Civil Litigation
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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
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
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
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
Trade dress: Peanut butter and other spreadable products in Canada
Peanut butter and other spreadable products, beloved staples in Canadian pantries, have evolved beyond simple food items into branded products with distinct characteristics and packaging. As companies compete for consumer attention, legal protections such as trade dress play a crucial role in defining and safeguarding the identity of these products.
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November 18, 2025
Ontario to hold impaired drivers accountable for child support if they kill a parent
The Government of Ontario is creating new measures that would “require impaired drivers to pay ongoing child support if they kill a child’s parent or guardian.”
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November 18, 2025
Alexandre-Philippe Avard appointed to Quebec Superior Court
Alexandre-Philippe Avard, a partner at Dentons, has been appointed a judge of the Superior Court of Quebec for the district of Montreal.
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November 18, 2025
B.C. appoints 6 new judges
The federal Department of Justice has announced the appointment of six new judges to British Columbia courts.
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November 18, 2025
Additional pre-construction costs depend on agreement of purchase and sale
The purchase of a pre-construction townhouse or other home often involves a written agreement of purchase and sale (APS) that is signed years before the completion of construction and occupancy of the property. Buyers may be surprised if the developer imposes additional charges at the time of closing. Whether such charges are permitted generally depends upon the specific wording in the APS.
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November 18, 2025
Federal Court finds Videotron infringed two Adeia interactive TV patents
The Federal Court has ruled that Videotron infringed two Adeia patents related to interactive television technologies that track viewing progress and restrict fast-forwarding of certain content.