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Lord Black of Crossharbour

Born August 25, 1944 (1944-08-25) (age 63)
Montreal, Canada
Residence Toronto, Canada and Palm Beach, Florida
Nationality British
Education B. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Palm Beach is an upscale Incorporated town in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located A. Carleton University, LL. This article is about the university in Ottawa Ontario Canada L. Université Laval, M. A. McGill University,
Occupation author, investor
Home town Toronto, Ontario
Title Baron Black of Crossharbour
Height 6' 1
Known for Media proprietor, Member of British House of Lords
Religious beliefs Catholic
Spouse Shirley Gail Walters Hishon (1978-1992), Barbara Amiel (1992-Present)
Children Jonathan David Conrad Black b. An author is defined both as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created See Investor AB for the Swedish investment company An investor is any party that makes an Investment. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario A media proprietor is a person who controls either through personal ownership or a dominant position in a Public company, a significant part of the Mass media. The House of Lords is the second house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and is also commonly referred to as "the Lords" Barbara Joan Estelle Amiel, Baroness Black of Crossharbour (born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England on December 4, 1940 18 Nov 1977, Alana Whitney Elizabeth Black b. 28 Jun 1982, James Patrick Black b. 13 Feb 1986
Parents George Montegu Black II, Jean Elizabeth Riley

Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, PC, OC, KCSG (born 25 August 1944, in Montreal, Quebec) is a former newspaper publisher, biographer, and media proprietor. George Montegu Black II (June 3 1911 in Winnipeg – June 29 1976 Toronto) to George Montegu Black Sr and Gertrude Maxwell Black was a The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (QPC (Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada (CPR sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or the Privy Council The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St Gregory the Great was established on September 1, 1831 by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk In 2007 he was convicted in the United States of three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. Mail fraud refers to any scheme which attempts to unlawfully obtain money or valuables in which the Postal system is used at any point in the commission of a criminal offense The crime of obstruction of justice includes crimes committed by Judges Prosecutors attorneys general, and elected officials in general [1]

With associates, Black managed and controlled Hollinger International, Inc. , a Delaware holding company listed on the New York Stock Exchange. A holding company is a company that owns part all or a majority of other companies' outstanding Stock. The New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE) is a Stock exchange based in New York City. Through multiple holding companies and subsidiaries, Hollinger International at one time owned and published important newspapers including Daily Telegraph, Chicago Sun Times, Jerusalem Post, National Post and hundreds of community newspapers in North America. For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English-language Broadsheet Newspaper, founded on December 1, 1932 The National Post is a Canadian English-language national Newspaper based in Don Mills, Ontario, a district of

In 2003, a special committee appointed by its directors reported that Hollinger International had made $32 million in unauthorized payments to Conrad Black and associates. Black later resigned under pressure as CEO of Hollinger International. In July 2006, the name Hollinger International Inc. changed to Sun-Times Media Group. [2] Its publications then included The Chicago Sun-Times, The Naperville Sun in Illinois and The Post Tribune of Indiana. The company had agreed in 2004 to sell London's Daily Telegraph. [3]

Black was convicted in Illinois U.S. District Court on July 13, 2007 and later sentenced to serve 78 months in federal prison, pay Hollinger $6. The United States district courts are the general Trial courts of the United States federal court system. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. 1 million and a fine of $125,000. Black was guilty of diverting funds for personal benefit from money properly due Hollinger International when the company sold certain publishing assets. Black and other executives received 'non-compete' fees paid by purchasers who acquired Hollinger International properties. A non-compete clause or covenant not to compete ( CNC) is a term used in Contract law under which one party (usually an employee agrees to not pursue [4]

Black was imprisoned March 3, 2008 at Federal Correctional Institution Coleman Low[5], a low-security penitentiary situated 50 miles (80 kilometres) northwest of Orlando, Florida. Events 1284 - Statute of Rhuddlan incorporated the Principality of Wales into England 1575 - Indian 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Orlando is a major City in central Florida, USA and is the County seat of Orange County Florida. Unless his convictions are overturned on appeal, Black's projected release date is October 2013.

