BARE BONES BRIEFS: Remote defendants show up bathing and half-naked; OCA provides guidance on limitation defence in allowing negligence claims against Robins Appleby to proceed; Langlois chair inducted into ACTL; Dellelce family donates $5 million to University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law; Top 5 law firm bulletins & webinars
By Julius Melnitzer | June 24, 2022 UK COURTS FED UP WITH REMOTE SHENANIGANS A UK Magistrates Association report concludes that 76 percent of magistrates oppose continued remote hearings. Defendants appearing remotely, respondents said, appeared to take the process less seriously, as evidenced by their “appearing while in the bath, being half naked, smoking and […]
Employers can expect surge of claims linked to long-haul coronavirus, remote work injuries: lawyers
By Julius Melnitzer | June 16, 2022 As the pandemic winds down, employers can expect to see an increase in disability claims related to long-haul coronavirus infections and compensation claims resulting from injuries incurred while working remotely, says Joshua Goldberg, a Toronto-based personal injury lawyer. The most common long-haul coronavirus symptoms are fatigue, shortness of […]
Blood Tribe reserve ruling draws distinction on treaty rights
By Julius Melnitzer | June 8, 2022 First Nations seeking to enforce treaty rights must commence their claims within the applicable limitation periods in provincial and federal legislation, even if the treaty rights arose before Aboriginal rights were enshrined in the Constitution Act of 1982, according to a Federal Court of Appeal ruling earlier this […]
BREAKING NEWS: Ontario Chief Justice George Strathy to retire early
By Julius Melnitzer | June 7, 2022 Ontario Chief Justice George Strathy will retire on August 31, 2022, 11 months before his mandatory retirement date on his 75th birthday on July 23, 2023. Strathy advised his judicial colleagues of the decision at a Court of Appeal meeting on Friday, June 3. He followed up with […]
BARE BONES BRIEFS: LSO accredits mindfulness meditation training for lawyers; New CEO at Arbitration Place; Calling a man “a bald c***” is sexual harassment; Bennett Jones provides scholarships for Indigenous, Black and first-generation law students; Top 5 law firm bulletins
By Julius Melnitzer | June 6, 2022 LSO ACCREDITS MINDFULNESS MEDITATION COURSE In a nod to the growing recognition of well-being’s importance to the profession, The Law Society of Ontario has accredited a mindfulness training course, Toronto Method Mindfulness, developed and led by Ari Kaplan of Kaplan Law. Kaplan, one of Canada’s leading pension law […]
Canada targets crowdfunding platforms with new rules
By: Bamdad Attaran | May 20, 2022 Crowdfunding platforms have new regulatory obligations. On April 5, 2022, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) introduced amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations (PCMLTFR). FINTRAC is responsible for administering and enforcing Canada’s anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing (“AML/ATF”) […]
Employers seeking to withhold termination entitlements must prove wilful misconduct pre-planned: Ontario court
By Julius Melnitzer | May 19, 2022 A recent Ontario Court of Appeal decision raises the bar for employers seeking to withhold minimum entitlements under the Employment Standards Act from employees dismissed for cause.Julius Melnitzer The case arose when TK Elevator terminated Mark Render — a manager with more than 30 years’ service — for […]
Alberta energy sector still in limbo as appeals court weighs Impact Assessment Act
By Julius Melnitzer | May 3, 2022 More than 14 months after hearing Alberta’s challenge to the federal government’s Impact Assessment Act, the province’s court of appeal has yet to render a decision, leaving industry players on “pins and needles” over a ruling that could have a major impact on the regulation of Alberta energy […]
Tips for Lawyers: Moving to a New City for Work
By Vanessa Holwell | April 27, 2022 Moving to a new location for work can be an exciting time. The fresh start is often a chance to find the house of your dreams and set it up in the way you desire. However, moving comes with challenges and stresses, from picking out a home to […]
Ontario quick off mark with iGaming
By Julius Melnitzer | April 25, 2022 By all accounts, Ontario got it right when it became the first province to open its Internet gaming market to the private sector on April 4. “The government should be commended for its commitment, especially because of the noise from some people opposing the move,” said Cameron MacDonald, […]