Garry Hoy
Garry Hoy (1955 – 9 July 1993) was a lawyer for the law firm of Holden Day Wilson in Toronto. He is best known for the circumstances of his death; in an attempt to prove to a group of his partners at the firm that the glass in the Toronto-Dominion Centre was unbreakable, he threw himself through a glass wall on the 24th story and fell to his death after the window frame gave way.[1][2] He had apparently performed this stunt many times in the past, having previously bounced harmlessly off the glass. The event occurred in a small boardroom adjacent to a boardroom where a reception was being held for new articling students. Mr. Hoy was a noted and respected corporate and securities law specialist in Toronto. He was a professional engineer, having completed his engineering degree before studying law. He was a highly respected philanthropic member of the Toronto Asian community.
In the words of Toronto Police Service Detective Mike Stowell:
"At this Friday night party, Mr. Hoy did it again and bounced off the glass the first time. However, he did it a second time and this time crashed right through the middle of the glass."
In another interview, the firm's spokesman mentioned that the glass in fact did not break, but popped out of its frame, leading to Hoy's fatal plunge.
Hoy's death contributed to the closing of Holden Day Wilson in 1996, at the time the largest law firm closure in Canada.[3]
[edit] In popular culture
Hoy's experience was recreated by MythBusters in the episode "Vacuum Toilet, Biscuit Bazooka, Leaping Lawyer".
For his unusual death, Hoy was recognized with a Darwin Award in 1996.[4]
Although the name, date, and location were changed to protect his privacy, this death was featured in the American television show 1000 Ways to Die on Spike TV. To make the circumstances of his death seem more salacious, the segment depicted the lawyer as an egotistical womanizer who was demonstrating his trick to impress a female visitor.[5]
A scene mimicking the circumstances of Hoy's death was featured in the television comedy show Billable Hours in the second season episode entitled "Birthday Suits".
[edit] References
- ^ Barbara Mikkelson; David P. Mikkelson (21 January 2007). "Through a Glass, Quickly". Snopes. http://www.snopes.com/horrors/freakish/window.asp. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ Bruce Demara (10 July 1993). "Corporate Lawyer Plunges 24 Floors to Death". The Toronto Star: p. A4. http://dano.diaryland.com/fakedarwins.html. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ Jaquie McNish (14 March 2007). "Law firm Goodman and Carr shutting down". The Globe and Mail. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/law-firm-goodman-and-carr-shutting-down/article747414/. Retrieved 2011-09-08.
- ^ Barbara Mikkelson; David P. Mikkelson (1996). "1996 Darwin Awards: Lawyer Alof". Darwin Awards. http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin1996-01.html. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
- ^ 1000 Ways To Die: '#64 Habeas Corpse' (video). Spike Digital Entertainment. 2009. http://www.spike.com/video/habeas-corpse/3109060. Retrieved 5 September 2011.
