The OT Lawsuits
The OT Lawsuits This past September a class action lawsuit was launched against KPMG alleging that it had failed to pay overtime to many of its employees. This is the second such legal proceeding to be commenced in the last few months. The initial class action against the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (“CIBC”) alleges […]
Client Identification Rules
Client Identification Rules Beginning in 2009, lawyers in Ontario must comply with new client identification and verification requirements. Since most lawyers have trust accounts there is concern that lawyers could become targets of those wishing to launder money. The Law Society’s Rules require that lawyers identify any individual who retains them to provide legal services. […]
Contracting in Cyberspace
Contracting in Cyberspace How many times have you clicked the “I Agree” button when conducting transactions on the Internet? How many times have you actually read what you are agreeing to? If you are like most you probably pay scant attention to the details of these online contracts. The Basics A contract is a formal […]
Did You Know?
Did You Know? The Right of Survivorship When purchasing a home, most couples will take title as joint tenants. This means that both parties are equally owners of the whole property. What you might not realize is that the key aspect of joint tenancy is the right of survivorship. When one half of the couple […]
Good Fences Make Good Neighbours
Good Fences Make Good Neighbours While this proverb may be true, fences can also be a real source of conflict between neighbours. Who is going to pay for the fence? Who is going to build it? What will it look like? These are all issues that can sometimes lead to real dissension. The Line Fences […]
The Making of a Class Action
The Making of a Class Action Although Ontario’s Class Proceedings Act, 1992 has been around for 15 years, class actions are still a relatively new phenomena in Ontario. A class action is a proceeding that allows a large group of plaintiffs, who have suffered a similar wrong at the hands of the same defendant, to […]
Real Estate Fraud – A Victory for the Homeowner
Real Estate Fraud – A Victory for the Homeowner Although not a rampant crime, real estate fraud will not go away. As we have explained in previous editions1 of Legal Issues, real estate fraud can result in a home being sold or mortgaged without the knowledge of the legal owner. Up until recently this has […]
Marriage Contracts: The Necessity of Full Disclosure
Marriage Contracts: The Necessity of Full Disclosure The Family Law Act sets out many of the rules that govern relationships in Ontario. When a couple decides to marry they are entitled to create their own rules if those set out in the Act do not suit their situation.1 With a few exceptions, a couple who […]
Holiday Tip
Holiday Tip A sure sign that the holiday season is upon us is the appearance of R.I.D.E. spot checks. If you are stopped by the police you may be asked to provide a breath sample by blowing into an approved road side screening device. The law requires you to comply with that request. If you […]
Make it Your New Year’s Resolution
Make it Your New Year’s Resolution The New Year is still a few weeks away so this is the perfect time to reflect on your resolutions for 2007. Make this the year that you make a will, a power of attorney for property and a power of attorney for personal care. And if you have […]