In 1993, one of its partners, Garry Hoy,[4] died after throwing himself against a glass window of its downtown Toronto-Dominion Centre office, in a playful attempt to demonstrate the strength of the window.[5] The window frame gave way, and Hoy fell to his death from the 24th floor.[1][6][7] The shock of losing one of its most successful lawyers was a contributing factor in the firm's decline and fall, and the firm lost nearly 30 lawyers in the following three years.[1]

In 1996, the firm closed permanently amid controversy over unpaid bills.[1][8] Until the closing of Goodman and Carr in 2007, it was the largest law firm failure in Canadian history.[1][2]

This might be a time when a move and company rename (all that company refresh stuff) might work.

[–] StillAlive@piefed.world 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

In an attempt to prove to a group of prospective articling students that the building's glass windows were unbreakable—a stunt he had performed without incident many times before—he threw his body against the glass. True to Hoy's assertion, the window did not break; instead, the entire window yielded whole this time, popping out of its frame, and Hoy fell to his death.

Am I the only one who thinks he was an idiot to do it multiple times?

[–] Bougie_Birdie@piefed.blahaj.zone 10 points 1 week ago

On the one hand, each attempt will weaken the frame for the next one

On the other hand, he did it a bunch of times before without incident, so I can see someone convincing themselves it's "safe"

Personally I think "idiot" might start at the first attempt

[–] Sumocat@lemmy.world 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The irony is they could have saved the firm by successfully suing the builder/architect/inspectors/everyone if one of their most successful lawyers had been able to lead the case.

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

Structural engineer Bob Greer said "I don't know of any building code in the world that would allow a 73 kg (160 lb) man to run up against a glass and withstand it."[6]

And that doesn't even help with people leaving.

[–] RestrictedAccount@lemmy.world 1 points 1 week ago

Eileen Dover