IN THE MATTER OF THE RACING COMMISSION ACT 2000, S.O. 2000, c.20;
AND IN THE MATTER OF
STANDARDBRED OWNER/TRAINER/DRIVER BRIAN LAWSON
On Tuesday, May 10, 2005, a Panel of the Commission consisting of Chair Lynda Tanaka and Commissioners George Kelly and David Gorman convened for the hearing of the Director's Notice of Proposed Order to revoke the licence of Standardbred Owner/Trainer/Driver Brian Lawson. Brendan Van Niejenhuis was counsel for the Administration and appeared as agent for Howard E. Katz, counsel for Brian Lawson.
Upon hearing the submissions of counsel and on being advised of the consent of the parties to the relief sought, the Commission accepted the undertaking provided by Mr. Lawson and ordered this hearing of the Notice of Proposed Order to be adjourned, sine die, and further ordered hearings scheduled for June 15 and 16, 2005, to be adjourned, sine die, in accordance with the undertakings by Brian Lawson.
The Panel of the Commission accepted the Undertaking of Brian Lawson not to re-apply for a licence for a period of nine months commencing May 10, 2005, and to provide thirty days notice in advance of any application to re-apply for a licence with the Commission subsequent to the nine-month period, and not to engage in activities for which a licence is required during the time he is not licensed. On consent, the Panel of the Commission received as Exhibit 1 a letter from Administration's counsel to Mr. Lawson's counsel dated May 9, 2005 and as Exhibit 2 a letter from Mr. Lawson's counsel in reply dated May 9, 2005, as evidence of the basis for the consent adjournment application by Mr. Lawson.
The Panel of the Commission directed that the ordinary steps be taken by the Administration to ensure that Brian Lawson's licensing status pursuant to this Ruling be public information available to regulators in the racing industry in other jurisdictions.
The oral reasons for the Panel's decision form part of the transcript of the hearing.
Dated this 16th of May, 2005.
BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION
John L. Blakney
Executive Director