Welland lawyer liked to win — in and on the court
Earle Blackadder practised law in Niagara for more than a half- century
Earle Blackadder is being remembered as a great litigator, a competitive man who liked to win, whether it was on the squash court or in a courtroom.
Blackadder, who practised law in Niagara for more than 50 years, died Nov. 8.
Paul Leon, of Blackadder Leon Marion & Fazari LLP, was a former partner.
“It’s too bad we lost him,” he said. “Earle was a lawyer who truly loved the law and was dedicated to the law. He believed in providing extraordinary service to his clients.”
Leon said Blackadder would spend an extraordinary amount of time researching and planning his strategy and approach for trial.
“He would work until he was satisfied he would get the successful result he was looking for. He liked to win. He was a great inspiration …”
While he was a tough lawyer, Leon said Blackadder had great personal integrity and was an honest man who wouldn’t ambush someone, wouldn’t trap his opponents.
“You couldn’t ask for a better guy to defend you or prosecute your claim. He was respected by the courts, judges and other lawyers. He was a lawyer’s lawyer, he was that good.”
Leon laughed when describing how Blackadder would put his partners through agony during many lunch sessions, taking them through his very detailed avenues of approach to a case.
“He lived and ate the law,” said Leon, adding the two were partners up into the 1990s when Leon went off on his own. He later partnered back up with Blackadder and had referred clients during their time apart. “He always had my deepest respect.”
Said lawyer Bill Heelis of Heelis, Little & Almas LLP, “Earle was one of the most competitive people I’ve ever met. He was a very good lawyer … he took no prisoners.”
Heelis said Blackadder was a very good athlete who played football while at University of Ottawa and was probably one of the best squash players in the region.
Both Heelis and Welland lawyer Doug Thomas said Blackadder’s home on Rice Road was known as The Court House.
“It wasn’t called The Court House because he was a lawyer. He had the only squash court in town … anyone who was anybody played squash there,” said Thomas.
Heelis said there was a Tuesday night league that played at the Blackadder home. Weekends and Sundays through the winter months would find people playing on the court.
“I played with him and against him. I wasn’t nearly as good as Earle was. He left behind a squash legacy in the region.”
Heelis said off the court, Blackadder was very ethical and upstanding.
“He was a good family man, had a wonderful wife and family.”
Although he never had a trial against the Welland lawyer, Heelis said he worked on files with him and said he worked hard.
“He made his mark wherever he went and whatever he did. He was a perfectionist.”
Thomas said when Blackadder went to law school at University of Ottawa, it had a reputation of being very tough, with more than half the first- year students not making it to their second year.
He said Blackadder would take on anything for the challenge, adding he was “one of hell of a litigator.”
Thomas remembered working on a murder trial with him and spoke about how Blackadder showed a primary witness for the Crown was not truthful and was able to get a jailhouse confession excluded from trial.
“He was competitive as a lawyer and competitive in all sports he undertook.
“He was an excellent squash player and a good skier.”
Thomas recalled Blackadder spending two years on the driving range at Cherry Hill Golf Club before even stepping on the golf course to play.
“He was a senior champion out there for years,” said Thomas.
He was also an avid carver of most ducks and always loved to fish when he had the time with his brother Billy.
Blackadder was predeceased by his wife Gail and was the father of Kelly Gignac,( Ray), Taz ( deceased), Stephen ( Karen), Jens ( Sue) and Kenneth ( deceased). He leaves behind his sister Madeliane Bateman ( Charles) and brother Billy ( Carol) Blackadder, grandchildren and great- grandchildren.
Funeral mass is at St. George’s Catholic Church, 56 Ridgeway Rd, in Crystal Beach, Friday at 10 a. m. A reception will be held at the church hall following the mass.