Contents

Personal relationships and family

Conrad Black was born in Montreal to a wealthy family originally from Winnipeg. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec Winnipeg (ˈwɪnɨpɛg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian province of Manitoba, and 7th largest municipality in Canada with a population His father, George Montegu Black, Jr., C.A., was the president of Canadian Breweries, an international brewing conglomerate which earlier had absorbed Winnipeg Breweries, which was founded by George Black Sr. George Montegu Black II (June 3 1911 in Winnipeg – June 29 1976 Toronto) to George Montegu Black Sr and Gertrude Maxwell Black was a Chartered Accountant (CA is the title used by members of certain professional Accountancy associations in the British Commonwealth countries and Ireland Canadian Breweries Limited was an Ontario based holding company in the brewery industry Conrad Black's mother was the former Jean Elizabeth Riley, a daughter of Conrad Stephenson Riley (whose father founded the Great-West Life Assurance Company), and a great-granddaughter of an early co-owner of the Daily Telegraph. The Great-West Life Assurance Company (known more commonly Great-West Life, and its official French name is La Great-West compagnie d'assurance-vie) ( is a For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia.

Conrad Black's first marriage was to Joanna (born Shirley) Hishon of Montreal, who worked as a secretary in his brother Montegu's brokerage office. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec The couple had two sons, Jonathan-David Conrad and James Patrick Leonard Black, and a daughter, Alana Whitney Elizabeth Black. [6] The couple separated in 1991. The Black divorce was finalized in 1992; the same year Black married Watford-born journalist Barbara Amiel. Watford (ˈwɒtfəd) is a town and district in Hertfordshire, England, situated 19 miles (30 km northwest of London Barbara Joan Estelle Amiel, Baroness Black of Crossharbour (born in Watford, Hertfordshire, England on December 4, 1940 It was said that marriage to Amiel affirmed Black's position in the British glamour set. Elite (also spelled Élite) is taken originally from the Latin, eligere, "to elect" Black flattered Amiel, describing her variously as "beautiful, brilliant, ideologically a robust spirit" and "chic, humorous and preternaturally sexy. " Courtroom evidence revealed that the couple exchanged over 11,000 emails. [7]

Early life and career

Black was first educated at Upper Canada College (UCC), during which time, at age 8, he purchased shares in General Motors. Upper Canada College (UCC is a private elementary and Secondary school for boys in downtown Toronto, Canada. In financial markets, a share is a Unit of account for various financial instruments including Stocks Mutual funds Limited partnerships General Motors Corporation ( GM) ( is a multinational automobile manufacturer founded in 1908 and headquartered in the United States. [7] Six years later, according to Tom Bower's biography Outrageous Fortune[8], he was expelled from UCC for selling stolen exam papers. He then attended Trinity College School where he lasted less than a year, being expelled for insubordinate behaviour. Trinity College School (TCS is a coeducational independent boarding/day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. Insubordination is the act of a subordinate deliberately disobeying a lawful order Black eventually graduated from a small, now defunct private school in Toronto called Thornton Hall, continuing on to post-secondary education at Carleton University (History, 1965). Thornton Hall (also known as Thornton) was a Canadian Private school that operated from 1949 to 1997. This article is about the university in Ottawa Ontario Canada For a time, he attended Toronto's Osgoode Hall Law School of York University; however, his studies ended when he failed exams after first year. See also Osgoode Hall for the downtown Toronto building that originally housed the law school Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, is York University (Université York is a public Research university located in Toronto, Ontario. [9] He completed a law degree at Université Laval (Law, 1970), later completing a Master of Arts degree in history at McGill University in 1973. A Master of Arts ( Latin: Magister Artium) is a Postgraduate academic Master's degree awarded by universities in a large [10] Black's thesis, later published as a biography, was on Quebec premier Maurice Duplessis. Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis (20 April 1890&ndash7 September 1959 served as the premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to Biographer George Toombs said of Black's motivations: "he was born into a very large family of athletic, handsome people. He wasn't particularly athletic or handsome like they were, so he developed a different skill - wordplay, which he practised a lot with his father. "[7]

Black became involved in a number of businesses, mainly publishing newspapers, but briefly in mining. In 1966 Black bought his first newspaper, the Eastern Townships Advertiser in Quebec. Following the foundation, as an investment vehicle, of the Ravelston Corporation by the Black family in 1969, Black, together with friends David Radler and Peter G. Ravelston Corporation Limited is a Canadian holding company that was largely controlled by Conrad Black and business partner David Radler. F David Radler (born 1944 in Montreal Quebec) is a Canadian executive and close associate of Conrad Black for 36 years White, purchased and operated the Sherbrooke Record, the small English language daily in Sherbrooke, Quebec. The Record is the only daily (Monday&ndashFriday English language Newspaper based in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. In 1971, the three formed Sterling Newspapers Limited, a holding company that would acquire several other small Canadian regional newspapers.

