This section of our website features a variety of legal musings, including blog posts, video blogs, comments, articles, and general posts.
Warning: No matter how much care we’ve taken to ensure the information here in The Framers’ Forum is complete at the time it was posted, the information may not be comprehensive or current and is provided for general information purposes only and should not be relied upon for legal advice. You should consult a qualified lawyer on any specific legal question or matter. Grigoras Law is not responsible and all liability is excluded for any damage or loss due to any reliance upon the information here. Use of the information on this page is at your own risk.
In 2019, Ontario recognized “publicity which places an individual in a false light” – the “false light tort” – as a part of the common law. Despite its relatively straightforward definition, the false light tort remains puzzling due to its ambiguous parameters, unique elements, and potential utility.
How does Canadian tax law impact professional athletes? To understand this, we need to think about multiple scenarios, and consider the athlete’s residency, their affiliations with Canadian or foreign-based teams, and the ever-changing political landscape surrounding the taxation of sports franchises in Canada.
When your cargo or luggage gets damaged or lost during international air transport, you might think that the airline will compensate you for your losses. However, the legal landscape surrounding airline liability for international cargo and baggage is complex. It’s governed by international conventions like the Warsaw Convention and the Montreal Convention, which establish specific rules and liability limits for airlines.
The business judgment rule has its roots firmly planted in the need to facilitate an environment of innovation and growth in business. Recognizing that running a business often involves taking risks, this rule has been developed to shield directors and officers who are willing to take calculated chances to propel a corporation forward.
Civil fraud, also known as deceit, is a serious economic tort or civil wrong that involves a deliberate deception through false representation. It requires four elements: a false representation by the defendant, their knowledge (or recklessness) of the falsehood, the plaintiff’s action influenced by this representation, and a loss suffered by the plaintiff as a result.
The judicial system in Nevada plays a critical role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring the fair administration of justice. The courts covered include Municipal Courts, Justice Courts, Small Claims Court, District Courts, Family Courts, and Appellate Courts, comprising the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals.
An “insider” is broadly defined, including the corporation, directors, officers, major shareholders, employees, and professionals like lawyers or accountants. Liability extends to those receiving confidential information from insiders (tippees). Insiders cannot tip others for trading advantages. If an insider tips an unrelated person, they are liable for damages and accountable to the corporation for benefits received.
In recent months, the rise of advanced artificial intelligence and natural language processing technologies, such as Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, has sparked a debate about their potential impact on various industries, including the legal profession. The million-dollar question inevitably arises: Will LLMs replace lawyers (and perhaps judges also), or at the very least, lead to a massive paradigm shift in law practice?
Social media has changed advertising, and while traditional media still has a place in the market, social media’s massive potential consumer base is hard to ignore. Advertisers must now concentrate on social media engagement.
In defamation cases, an apology may play a crucial role in the assessment of damages. However, it is important to note that courts lack the jurisdiction to order defendants to apologize. The existence of an apology, the sincerity of the defendant, and the extent of the publicity given to the apology are factors that courts consider when determining damages.
Trespass to the person is a longstanding area of tort law that addresses actions involving direct physical contact or threats to an individual’s physical or mental well-being.
The Lowest Intermediate Balance Rule (“LIBR“) is an essential concept in the legal world, particularly in cases involving the tracing of funds. It is an evidential rule that assumes that when a person commingles their own funds with funds belonging to someone else, they are assumed to have spent their own funds first.
Parenting time and decision-making responsibility are two different things in family law. This blog post will focus on parenting time, a term that has replaced the meaning of what was previously called “access” in the Divorce Act and most provincial statutes.
Traditionally, fraud has been understood as involving deceit or intentional misrepresentation. However, the courts have expanded the concept to encompass equitable or constructive fraud, which includes various forms of unfair dealing and unconscionable conduct in contractual matters.
Yes, believe it or not, you can sue a city. Municipal corporations, which include cities, are no longer immune to liability as they were in the past. They can be held accountable for various wrongdoings, such as tortious acts, breaches of contract, and neglecting statutory duties.
Rylands v. Fletcher is a landmark case in English tort law that established the principle of strict liability for certain harmful activities. The rule states that a person who uses their land for non-natural purposes and accumulates a potentially dangerous substance on their property may be held strictly liable if that substance escapes and causes damage to another’s property.
