By LegalMatters Staff • Two important principles are at the root of our country’s judicial system. The first is that the burden of proof in any criminal trial is entirely on the Crown, meaning that the accused does not have to prove they are innocent. The second is that the Crown attorney has to establish […]
Supreme Court ruling reinforces some legal fundamentals Read More »
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Parental alienation can cause long-lasting or even permanent damage to family relationships and is easily misunderstood, says Toronto family lawyer A. Julia P. Tremain. “There is an abundance of social study research on parental alienation syndrome but there is also a huge debate about whether it actually exists,” says Tremain,
Parental alienation ‘a complicated issue’ with no easy answers Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Living with an abusive partner can be fraught with danger and deciding to leave the relationship can be difficult if someone believes their safety is in jeopardy. The World Health Organization reports that intimate partner violence (IPV) is one of the most common forms of violence against women. All genders, ages,
Your safety is important when leaving an abusive relationship Read More »
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • There is no “one-size-fits-all approach” to drafting employment agreements, which is why employers should seek legal advice to ensure they are complying with the law while protecting their interests, says Ontario employment lawyer Nadia Zaman. “You need a contract that is customized to not only the employee’s role and
Employment contracts must be ‘tailored’ to the workplace Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Messages sent on social media platforms are playing an increasingly large role in sexual assault cases, says Ottawa criminal lawyer Céline Dostaler. “In about 80 per cent of the cases I defend, electronic correspondence is part of the evidence. Sometimes it supports the complainant and other times it reinforces the accused’s
Social media messages can be important in sexual assault cases Read More »
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A recent court of appeal ruling should give employers the impetus to review the employment contracts of long-standing staff, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. In Celestini v. Shoplogix Inc., the Ontario Court of Appeal (ONCA) found that an employee was not bound by the terms of the termination clause in his
Employers need to pay heed to court of appeal decision Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • An increase in violent crime in Alberta is a concern for all residents and some Calgarians are losing trust in their police force when it comes to responding to it. That was reflected in a report released late last year by the Calgary Police Commission, which found 63 per cent of
As violent crime spikes, trust in the police is eroding Read More »
By Paul Russell, LegalMatters Staff • If you suffer an injury due to the actions or negligence of others, your family physician can be a valuable ally in your efforts to receive adequate compensation, says Ontario personal injury lawyer Joshua Goldberg. “A family doctor can play a significant role in proving your personal injury claim,”
Being compensated for an injury starts with a doctor’s records Read More »
By LegalMatters Staff • Family courts take children’s welfare seriously in any divorce. Section 16 (1) of the Divorce Act states “The court shall take into consideration only the best interests of the child of the marriage in making a parenting order or a contact order.” Courts also strive to ensure a child is properly
Defaulting on child support payments can cost you Read More »
By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • In the excitement of accepting a new job offer it is important not to gloss over the details contained in an employment contract, says Toronto employment lawyer Jeffrey M. Andrew. “When you land a job, it is the honeymoon stage of the employment relationship,” says Andrew, a partner with Cavalluzzo LLP.
Know the details of your employment contract before signing Read More »
