one letter away from "lawyer".

Good deed?  Guy was drinking and driving he deserves every bit of punishment he gets

[dd]

Good deed?  Guy was drinking and driving he deserves every bit of punishment he gets

Ditto!!