Corporate ownership through holding companies

George Black died in June 1976, leaving Conrad and his older brother, Montegu, a 22. 4% stake in Ravelston Corp. , which by then owned 61% voting control of Argus Corporation, an influential holding company in Canada. Argus Corporation ( based in Toronto, Ontario, is an investment and holding company founded in 1945 by its President E Argus exercised control of major Canadian corporations, including Canadian Breweries Limited, Dominion Stores, Hollinger Mines, Standard Broadcasting and others. Canadian Breweries Limited was an Ontario based holding company in the brewery industry Dominion Stores is a chain of Supermarkets in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada with 60 locations The Hollinger Gold Mine was founded by Benny Hollinger in Timmins Ontario, and in 1910 the company was incorporated by Noah Timmins and partners

Through his father's holdings in Ravelston, Conrad Black gained early association with two of Canada's most prominent businessmen: John Angus "Bud" McDougald and E. P. Taylor, president and founder of Argus, respectively. Edward Plunket Taylor, ( January 29, 1901 - May 14, 1989) was a Canadian business tycoon and famous breeder of Thoroughbred Following McDougald's death in 1978, Conrad Black paid $30-million to take control of Ravelston and thereby, control of Toronto based Argus. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario This controversial arrangement resulted in accusations that Black had taken advantage of the aging widows of deceased Ravelston Directors McDougald and Eric Phillips.

Black resigned as Chairman of the struggling Massey Ferguson company in 1979, after which Argus donated its shares to the employee union. Massey Ferguson Limited was a major Agricultural equipment manufacturer based in England [11] Hollinger Mines was then turned into a holding company.

In 1981 Norcen Energy, one of his companies, acquired a minority position in Ohio-based Hanna Mining Co. A filing with the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission stated that Norcen took "an investment position" in Hanna. However, the filing failed to disclose that Norcen's board planned to seek majority control. Black subsequently was charged by the SEC with filing misleading public statements, charges that were later withdrawn by "consent decree" after Black and Norcen agreed not to break securities laws in the future.

Black was ranked 238th wealthiest in Britain by the Sunday Times Rich List, [12] with an estimated wealth of £136m. The Sunday Times Rich List is a list of the 1000 wealthiest people or families in the United Kingdom, updated annually in April and published as a magazine supplement He was dropped from subsequent lists.

Dominion pension dispute

In 1984, Dominion Stores Ltd. withdrew over $56 million from the Dominion workers' pension plan surplus without consulting plan members. A pension fund is a pool of assets forming an independent legal entity that are bought with the contributions to a Pension plan for the exclusive purpose of financing pension The firm said it considered the surplus the rightful property of the employer (Dominion Stores Ltd. ). The Dominion Union complained, a public outcry ensued, and the case went to court. The Supreme Court of Ontario eventually ruled against the company on this case, and ordered the company to return the money to the pension fund, claiming that though the most recent language in the plan suggested the employer had ownership of the surplus, the original intention was to keep the surplus in the plan to increase members' benefits. The Supreme Court of Ontario was a Superior court of the Canadian province of Ontario. [13] The company appealed the case all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, which upheld the lower court's decision. The Supreme Court of Canada ( French: Cour suprême du Canada) is the highest court of Canada and is the final court of appeal in the Canadian [14]

Growth and divestment of press holdings

In 1985, Andrew Knight, then editor of The Economist, asked Black to invest in the ailing Telegraph Group. Andrew Stephen Bower Knight (born 1 November 1939 in England) is a Journalist, editor, and Media baron. The Economist is an English-language weekly news and International affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd and edited in London For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. By this investment, Black made his first entry into British press ownership. Five years following, he bought the Jerusalem Post, and subsequently fired the majority of its staff. The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English-language Broadsheet Newspaper, founded on December 1, 1932 [15] By 1990, his companies ran over 400 newspaper titles in North America, the preponderance of them small community papers.

Hollinger bought a minority stake in the Southam newspaper chain in 1993 and acquired the Chicago Sun Times in 1994. The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily Newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. Hollinger International shares were listed on New York Stock Exchange in 1996, at which time the company boosted its stake in Southam to a control position. Becoming a public company trading in the U. S. has been called "a fateful move, exposing Black's empire to America's more rigorous regulatory regime and its more aggressive institutional shareholders. "[16]

Under Black, Hollinger launched the National Post in Toronto in 1998. The National Post is a Canadian English-language national Newspaper based in Don Mills, Ontario, a district of From 1999 to 2000 Hollinger International sold several newspapers in five deals worth a total of US$679-million, a total that included millions of dollars in "non-compete agreements" for Hollinger insiders. Later in the year, Hollinger International announced the sale of thirteen major Canadian newspapers, 126 community newspapers, Internet properties and half of the National Post to CanWest Global Communications Corp. Canwest Global Communications Corp () operating under the corporate brand Canwest, is one of Canada 's largest International media companies Hollinger International sold the rest of the National Post to CanWest in the summer of 2001.

