Civil Litigation
-
April 03, 2025
The O’Connor report drama: A whodunit or Keystone Kops? | Michael Cochrane
The long-awaited report from Justice Dennis O’Connor has been released by the Law Society on Ontario (LSO), and we now know what led to CEO Diana Miles getting a considerable increase in her compensation last May — and her subsequent termination.
-
April 03, 2025
Some thoughts on mental health and civility in practice | Gary Joseph
Some of you (or maybe more of you than I think) must be tiring of my writings on the issue of civility. I understand, but the longer I practise, the more I see the importance of civility in our family law practice. Today I wish to reach a little further into this aspect of practice, go somewhat granular, and link civility with the issue of mental health.
-
April 02, 2025
Federal Court: Residential schools settlement bars class action by survivors’ children
A proposed class action against the Crown brought by an Indigenous person who was abused by his father, a residential school survivor, has been struck on the basis that it is barred by the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.
-
April 02, 2025
New trademark law changes aimed at improving dispute resolution, preventing abuse
Canadian companies are facing a changed trademark landscape starting this month with the coming into force on April 1 of amendments to the Trademark Act.
-
April 02, 2025
Canadian Judicial Council weighs in on what not to say from the bench
A trial judge who vented his frustrations in court during “a particularly bad day” has been rebuked by the federal judicial council for disrespectful and hurtful comments he made from the bench that publicly belittled and humiliated a litigant.
-
April 02, 2025
Nova Scotia strengthens support for Black, Indigenous impacted by gender-based violence
Indigenous and Black victims of gender-based violence in Nova Scotia will be given increased support from the province’s government.
-
April 02, 2025
Nova Scotia court refuses another ‘kick at the can’ for unsuccessful family law litigant
Family law litigation is emotionally exhausting and financially draining. Courts of Appeal across Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada, have made it clear that once a trial decision is released, unsuccessful litigants will not have easy access to relief in the Courts of Appeal. Absent the trial judge making a material error, a serious misapprehension of the evidence or an error in law, Courts of Appeal will defer to and will not interfere with a trial judge’s decision.
-
April 01, 2025
Federal Court sets aside Fisheries Department decision to cut 2023 juvenile eel fishing quotas
The Federal Court has overturned a federal government decision to cut the elver (juvenile eel) fishing quotas of eight licence holders by 13.7 per cent for the 2023 season, ruling that the department of fisheries (DFO) violated procedural fairness by not consulting the licence holders as it had previously promised.
-
April 01, 2025
Ontario Hospital Association allowed intervener status in appeal involving hospital cyberattack
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice’s Divisional Court has granted intervener status to the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) in an appeal related to the Ontario information and privacy commissioner's notification obligations following a cyberattack.
-
April 01, 2025
Oatley Vigmond adds new associate
Fiona Tobin has joined Oatley Vigmond as an associate.