The Complete Brief
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August 22, 2025
Court declines to stay class action against Airbnb over allegedly unlicensed rentals
The B.C. Court of Appeal has declined Airbnb’s request to stay a class action concerning allegations that the platform operates rental services in Canada without the licences required under real estate and consumer protection laws.
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August 22, 2025
Estate planning: Ongoing income streams after death
For individuals benefitting from the payment of royalties, it is not uncommon for those payments to continue after death, which gives rise to considerations in the estate planning and estate administration contexts. The most prominent example in recent years may be that of Michael Jackson, recognized by Forbes as the highest-paid dead celebrity in 2024 and in several years prior — royalties earned from MJ: The Musical alone certainly bolstered the bottom line.
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August 22, 2025
Why Kawartha police were correct
The Kawartha Lakes Police Service faced criticism for charging a 44-year-old man in Lindsay, Ont., with inflicting life-threatening injuries on an alleged intruder in his apartment. The intruder is also charged. Some criticism comes from Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who appears to support a “castle doctrine” allowing homeowners to use reasonable, including potentially deadly, force to defend themselves when their home is invaded.
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August 22, 2025
APPEALS - Grounds - Unreasonable verdict
Appeal by Chiarelli who was found guilty by a jury of possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. The issue at trial was whether Chiarelli was in possession of the cocaine.
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August 22, 2025
Yes Premier Ford, something is broken here but it’s not what you think
Maybe it wasn’t a home “invasion.” Maybe they knew each other. Maybe the homeowner chased the intruder and knifed him in the back.
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August 21, 2025
‘Let’s eat Grandma’: How commas can ruin or make your case
Remember the online meme comparing “Let’s eat grandma!” with “Let’s eat, grandma!”? Well, here we have the legal version of it.
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August 21, 2025
‘Inadequate’ pay deters outstanding jurists from federal bench; $28,000 boost needed: commission
Canada’s 1,198 federally appointed judges should get a substantial lump sum salary increase — $28,000 — as their pay package is no longer enough to attract “outstanding” private bar lawyers to the bench, says the federal Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission, echoing warnings made by federal judicial leaders over the past few years.
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August 21, 2025
‘Democracy demands nothing less’ than hearing on Alberta referendum question, judge says
An Alberta judge has ordered a hearing on the constitutionality of a referendum question asking whether the province should separate from Canada, despite arguments from the referendum’s proponent that such a move would be premature and an abuse of process.
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August 21, 2025
Krystle Formhals joins DLA Piper’s finance group
DLA Piper (Canada) LLP has welcomed Krystle Formhals to its Toronto office in the finance group.
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August 21, 2025
Saskatchewan courts appoint new registrars
Chief Justice Robert W. Leurer has announced the appointment of Kamara Willett as registrar of the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal, while Chief Justice Martel D. Popescul appointed Suneil Sarai as register of the province’s Court of King’s Bench.