A term in prison almost certain for U.S. child pornography offenders

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Many products flow easily over the Canada/U.S. border, including child pornography, with both countries handing out harsh sentences to perpetrators. “Child pornography is illegal under federal and state laws in the United States and is punishable by up to life imprisonment and fines of up to US$250,000,” says Ottawa criminal lawyer […]

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Courts can benefit from limiting unworthy expert witness testimony

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The proliferation of professional expert witnesses has become an impediment to Ontario’s justice system, says Barrie-area litigator M. Steven Rastin. However, he says he is encouraged by an increased willingness of judges to act as gatekeepers to limit unworthy expert testimony. “Trials in Ontario take longer than most other jurisdictions,”

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Time is not on the side of copyright infringers, SCOTUS rules

/ Intellectual Property /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A recent Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruling that found a copyright infringer was liable for damages accruing more than nearly a decade before the infringement was discovered raises interesting limitations issues, says Toronto intellectual property lawyer John Simpson. In Warner Chappell Music, Inc. v. Nealy, SCOTUS

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Indecent exposure involving children offends public sensibilities

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • If someone deliberately exposes their genitals or nipples to someone under the age of 16 for a sexual purpose they could be charged with indecent exposure. The setting for this crime can be in public parks, changerooms or anywhere children can be found. A related charge involves committing an indecent act.

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E-bikes can pose a risk of injury for riders who don’t take precautions

/ Personal Injury /

There is no denying the increasing popularity of e-bikes. These power-assisted bicycles E-bikes were once considered a novelty in North America but that changed during the pandemic. It is reported that the sales of these power-assisted bicycles in the United States rose 269 per cent between 2019 and 2022. Meanwhile,  global automotive sales declined nearly

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Carefully consider all the pros and cons of fixed-term contracts

/ Employment/Labour /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Fixed-term contracts may seem a logical choice when hiring workers for a specified period but employers need to consider all the legal ramifications to avoid running afoul of the law, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. Low, principal of Ellen Low & Co., says a fixed-term contract is an

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Understand the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Most Canadians look for ways to reduce the amount of taxes they pay to the government each year. Some tactics, such as investing in tax-sheltered accounts, are perfectly legal. But other strategies may be regarded as either tax avoidance or tax evasion. While the second can result in criminal charges, tax

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