Personal Injury
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February 29, 2024
Legal experts ask Alberta to withdraw proposals for transgender youth, citing Charter concerns
Legal academics from across Alberta are raising red flags over a suite of proposed policies which would require parental notification when children alter their names or pronouns and place limits on gender-affirming care for youth, saying they could open the province up to constitutional challenges.
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February 29, 2024
Defence insurers in opioid class actions only responsible for costs in specific time frames: Court
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal in part for defence costs in insurers’ policies that the respondents were issued for liability regarding various opioid class actions, finding the judge’s disposition placed a “disproportionate and unreasonable burden” on the insurers.
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February 29, 2024
Respondents have severely limited rights in workplace investigation: Employment lawyer weighs in
More and more, employers are relying on employment lawyers to conduct workplace investigations in a wide variety of circumstances to evaluate workplace conflict and potential misconduct, and to assist them in managing and dealing with difficult workplace situations. Some employment lawyers also double as workplace investigators.
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February 27, 2024
Online harms bill would create new hate crimes, duties for social media, stiff fines, imprisonment
The federal government’s proposed Online Harms Act was welcomed by several advocacy groups who rated it a substantial improvement over Ottawa’s proposed blueprint three years ago; however red flags were raised, including questions around new hate crime provisions and penalties; whether the definitions of the targeted online harms are appropriately tailored; and whether a proposed new online regulator’s broad discretionary powers have adequate safeguards.
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February 26, 2024
Ford slammed by bar for politicizing judge appointments; JPs threaten suit over pay review delays
Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is garnering sharp criticism from the legal community for further politicizing an appointment process that four years ago was lauded as the “the gold standard for the appointment of an independent and qualified judiciary,” free from partisan considerations.
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February 26, 2024
B.C. court quashes appeals related to settlement of opioid class action with governments
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has quashed two appeals brought by a Saskatchewan First Nation Band in relation to a settlement of a national opioid class action where class members were Canadian governments.
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February 26, 2024
Strategies for a healthy workplace environment: Proactive measures against bullying
Building an environment that cultivates productivity and uplifts employee morale is attributed to promoting a workplace that prioritizes health and well-being. Employers have the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of staff, which includes taking proactive steps to address bullying and harassment.
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February 23, 2024
Ottawa files its appeal of Federal Court’s ruling that gov’t illegally invoked emergency powers
Citing multiple grounds of appeal, Ottawa has asked the Federal Court of Appeal to overturn last month’s Federal Court judgment that the federal Liberal government acted unreasonably and illegally two years ago when it declared a public order emergency and purported to arrogate to itself under the federal Emergencies Act extraordinary powers to end truckers' disruption of the capital and ports of entry in protest of government-mandated pandemic measures.
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February 23, 2024
How optional policy change forms impact motor vehicle litigation
When opening a new file for a client who has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, it’s a good idea to inquire about optional policy endorsements with your client’s automobile insurer. Depending on which policy endorsements your client has purchased, there can be significant implications for future civil litigation.
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February 23, 2024
Two new associate chief judges for Nova Scotia
Judge Ronda van der Hoek and Judge D. Shane Russell have been named associate chief judges, who can, in addition to hearing matters in court, assist the chief judge with responsibilities related to the administration of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court.