The Complete Brief
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November 19, 2025
Manitoba Court of Appeal affirms rigorous approach to causation in medical malpractice: Tripp v. Ross
The Manitoba Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Tripp Estate v. Ross, 2025 MBCA 25 is a significant reaffirmation of the principles governing causation in medical malpractice cases, particularly where a defendant’s negligence has created uncertainty about the cause of a plaintiff’s injury or death.
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November 19, 2025
N.S. to have ‘compliance’ officers in seafood industry
Nova Scotia has a new “compliance unit” to police the province’s billion-dollar seafood sector. According to a Nov. 17 news release, the unit will include four inspectors — their mission is to crack down on “illegal activities in the fish buying and processing sector.” They will be “responsible for monitoring, inspecting and investigating regulatory compliance and acting on offences.”
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November 19, 2025
Ontario, Maryland sign MOU to renew ‘strategic alliance’
The Government of Ontario has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State of Maryland to “expand cooperation in life sciences, information technology and clean energy industries, which are critical to both regions’ economies.”
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November 19, 2025
Revocation of beneficiary designation: Avoiding miscalculations
There are times in estate law when the courts have to step in because beneficiary designations for registered plans aren’t drafted or updated properly. My July 18 article touched on a few such cases. Case law suggests that revoking one’s beneficiary designations may also require court intervention if not properly considered by the drafting lawyer.
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November 19, 2025
Cozen O’Connor adds estate counsel Alexander J. Swabuk
Cozen O’Connor LLP has welcomed Alexander J. Swabuk as estate and trust counsel in its Vancouver office.
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November 19, 2025
Hammerco Lawyers opens new London, Ont., office
Hammerco Lawyers LLP has expanded into Ontario with the opening of a new office in London, to be led by Sabrina Lombardi, a class action litigator who joins the firm as a partner.
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November 19, 2025
Self-defence for lawyers, part three
It’s Friday, shortly after 5 p.m. at a small, nondescript law office. You have gathered some court briefs to review at home over the weekend and lock the office door without a quick scan before proceeding through a darkened parking lot to your car. Your strong hand is pulling a wheeled file case, and the other is tasked with getting your car keys when suddenly, you hear someone screaming expletives.
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November 19, 2025
Refresher on legal ethics for unscrupulous litigators, part two
In part one of this two-part series, I told the story of a lawyer from out west who I called Bill. Bill, apparently at the urging of his boss (who had bigger fish to fry), tried to dump a client (Bob) by making a motion to get off the record a few days before the trial date, and returnable on the trial date. He showed up, having done no trial preparation, and put the client at risk of being ordered to proceed with the trial.
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November 19, 2025
APPEALS - Grounds - Question of law - Right of - By Crown
Appeal by Crown against manslaughter acquittal. Stalthanee was charged with manslaughter in the death of Mr. Cook. The trial judge concluded that Stalthanee struck Mr. Cook on the head with a metal object while they were both intoxicated, thereby causing a depressed skull fracture.
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November 19, 2025
Speeding ticket victory in Saskatchewan Court of Appeal
In most routine speeding ticket trials, expert evidence is not called, either by the Crown or the defence.