Family
-
June 07, 2024
SCC rules on interplay of informer privilege & open courts in so-called secret trial case
The Supreme Court of Canada says no “secret” trial occurred during the in-camera prosecution of a confidential police informer in Quebec, but it has ordered 9-0 that a redacted trial judgment should be made public, which contains no information that might identify the police informer in breach of what the top court has previously described as the “extremely broad and powerful” informer privilege.
-
June 07, 2024
Collaborative approaches in estate litigation: The rise of ADR
The legal field has increasingly favoured Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) methods in estate litigation, highlighting a shift towards collaborative processes to resolve conflicts. ADR methods include mediation, judicial dispute resolution, arbitration and hybrid approaches like Med-Arb, which blend mediation and arbitration. The increasing use of ADR in various legal contexts highlights its adaptability and effectiveness, proving its relevance beyond commercial disputes to the intricate field of estate litigation.
-
June 06, 2024
New associate joins Clark Wilson
A news release from Clark Wilson announced the addition of Alexa Benzinger to the firm’s family law group in British Columbia.
-
June 05, 2024
Court refuses to recharacterize bankrupt husband’s unpaid debt to wife as spousal support
In Davidson v. Davidson 2024 BCSC 331 the parties separated after eight years of marriage. In a consent order in September 2020, they agreed that Allan Davidson would purchase the parties’ family home in Fort McMurray and assume the mortgage, while Alysa Davidson would retain a home in Vernon, British Columbia.
-
June 05, 2024
4 new judges appointed to Ontario Court of Justice
Four new judges were appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice, according to a June 3 news release from the provincial government. Effective June 13, Michael David Frank is assigned to Windsor, Joseph Hanna is assigned to Oshawa, Courtney Harris is assigned to Chatham and Liana Marcon is assigned to Oshawa.
-
June 05, 2024
Cellphones in Ontario schools: What is doxxing? | Marvin Zuker
Doxxing is a type of cyberbullying in which someone reveals or uses personal, financial or other information to cause damage to the victim.
-
June 04, 2024
Canada to provide automatic permanent residence to foreign nationals arriving under caregiver programs
Ottawa says it will roll out two new pilot programs later this month that will offer home-care workers from abroad permanent residence on their arrival in Canada.
-
June 04, 2024
Hodgson Russ celebrates 35 years in Canada
U.S. firm Hodgson Russ is celebrating its 35th Canadian anniversary, a news release from the firm announced.
-
June 04, 2024
Federal Court: $1.9B class action settlement in best interest of Indigenous boarding home survivors
The Federal Court has set out reasons approving an agreement to settle claims brought by Indigenous students who were removed from their communities and placed in boarding homes, with payments to class members estimated at $1.9 billion. The court released an order approving the agreement in December 2023 with reasons to follow.
-
June 04, 2024
Dollars and cents: Budgeting to access justice
Amidst an ongoing crisis of “access to justice” — which was decried by entertainer Robin Williams, among others, 40 years ago — one potent, but often overlooked, means of increasing accessibility is a meaningful costs award.