In May 2003, following shareholder complaints, a special committee appointed by Hollinger International directors began investigation of internal financial management, particularly compensation and fees paid directly and indirectly to Ravelston and Black's asoociates. The subsequent report supported allegations of impropriety and led to criminal investigations and ultimately, the unravelling of Conrad Black's financial empire.

Black attempted to sell controlling interest in Hollinger International to British businessmen David and Frederick Barclay. Sir David Barclay and Sir Frederick Barclay (both born on 27 October, 1934) are British Businessmen. The Hollinger board of directors filed suit to halt Black's proposed transaction. In February, 2004, Delaware judge Leo E. Strine, Jr. barred the sale and wrote in his judgement, "Black breached his fiduciary and contractual duties persistently and seriously. Leo E Strine Jr is a Judge in the state of Delaware. He serves on Delaware's Court of Chancery with the title of Vice Chancellor . . . I found Black evasive and unreliable. His explanations of key events and of his own motivations do not have the ring of truth. " [17]

Quotations and points of view

Despite Black's deep involvement in the media world, he retained a particular disdain for the press. Black was quoted as saying: "a substantial number of journalists are ignorant, lazy, opinionated and intellectually dishonest. The profession is heavily cluttered with aged hacks, toiling through a miasma of mounting decrepitude and often alcoholism. "

Upon arriving at court in Chicago in 2007, Black gave the finger to the gathered media covering his trial. In Western cultures, the finger (as in giving someone the finger) is a well-known Obscene Hand gesture made by extending the middle finger of [18]

On journalists: The "swarming, grunting masses of jackals. . . "

On journalist Norman Mailer: "The bedraggled warhorse of American blowhardism. Norman Kingsley Mailer ( January 31, 1923 &ndash November 10, 2007) was an American Novelist, Journalist, "

On a Canadian author, "Those who would retain his services should confine him to subjects better suited…to his sniggering, puerile, defamatory and cruelly limited talents. "

Using his various media outlets, Black put forward his views on the Canadian establishment: he denounced the country's welfare system as "an overgenerous reinsurance policy for an underachieving people"; blamed brain drain on Canada's high taxes; attacked trade unions; and derided liberal politicians, once calling an Ontario politician the "Salvador Allende of Canada," trying to "strangle, disembowel, and immolate the vestiges of the incentive-based economy. Welfare is financial assistance paid to people by governments A brain drain or human capital flight is a large emigration of individuals with technical skills or knowledge, normally due to conflict, lack of opportunity A trade union or labour union is an organization of workers who have banded together to achieve common goals in key areas such as wages hours and working conditions forming Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Salvador Isabelino Allende Gossens (June 26 1908 – September 11 1973 was President of Chile from November 1970 until his death during the coup d'état of "

Black called the Bishop of Calgary a "jumped-up little twerp" and a "prime candidate for exorcism" for backing a strike at Black's Calgary Herald newspaper. [19]

From Peter C. Newman's 1982 Black biography: "Greed has been severely underestimated and denigrated – unfairly so, in my opinion.

On U. S. Democratic senators opposed to the appointment of Robert Bork to the U. Robert Heron Bork (born March 1, 1927) is a conservative American legal scholar who advocates the judicial philosophy of Originalism. S. Supreme Court, in 1988: "It is galling to see such mendacious hypocrites as Kennedy and Biden at the Senate Judiciary Committee sitting in judgment on distinguished jurists. "

[20]

Lifestyle

Born to a rich family, Black acquired the family home and seven acres of land in Toronto's very exclusive Bridle Path neighbourhood after his father's death in 1976. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario The Bridle Path is an upscale residential neighbourhood in former city of North York now part of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is characterized For a time, Black and second wife Barbara Amiel maintained luxurious homes in Palm Beach, New York, Toronto and London.

Black's Palm Beach mansion is valued near $35. Palm Beach may refer to Places;Aruba Palm Beach Aruba, a city northwest of Oranjestad;Australia Palm Beach New South 5 million. He previously owned an apartment on Park Avenue in New York. Park Avenue (formerly Fourth Avenue) is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City Borough of Manhattan New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous When he sold it in 2005, the U. S. Department of Justice seized net proceeds of $8. 5 million, pending the outcome of court actions. [21]

He also owned a London townhouse in the famous Kensington district and sold it in 2005 for about $25 million USD. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Historically in the United Kingdom, Ireland and in many other countries a townhouse (or a "house in town" was a residence of a peer or member of the Kensington is a district of West London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, located west of Charing Cross. [22]

