Careful planning leads to successful overnight parenting time

/ Family Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • People granted overnight parenting time after a separation or divorce want to make the most of their time with their children. That starts with careful planning, says Edmonton family lawyer Peter Ewanchuk. “Before the children arrive, think about sleeping arrangements,” he says. “Separate bedrooms are ideal but younger siblings can share […]

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Using job abandonment to fire disability claimants is unfair

/ Disability Law /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Attempts by employers to use job abandonment to terminate long-term disability claimants is an unfair ploy that causes emotional distress and hardship, says trauma-informed long-term disability lawyer Leanne Goldstein. “Some employers are trying to get rid of employees who are on disability under the guise of abandonment of employment,” says Goldstein,

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Statutory deductibles ‘revictimize’ people involved in accidents

/ Personal Injury /

By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • Most Ontario drivers are aware that insurance policies come with a deductible, or the portion of the claim they are responsible for paying before the insurer covers the rest. However, they may not be aware that they may also have to pay a deductible on any court or settlement

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Unionized workers are fighting back in tough economic times

/ Employment/Labour /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Economic uncertainty and inflationary pressures appear to be leading more unionized employees to flex their bargaining muscles to push back against their employers, says Toronto employment lawyer Jeffrey M. Andrew. Andrew, a partner with Cavalluzzo LLP, says while the hours of work lost to strikes do not approach levels seen in

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LAT conflict of interest concerns need to be addressed

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A disturbing narrative is circulating involving Licence Appeal Tribunal (LAT) adjudicators who have allegedly rendered insurance-friendly decisions and then accepted offers of employment from insurance companies.  In one case, the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association (OTLA) has alleged that an adjudicator rendered numerous decisions in favour of a specific insurer

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After a divorce, it can be difficult to balance work and parenting

/ Family Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • The parenting plan you and your ex reach after a divorce or separation will set out your rights and responsibilities. But a complicating factor can be your job, since meeting the obligations of your workplace may interfere with the time you spend at home. It is often difficult to strike the

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Appeal court finds new tort of family violence is unnecessary

/ Family Law /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) reached the right conclusion in rejecting the creation of a new tort of family violence, says Toronto family lawyer A. Julia P. Tremain. In Ahluwalia v. Ahluwalia, the court struck down a landmark Superior Court decision that created the tort. “The OCNA did a thorough examination of

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Technology advances bring new workplace challenges

/ Employment/Labour /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • As technological advances continue to reshape the workplace, employers and employees need to be careful to protect their rights and ensure they are accountable while meeting their obligations, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. With innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) progressing exponentially in recent years, she says workers and

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Another attempt to ban spanking winds its way through Parliament

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • A bill has been sent to the Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs that would repeal s.43 of the Criminal Code, which allows the spanking of children. That section reads: “Every school teacher, parent or person standing in the place of a parent is justified in using force by way

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