Posts

Britain’s domestic abuse law to recognize financial control

Canada is joining other countries in recognizing that domestic abuse includes economic control, but further steps must be taken to ensure the abused spouse is protected, says Toronto family lawyer Inna Tsinman. Read more

Special training gives investigators edge in fraud detection

When it comes to accounting, the numbers never lie, but you have to know what you’re looking for, says Toronto forensic accountant and investigator Dave Oswald. Read more

Don’t miss out on caregiver tax credits: Pope

Families caring for a relative with a disability frequently miss out on tax credits because they don’t know about them, or aren’t aware that there have been changes in eligibility, says Ottawa estate planning and disabilities lawyer Kenneth Pope. Read more

Timely legal advice for startups key to avoiding pitfalls

For new business owners, seeking legal advice at the outset on everything from shareholders’ agreements to intellectual property rights can be a crucial step in order to avoid headaches and disputes later on, says Toronto corporate lawyer Sammy Redlick. Read more

Class-action lawsuit makes 'important' social point: Waddell

A class-action lawsuit against a social media giant claiming age and gender discrimination in employment and housing applications by its advertisers is “forging new ground,” says Toronto class-action lawyer Margaret Waddell. Read more

Resist temptation to use boilerplate contracts

Toronto commercial litigator Kevin Fisher says using boilerplate contracts or repurposing old ones for new projects can end up being a costly mistake. Read more

Update law to deal with common-law property division: Gelman

The time has come for Ontario to enact a law to govern the division of property when common-law couples split up, says Toronto family lawyer Lisa Gelman. Read more

Stiff costs trending against unreasonable family law litigants

Unreasonable family law litigants face an increasing risk of heavy costs awards, says Toronto-area family lawyer Reesa Heft. Read more

Self-represented parties should do their homework: Miller

People planning to represent themselves in court should take the time to learn about the process and their obligations — and opposing legal counsel should also assist as much as possible in those circumstances, says Toronto litigator Jonathan Miller. Read more

Options available if you discover Kitec plumbing: Cormier

If you have bright blue or orange lines running from your water heater or baseboards, there is a good chance your home’s plumbing needs to be replaced — and you will have to pick up at least some of the tab, says Toronto trial and appellate lawyer Joel Cormier. Read more

Top 5 areas for child welfare sector to focus on privacy law

Ontario’s children’s aid societies and other agencies in the child welfare sector would be well served to focus on five specific areas when they become subject to privacy rules for the first time this coming January, says Toronto health lawyer Kate Dewhirst. Read more

Rejecting LSO Statement of Principles would be a ‘black eye’

Toronto criminal lawyer Christopher Hicks says he is mystified by the fierce opposition to the Ontario Law Society’s (LSO) requirement that members adopt a statement of principles promoting diversity. Read more

Winkler successful in accessing disciplinary hearing record

Decisions like a recent case that applied the open-court principle to a doctor’s disciplinary proceedings contribute to a better informed Canadian public, says Toronto lawyer and mediator Howard Winkler. Read more

Careless internet posts can be costly: Will

What you post online has the potential to live on in cyberspace and can have serious legal ramifications, says Toronto personal injury lawyer Gary Will. Read more

Condo unit owners not always king of the castle

A recent Ontario Superior Court decision highlights the restricted rights that condominium unit owners have to renovate compared with traditional freehold homeowners, says Toronto condominium lawyer Armand Conant. Read more

‘Solid plan’ essential for gaining early parole: Kumar

Preparation is an inmate’s key to unlocking early parole, says Toronto criminal defence lawyer Rashmi Kumar. Read more

Even condos that allow pets won’t tolerate nuisance animals

There’s nothing in the Condominium Act that specifically speaks to a ban on pets, but condo corporations can create restrictions and rules to enforce the type of animal and how many an owner or resident can have in a unit, says Toronto condo and human rights lawyer Deborah Howden. Read more