According to biographer Tom Brewer, "They flaunted their wealth. " [23] Black's critics, including former Daily Telegraph editor Charles Moore, suggested it was Black's second wife, Amiel, who pushed him towards a life of opulence, citing extravagant expenditures such as items billed to Hollinger expenses that included $2,463 (£1,272) on handbags, $2,785 in opera tickets, and $140 for Amiel's "jogging attire. For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia. Charles Moore (born 31 October 1956) is a British Journalist and former editor of The Daily Telegraph (1995-2003 The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency "[7]

At the time of his fraud trial in 2007, Black was aware of the disdain much of the public held towards him because of his wealth, stating: "Since biblical times, and probably before, the wealthy have been envied and condemned. "[7]

Peerage controversy and citizenship

The Canadian Prime Minister originally prevented Black from receiving a British peerage that was offered on the advice of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to be awarded by Queen Elizabeth II. The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most Peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801 when The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Anthony Charles Lynton "Tony" Blair (born 6 May 1953 is a British Politician who was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Jean Chrétien referred to the 1919 Nickle Resolution, by which the Canadian House of Commons resolved that the Canadian Monarch should not confer titular honours on Canadians. Joseph Jacques Jean Chrétien, (generally known as Jean Chrétien) (born January 11, 1934) is a Canadian politician who was the twentieth Prime The Canadian titles debate has been ongoing since the adoption of the Nickle Resolution in 1919 TalkCommonewalth realm.-->The monarchy of A title is a prefix or suffix added to a person's name to signify either veneration an official position or a professional or academic qualification

Black said he would accept the peerage as a British citizen rather than as a Canadian citizen. However, Prime Minister Chrétien still asserted that the Queen should not give titular honour to a Canadian. Black sued Chrétien, arguing that strict interpretation of the Nickle Resolution was payback for Black's political opinions and past criticism of Chrétien. Black lost the lawsuit and on appeal, the Court of Appeal for Ontario stated that the Prime Minister had a constitutional right to advise the Queen on exercising the Royal Prerogative. The Court of Appeal for Ontario (frequently referred to as Ontario Court of Appeal or OCA) is headquartered in Downtown Toronto, in historic The Royal Prerogative is a body of customary authority privilege and immunity recognised in Common law and sometimes in Civil law jurisdictions possessing a monarchy [24]

In 2001, Black renounced his citizenship of Canada, which he called "an oppressive little world". Eric Reguly wrote in The Times, "The great man fled his native Canada for Britain. He couldn’t wait to leave, he said, because Canada was turning into a Third World dump run by raving socialists. "[25] Black's lawyer, Eddie Greenspan, later stated Black's citizenship: "was stolen from him" by "spiteful" former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. Edward Leonard Greenspan (born February 28, 1944, Niagara Falls Ontario) is a Canadian Lawyer and prolific author of legal volumes [26]

Black was created a life peer as Baron Black of Crossharbour, of Crossharbour in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Baron is a specific Title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin (liber The London Borough of Tower Hamlets ( is a London borough to the east of the City of London, England and north of the River Thames in East Baron Black sat as a member of the British Conservative Party until July 13, 2007, when he was denied the whip (effectively, expulsion from the Conservative caucus) because of conviction. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Black cannot lose his peerage without a change in law. However, the British government proposed in a recent White Paper that convicted criminals be stripped of peerages and, if that policy is implemented, Black could lose his barony unless his criminal convictions are overturned on appeal. A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that often addresses problems and how to solve them [27]

It was on 26 September 2006, that the Globe and Mail reported Black was taking steps to regain his Canadian citizenship. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar dedicates a Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Although possibly a strategic manoeuvre against potentially serving a sentence in the US or being prevented from crossing the border following a conviction, Black, in an interview on TVOntario on 25 September, claimed that his legal problems had retarded the process by which he would reclaim his citizenship: "I always said that I would take my citizenship back, and if it wasn't for all these legal problems, I would have done it by now. TVOntario, often referred to only as TVO, ( Call signs CICA, CICE, CICO) is a publicly-funded educational English language Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France " He told interviewer Steve Paikin that he was working through "normal channels. Steve Paikin (born June 9[[ 960]] is a Canadian journalist film producer and author "[28]

Even without Canadian citizenship, Black continues membership in the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, to which he was appointed by Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn, on the advice of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, in 1992. The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (QPC (Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada (CPR sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or the Privy Council The Governor General of Canada ( French: Gouverneure générale du Canada, or: Gouverneur général du Canada) is the vice-regal representative Ramon John Hnatyshyn PC CC CMM CD QC FRHSC (''hc'' (commonly known as Ray Hnatyshyn, anglicized Martin Brian Mulroney PC CC GOQ (predominantly known as Brian Mulroney) (born March 20, 1939) was the eighteenth The full Privy Council meets very rarely and has no substantive power so appointment is honorific.