The fair comment defence is designed to protect the right to express opinions on matters of public interest, even if those opinions are unpopular, controversial, or critical of others.
In Ontario, special notice requirements apply to defamation cases involving libel in a newspaper printed and published in the province or a broadcast from a station within Ontario. Plaintiffs must provide written notice to the defendant within six weeks after becoming aware of the alleged libel.
The tort of conversion primarily deals with the unlawful interference of another person’s movable personal property, known as chattels. In contrast to trespass to goods, conversion demands more than just a simple invasion of the plaintiff’s possessory rights; it necessitates an interference that denies the plaintiff’s title.
The term “principal residence” refers to a taxpayer’s primary dwelling or housing unit for a specific tax year. The taxpayer, their spouse, common-law partner, former spouse, or child must ordinarily inhabit the residence. A personal trust can also claim a principal residence if it is regularly occupied by a specified beneficiary or their immediate family.
The tort of intimidation, a relatively less explored area of common law, has been recognized and established through a series of judicial decisions. The House of Lords in Rookes v. Barnard (“Rookes“) formally acknowledged the existence of this tort, which has since been accepted as part of the common law in Canada.
The Canadian cosmetics industry generates billions of dollars. In 2021, the cosmetics market in Canada generated approximately USD 1.24 billion in revenue, and industry revenue is expected to grow by 1.45% annually to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2024.
Ontario’s Family Law Act (“FLA”) contains provisions under Part IV that regulate domestic contracts, including cohabitation agreements, marriage contracts, and separation agreements. These agreements primarily focus on legally enforceable matters, such as property division, spousal support, and children’s education.
In family law, spousal support is central to helping spouses who have become financially disadvantaged due to the breakdown of a marriage or common-law relationship. This post examines the legal principles and case law surrounding spousal support, discussing child support priority, general principles, and various factors that influence support amounts and duration.
Share capital plays a crucial role in the world of corporations, serving as a primary means of ownership and property rights. In Canada, share capital is regulated by the Canada Business Corporations Act (“CBCA”), which serves as a model for most Canadian jurisdictions.
Civil contempt of court is a complex legal concept that originates from the need to preserve justice and prevent obstruction. It encompasses a wide range of actions, from interfering with the due course of justice to undermining the authority of a court.
According to Section 15(2) of the Income Tax Act, a shareholder (or a person or partnership connected to the shareholder) may be deemed to have received a taxable benefit equal to the amount of a loan or debt made by a corporation. This taxable benefit is included in the shareholder’s income for the tax year in which the loan or debt arose.
Over time, Canadian provincial legislation regulating defamation has been updated to incorporate modern communication methods. However, since most of this legislation does not explicitly address the Internet, judges are often required to draw parallels between Internet communications and traditional media forms, such as newspapers and broadcasts, that are covered by the legislation.
Incorporating a company in Ontario has become more streamlined and accessible thanks to the introduction of the Ontario Business Registry on October 19, 2021. This guide will provide a detailed overview of the incorporation process, from preparing and submitting the required documentation to understanding the fees and legal obligations involved.
Waivers of liability are legal agreements that can limit or exclude the duty of care owed by an occupier in certain circumstances. Although waivers can be effective tools for businesses to minimize their legal exposure, courts carefully scrutinize these agreements to ensure they are fair and reasonable.
Litigation is a complex process that requires careful attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the rules and procedures that govern the legal system. In this blog post, we explore the various stages of a lawsuit in Ontario, from the initial pleadings to the final trial.
In the Canadian legal landscape, class actions represent a powerful mechanism for individuals who have suffered similar harm or losses to collectively seek legal redress against a common defendant. These lawsuits serve multiple purposes, such as providing access to justice for people who might not have the means to pursue individual litigation, encouraging behavioural modification in large corporations or organizations, and promoting judicial efficiency by consolidating numerous related cases into a single legal action.
An essential contract for small non-offering corporations, shareholders’ agreements define the rights, privileges, liabilities, and responsibilities of each shareholder. These agreements, also known as “unanimous shareholders’ agreements,” offer a framework to govern various aspects of a corporation’s functioning, such as delineating shareholder roles, placing limitations on certain actions, and regulating share transfers.
