By LegalMatters Staff • There are various types of assault charges a person can face and the penalties range from fines to a 14-year prison sentence. “Understanding the differences between these charges is crucial in knowing what lies ahead of you,” says Calgary criminal lawyer Vince Semenuk. The most common assault charges are: simple assault […]
Various types of assault charges can be laid under the Criminal Code Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • The temperatures may be bitter at this time of year but Canadians are always looking for ways to enjoy the great outdoors. There are many winter activities to keep us entertained, such as skating or snowboarding and, of course, snowmobiling. There are 121,297 km of organized snowmobile trails to enjoy in
Snowmobiling can be a fun pastime but be aware of the dangers Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Divorce can be traumatic for children, especially if they are shuttled from one home to another to spend time with their parents. Their angst is understandable. Up until the time their parents’ relationship ended, they had an essentially constant routine. According to one study, “children develop emotional security when their world
Nesting can ease a child’s transition to a new family dynamic Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • A plea bargain is an agreement between the Crown and the accused in a criminal case. A person accused of a crime will agree to plead guilty to lesser or fewer charges than they initially faced in exchange for a more lenient sentence or other concessions. These agreements can be initiated
Most criminal cases in Canada are resolved by guilty pleas Read More »
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Employees should carefully consider all their legal options if they have been asked to sign an anti-rehire agreement in a severance package, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. Low, principal of Ellen Low & Co., says anti-hire clauses are not typically common in Canada but are utilized nonetheless. “An
Take the time to understand the implications of anti-rehire clauses Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • People are sometimes charged with being “party to an offence.” But what does that mean? Section 21 of the Criminal Code lists three groups of people considered to be party to an offence, with the first being the person who “actually commits it.” “That is simple enough. However, it becomes more
Understanding what ‘party to an offence’ means in criminal law Read More »
Personal injury lawyers acting on behalf of disabled clients are forced to routinely navigate a myriad of insurance company procedural roadblocks designed to make it more difficult for legitimate claimants to receive fair compensation. Some tactics can be more frustrating than others and can delay the resolution of a long-term disability claim by months or
Superior court ruling may help improve insurer transparency Read More »
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A lawsuit claiming copyright infringement against ChatGPT creator OpenAI could provide the media industry with a valuable new revenue stream if successful, says Toronto intellectual property lawyer John Simpson. The joint lawsuit, launched by Canadian news outlets including the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail, CBC and Canadian Press,
Copyright lawsuit could create new licensing option for media industry Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Parents have a legal responsibility to provide financial support to their children during a marriage or after a divorce or separation occurs. In most cases, support is based on income. But in some situations, the parent paying support may be intentionally unemployed or earning less than they are capable of in
How income is imputed when calculating child support Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • If you use “threats, accusations, menaces or violence” to force someone else to do something, you could be charged with extortion. In most cases, money sexual favours or tangible property are demanded. “The charge of extortion is always prosecuted as an indictable offence with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment,” says
The crime of extortion can result in a maximum sentence of life in prison Read More »