Criminal fraud trial

Conrad Black
Penalty Sentenced to 6 1/2 years imprisonment
Status incarcerated, appeal hearing June 5, 2008 (7th US Circuit Court of Appeals)

After an internal inquiry alleged that Black had received over $7 million in unauthorized payments of company funds, Hollinger International announced on 17 November 2003 that Black would resign as chief executive of Hollinger. Sun-Times Media Group (until recently Hollinger International) is the Holding company of a Chicago based Newspaper group Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Sun-Times Media Group (until recently Hollinger International) is the Holding company of a Chicago based Newspaper group By 17 January the following year it was reported that the executive committee of the board of directors of Hollinger had also obtained Black's resignation as chairman. Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca A special committee at Hollinger, investigating the unauthorized payments, filed a lawsuit in New York for the recovery of the money, and Hollinger International filed a $200 million (USD) lawsuit against Black and his former top lieutenant, David Radler, as well as against the companies Black has used to control the publishing. [29]

On 15 November 2004, the SEC filed civil fraud lawsuits against Black and several others,[30] and just over one year later, on 17 November, eleven criminal fraud charges were brought by U. S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald against Black and three former Hollinger executives; eight of the criminal fraud charges were against Black, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The US Securities and Exchange Commission (commonly known as the SEC) is an independent agency of the United States government which holds primary responsibility In the broadest sense a fraud is a Deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers United States Attorneys (also known as federal prosecutors) represent the United States federal government in United States district court and Patrick J Fitzgerald (born December 22, 1960) is an American attorney and the current United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois After a hearing in late 2006, his bail was raised to $21 million (USD).

Fitzgerald laid four new federal charges against Black in Chicago on 15 December 2005, consisting of racketeering, obstruction of justice, money laundering and wire fraud. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. A racket is an illegal business usually run as part of Organized crime. The crime of obstruction of justice includes crimes committed by Judges Prosecutors attorneys general, and elected officials in general Money laundering is the practice of engaging in financial Transactions in order to conceal the Identity, source and/or destination of Money, Wire fraud is a legal concept in the United States Code which provides for enhanced penalty of any criminally fraudulent activity if it is determined that the activity involved Under the racketeering count, Fitzgerald was seeking forfeiture of more than $92,000,000 (USD). Search and seizure is a legal procedure used in many civil law and Common law legal systems whereby Police or other authorities and their agents who suspect The obstruction count related to Black and his chauffeur removing boxes of documents from Hollinger offices in Toronto on June 9, 2005 contrary to a Canadian court order that prohibited removal. [31]

Black's trial for criminal fraud commenced on 14 March 2007. Events 1489 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. [32]

Verdict and imprisonment

After twelve days of deliberation, on 13 July 2007, a jury found Black guilty of three counts of mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice, but acquitted him of nine other charges, including wire fraud and racketeering. Events 1174 - William I of Scotland, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, is captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. He faced a potential maximum penalty of 35 years in prison. His co-accused, Peter Y. Atkinson, John A. Boultbee and Mark Kipnis, were also found guilty. [33]

Six days following, Judge Amy St. Eve sustained Black's $21 million bail and restricted him to travel within the court's jurisdiction in Illinois, and to his Florida home. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the [34] He was barred from returning to Canada because of the judge's concerns over possible extradition problems. [35]

On November 5, 2007, Judge St. Eve denied Black's bid for a new trial. On December 10, 2007, Black was sentenced to 78 months in jail. [36] Twelve weeks later, he lost a bid in the Court of Appeals to remain free on bail while appealing his convictions. Black requested to be housed in a minimum security prison camp near Miami but the Bureau of Prisons denied his request and instead ordered him to report to Coleman Federal Correctional Complex near Orlando, Florida on March 3, 2008 to begin serving his sentence.