Running a successful business in Ontario requires dedication, hard work, and a thorough understanding of the various types of insurance available to protect your company’s assets and interests. In this overview, we will explore the ins and outs of the eight different insurance options available to Ontario-based businesses, helping you make informed decisions about the coverage your business needs to thrive.
The tort of passing off in Canadian law is founded upon the notion that no individual should be allowed to represent their products or services as those of another. The Supreme Court of Canada has set forth three key elements that a plaintiff must establish to succeed in a passing off action: goodwill, misrepresentation, and damage.
Class action lawsuits serve as an important mechanism for plaintiffs in Canada to pursue legal remedies as a collective. This type of litigation offers a more efficient way to resolve disputes that share common issues.
Lawyers have a responsibility to prepare witnesses for adversarial proceedings, and failure to do so is considered irresponsible and incompetent. However, codes of conduct and case law prohibit lawyers from “coaching” witnesses to attain these ends.
Summary judgment is a process in civil court proceedings that allows the court to make a decision without the need for a full trial. In Ontario, the test for granting summary judgment is when the court is satisfied that there is no genuine issue requiring a trial with respect to a claim or defence.
Statutory Civil Liability is established by legislation for misrepresentations in a prospectus, Offering Memorandum, or circulars for a take-over bid or issuer bid, including directors’ and director’s or officer’s circulars. This civil liability is covered under Part 23 of the Ontario Securities Act.
The Ontario Unconscionable Transactions Relief Act provides relief to borrowers when they have been subjected to harsh and unconscionable transactions. This legislation allows the court to grant relief where the cost of the loan is excessive or the transaction is unfair.
Cheques remain a popular payment method for many businesses and individuals today, but their use also brings with it the risk of fraud. This risk was at the heart of the legal battle between Austral Imports Inc. and the Bank of Montreal in a case that dealt with the effectiveness of contemporary account verification and related obligations.
When a plaintiff wants to discontinue an action against a defendant before the close of pleadings in Ontario, they have the right to do so by serving a Notice of Discontinuance on all parties served with a statement of claim and filing the notice with proof of service in the registrar’s office.
Under the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (the “Act”), unfair practices include false, misleading, or deceptive representations made by a supplier in the course of selling or promoting a product or service. The Act prohibits suppliers from engaging in unfair practices and provides consumers with various remedies for violations of the Act.
The “proper law” of a contract generally governs most issues pertaining to its validity, interpretation, performance, and breach in the context of the Anglo-Canadian conflict of laws. The “proper law” rule is based on the principle that parties to a contract are free to choose the governing law.
If you’re struggling with debt and need a way out, you may be wondering what options are available to you. In Canada, one option is to file a consumer proposal. This legal process is designed to help insolvent individuals compromise their debts with their creditors and avoid the stigma of bankruptcy.
In Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (the “PIPEDA”) is a federal law regulating the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information by private organizations during commercial activities. The PIPEDA is key legislation that aims to safeguard the privacy of individuals by setting out clear rules for the management of personal information by private organizations.
Constructive trusts are a legal remedy used to address unjust enrichment. This remedy is imposed on property owned by a party who has gained an unfair benefit at the expense of another party. In cases where the court finds that one party has been unjustly enriched, a constructive trust may be imposed to remedy the situation.
Promissory estoppel is a legal doctrine that may be used to prevent a party from reneging on a promise or representation they have made. It is a principle of equity that can be invoked to prevent a party from relying on their strict legal rights where it would be unfair or unjust to do so. Although originally developed by the common law, it has been modified over time by equitable principles.
Amending the articles of a corporation is a common type of fundamental change to the constitution of a corporation. Active businesses often experience a fundamental change during their lifespan. In Ontario, the Ontario Business Corporations Act (OBCA) allows for almost any change to the corporation’s constitution.
The gambling industry is a prime target for those seeking to launder illegal funds. This includes physical casinos, online casinos, bars with poker machines, and both physical and online sports betting services. The global gambling industry generated record-breaking revenues in 2021, reaching $261 billion (USD) in the US and €87.2 billion (EUR) in Europe, making it an attractive option for criminals seeking to launder money. Relative to population size, Canada’s gambling industry made a proportional $2.64 billion (CAD) in revenue in 2021.
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