Casinos can be exploited to facilitate money laundering

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Any technique that disguises the source of money or assets earned through illegal activity can be considered money laundering. Businesses commonly associated with this crime include banks, law firms, money service businesses/currency exchanges, real estate agencies, car dealerships and jewellers. “Section 462.31 (1) of the Criminal Code makes it a crime […]

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Time to change Employment Insurance repayment system

/ Employment/Labour /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A simple bureaucratic change could help avoid ongoing Hunger Games scenarios for those attempting to satisfy Employment Insurance (EI) repayment obligations after a workplace settlement, says Toronto employment lawyer Ellen Low. Low, principal of Ellen Low & Co., says it is not unusual for people to receive EI benefits

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Intimate partner violence can take many forms

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Intimate partner violence can occur in a marriage, adult interdependent relationship or between people dating. It is experienced by people of all genders, ages, socioeconomic status, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, with women accounting for the vast majority of complainants. “This form of violence can occur in both public and private

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Property owners must be proactive to ensure premises remain safe

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Property owners must be constantly vigilant to ensure premises are safe for visitors, says Barrie-area litigator M. Steven Rastin. “Under Ontario’s Occupiers’ Liability Act those controlling a property must do what is reasonable to ensure that all visitors are safe,” says Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein. “The Act

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Compensation can be sought for some public transit injuries

/ Personal Injury /

While public transit is generally safe, every year some riders suffer injuries caused by mechanical failures, operator error or collisions with other vehicles. When that happens, both the operator and the municipality may bear responsibility since transit authorities owe a duty of care to riders. But as various court rulings have found, that liability does

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Misrepresentation during a home sale carries consequences

/ Real Estate /

By LegalMatters Staff • People selling their homes want to present them in the best light possible. But if they knowingly misrepresent the property to buyers, that can lead to legal and financial repercussions. “All real estate transactions are expected to be built on a foundation of trust and transparency,” says Edmonton real estate lawyer

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Stiff penalties are given for driving under the influence of drugs

/ Criminal Law /

By LegalMatters Staff • Impaired driving kills or injures more Canadians than any other crime, according to Public Safety Canada, and that includes impairment caused by either drugs or alcohol. It is also the single-most important factor contributing to serious road crashes. “If you are caught operating a vehicle while impaired by cannabis or any

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Consistent medical treatment is important in disability cases

/ Personal Injury /

By LegalMatters Staff • For a long-term disability claim to be successful it must include a chronological narrative of your medical history, treatments and diagnoses. That type of medical evidence can only be gathered through regular and ongoing medical care and careful tracking of any reports given by experts along the way. These records can

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Time for mandatory mediation to be rolled out province-wide

/ Mediation/Arbitration /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Mandatory mediation is a simple yet effective solution to the problem of civil court backlogs, says Ontario mediator and litigator Avril Hasselfield. Hasselfield, a partner with Results Mediators, says the civil court system in Ontario needs an overhaul to ensure access to justice. “More judges would help but that

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