Reaction and consequences

Black told journalists he would continue his "long war" against the charges and said "any conviction is unsatisfactory. "[37] After the verdicts, Black's Canadian lawyer Edward Greenspan said, "The heart of their case was lost. " However, former federal prosecutor and SEC enforcement lawyer Jacob Frenkel called it a "stunning victory" for the government and explained how a split verdict "highlights for the appellate court that the jury was very thoughtful and thorough in its deliberations. "[38]

Investigators hired by Hollinger companies have been examining more than forty bank accounts which may be, or may have been, held in the name of Black, his wife, or affiliated entities. According to court filings, Ravelston Corp. also had a subsidiary in Barbados called Argent News Inc. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation and another in Bermuda called Sugra Bermuda Ltd. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. [39] A report by a special committee of the board of Hollinger International Inc. said Black co-owned two Barbados companies, Moffat Management Inc. and Black-Amiel Management Inc. , which both received millions of dollars in payments, the former allegedly owned by Black and his co-defendants, and the latter by Black, his wife and Boultbee. [40] If Black's conviction is upheld on appeal, Hollinger is expected to seek repayment of the fees; in March, 2006, the company said in a regulatory filing that it had spent $61. 9-million on legal fees for Black, Boultbee, Kipniss and Atkinson. [40]

After the verdict, New Democratic Party of Canada Member of Parliament Charlie Angus publicly called for Black's expulsion from the Queen's Privy Council for Canada and for his removal from the Order of Canada. Principles policies and electoral achievement The NDP grew from populist, agrarian and democratic socialist roots A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Charles Joseph "Charlie" Angus MP (born November 14, 1962 in Timmins, Ontario) is a Canadian writer broadcaster The Queen's Privy Council for Canada (QPC (Conseil privé de la Reine pour le Canada (CPR sometimes called Her Majesty's Privy Council for Canada or the Privy Council The Order of Canada is the highest civilian honour within the Canadian system of honours, with membership awarded to those who exemplify the order's Latin The Toronto Star similarly called for Governor General Michaëlle Jean to remove Black from the Order. The Toronto Star is Canada 's highest-circulation newspaper though its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario. Michaëlle Jean, CC CMM COM CD ʒɑ̃ (born September 6, 1957, in Port-au-Prince, [41] Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated that Black would have to go through regular channels to attempt to regain his Canadian citizenship, that membership in the Order of Canada is the purview of the Governor General and that decisions about the Privy Council would only take place after the legal process, including appeal, had been completed. WikipediaManual of Style (biographies#Honorific prefixes --> Stephen Joseph Harper PC [42]

Unless Black's conviction is overturned, his ability to enter Canada is uncertain unless he obtains dispensation from the Canadian Government. Even if he were to regain residency, "Canadian citizenship can't be granted to those who are criminally inadmissible and neither the minister nor the Governor in Council (cabinet) can override that," according to an immigration department spokesperson. [43] The loss of his Canadian citizenship also makes it impossible for Black to be transferred to a Canadian prison where he would be eligible for parole much sooner than if he were to serve time in the United States. [43]

Appeal

Black's appeal was heard on June 5, 2008 by a panel of three judges at the 7th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Andrew Frey, the attorney handling Black's appeal,argued that Black and his co-defendants did not steal from Hollinger when they authorized individual non-competition payments. Frey asserted that the monies were "management fees" and that Hollinger International shareholders were not hurt by the payments. Appeals judge Richard Posner appeared to be skeptical, according to press reports, saying that "the bulk of the evidence [in the Hollinger case] has to do with pretty naked fraud. Richard Allen Posner (born January 11 1939 in New York City) is currently a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago " [44] Posner also expressed skepticism in response to the defense's arguments that Black did not obstruct justice by removing boxes from his Toronto office commenting that "The timing was bizarre, the removal of the documents in the middle of an investigation. "[45] The appeals court is expected to take several months before rendering its decision. [44]

Books and other publications

As a young man, Black wrote a thesis on Quebec's controversial long-serving premier, Maurice Duplessis, which was subsequently published in 1977 as a laudatory biography, entitled Duplessis (ISBN 0-7710-1530-5). Maurice Le Noblet Duplessis (20 April 1890&ndash7 September 1959 served as the premier of the Canadian province of Quebec from 1936 to 1939 and 1944 to

Black published an autobiography in 1993, titled A Life in Progress (ISBN 9781550135206).

While Black was CEO of Hollinger International, the company spent millions of dollars purchasing collections of private papers of US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. [46]. Black subsequently completed a 1,280-page biography, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Champion of Freedom (ISBN 978-1586481841), in 2003. [47]

In 2004, Black wrote an essay on the possible results had the Japanese not bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, for the imaginary history book What Might Have Been [48] edited by Andrew Roberts.

Published in 2007, Black's Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full (ISBN 978-1586485191), was a biography of US President Richard Nixon that runs 1,152 pages. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by One reviewer wrote that Black provided "exculpatory gloss for seemingly every grimy facet of Nixon’s career. "[49]

Biographies and portrayal in popular culture

References

  1. ^ Suntimes.com accessed February 29, 2008
  2. ^ [1] NY Times, Jul 7, 2006
  3. ^ [2] Associated Press, Jun 23 2004
  4. ^ BBC NEWS | Business | Conrad Black convicted of fraud
  5. ^ BOP FCI Coleman Low
  6. ^ thePeerage.com - Main Page
  7. ^ a b c d e Clark, Andrew; The Guardian: 'At some level, he's still asking the same question as he was when he was seven or eight - who am I?'; March 16, 2007
  8. ^ Outrageous Fortune: The Rise and Ruin of Conrad and Lady Black by Tom Bower
  9. ^ Tom Bower, Conrad & Lady Black - Dancing on the Edge (London: HarperPress, 2006), p. 27
  10. ^ CBC News: Conrad Black: Timeline (Last Updated March, 2007)
  11. ^ Olive, David; Toronto Star: A Conrad Black timeline; March 11, 2007
  12. ^ The Sundy Times Rich List 2003
  13. ^ Canadian Labour Congress: Dominion Food Stores
  14. ^ Randall, Jeff; BBC Money Programme: Nine News: The Rise and Fall of Citizen Black; November 21, 2004
  15. ^ Hollinger Hell: Jerusalem Post Suit Filed Here
  16. ^ The Star accessed March 15, 2008
  17. ^ Herman, Eric"Judge stymies Black" Chicago Sun-Times, February 27, 2004
  18. ^ Berton, Paul; London Free Press: One-finger salute sums it up; July 23, 2007
  19. ^ Plotz, David; Slate Magazine: Conrad Black; August 31, 2001
  20. ^ TheStar. com, The World According to Black
  21. ^ [3]DOJ press release following indictment
  22. ^ [4] International Herald Tribune, May 20 2005
  23. ^ Tom Bower, Conrad & Lady Black - Dancing on the Edge (London: HarperPress, 2006), p. 303
  24. ^ Black v Chrétien: suing a Minister of the Crown for abuse of power, misfeasance in public office and negligence
  25. ^ Black is back and ready for a fight . . . - Times Online
  26. ^ Eddie Greenspan '68 Confident Conrad Black will Win in Court
  27. ^ "Rozenberg, Joshua; Daily Telegraph: No comfort for Conrad Black; July 15, 2007
  28. ^ CBC News: Conrad Black wants to be Canadian again; September 26, 2006
  29. ^ BBC News: Conrad Black: Where did it all go wrong?; February 27, 2004
  30. ^ BBC News: Lord Black is charged with fraud; November 15, 2004
  31. ^ CTV.ca | Black guilty on 4 charges, including obstruction
  32. ^ Waldie, Paul; The Globe and Mail: Trump may testify for Black; March 14, 2007
  33. ^ CBC News: Conrad Black guilty of obstruction and mail fraud; July 13, 2007
  34. ^ Harris, Andrew; Bloomberg.com: Black to Remain Free Until Sentencing, Judge Rules; July 19, 2007
  35. ^ TheStar.com | World | Judge bars Black from returning to Canada
  36. ^ CBC News Conrad Black sentenced to 78 months in jail; December 10, 2007
  37. ^ Waldie, Paul; The Globe and Mail: Black gets bail – but is confined to U.S.; July 19, 2007
  38. ^ Fall of an arrogant fraud: What really brought down the empire of Conrad Black? - Americas, World - Independent.co.uk
  39. ^ Wisniewski, Barbara; Chicago Sun Times: The hunt for Conrad's cash; July 19, 2007
  40. ^ a b Waldie, Paul; McNish, Jacquie; Leeder, Jessica; The Globe and Mail: Global hunt heightens for Black assets; July 19, 2007
  41. ^ Editorial; Toronto Star: Strip Black of honour; July 19, 2007
  42. ^ CTV News: Harper says he won't help Black return to Canada; July 18, 2007
  43. ^ a b Canadian Press, July 13, 2007
  44. ^ a b "Judges appear cool to Black appeal: Media baron didn't steal, attorney says", Chicago Tribune, June 6, 2008
  45. ^ Westhead, Rick, "Court hears Black appeal," Toronto Star, June 6, 2008
  46. ^ Fine Books & Collections Magazine
  47. ^ The Lord of Springwood - New York Times
  48. ^ ISBN 978-0753818732
  49. ^ New Yorker Books Briefly Noted
  50. ^ DeWolf Smith, Nancy; The Wall Street Journal: "Citizen Black": An entertaining documentary; February 17, 2006
  51. ^ Wisniewski, Mary; Chicago Sun Times: Prosecutors to see 'Citizen Black' footage; November 23, 2006
  52. ^ Pendennis: Oliver Marre | 7 Days | The Observer

External links

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