LawNow articles from February 1997

LawNow archives from February 1997

Measuring the unmeasurable (compensation for the death of a child).
February 1, 1997... The Supreme Court of Canada released a judgment this fall that examines and tries to compensate for one of life's most searing experiences - the death of a child. The court heard an appeal of a Quebec case dealing with a claim for...

Grounds to withdraw (lawyer cannot withdraw from a case because he has not been paid).
February 1, 1997... The Alberta Court of Appeal recently ruled that a lawyer cannot withdraw from a case because he or she has not been paid. The three member panel also unanimously agreed that a lawyer needs the trial judge's permission to withdraw as counsel...

Tree troubles.
February 1, 1997... One of the most common questions that law libraries receive from property owners involves problems with trees. Recently, the Ontario Court (General Division), dealt with a tree case that will not set homeowners' minds at ease. In this...

Crime catch-up costly (community-based prevention programs are cost-effective).
February 1, 1997... Faced with the staggering costs of crime, governments across Canada can no longer ignore the fact that community-based prevention programs are the cost-effective alternatives to the traditional approach to criminal justice, says Ross...

International justice sought (scholars and diplomats drafting a treaty to establish a permanent, international court that would hold individuals responsible for crimes not punished in national courts).
February 1, 1997... As of January 12, 1997, I am aware of one successful war crimes prosecution at the Bosnia War Crimes Tribunal, and the beginning of attempts to prosecute at the Rwanda War Crimes Tribunal. In both cases, we are seeing a new development in...

Satisfying justice.
February 1, 1997... The Correctional Service of Canada and the Church Council on Justice and Corrections have published a fascinating book, Satisfying Justice, that describes credible alternatives to incarceration. The book is described by the Church Council as...

Lot's of scope for (Paul) Martin's plans (to reduce child poverty).
February 1, 1997... The federal Finance Minister, Paul Martin, is promising to "lay the foundations" in his upcoming budget for a campaign to reduce child poverty. From recent studies on the subject, it would seem that Minister Martin has lots of room to work....

Common-law commonplace?
February 1, 1997... Sometimes, it is necessary to blur a line to draw a line. In Canada, the line between the legal rights of married couples and common law couples was, for many years, firmly drawn. Married couples had a myriad of legal rights; common law...

Everyman investment RRSPs.
February 1, 1997... It's February. The ads are on all the bus shelters. The financial experts are on all the talk shows. This year's crop of financial advice books and computer programs are on all the shelves. But you still haven't gotten around to buying an...

Pool of savings: mutual funds.
February 1, 1997... A demographic riddle: What does your date of birth have to do with your investment decisions? According to David K. Foot, economist and demographer with the University of Toronto, and Daniel Stoffman, business journalist, your date of...

Risks of investing in private corporations.
February 1, 1997... Introduction Imagine you've received a small inheritance or won the lottery. You're just considering how to invest it when your brother-in-law arrives with a great idea. He has a small computer networking business, Up the Net, that he...

Strategies for dealing with an early retirement package.
February 1, 1997... These days, even large corporations reporting healthy profits are downsizing. Companies from various sectors are observing a policy of general cost cutting to stay globally competitive. Because of government cutbacks, civil servants and...

Stop the law and let me off: how, and why, some leave legal practice.
February 1, 1997... To some, the practice of law is true white-collar nirvana - a world of precedent-pummelling Charter of Rights litigation, foundation-shaking mega-mergers, and professional collegiality, all serenaded by the cheery "ca-ching" of the cash...

Law school book: how to succeed at law school.
February 1, 1997... Allan C. Hutchinson of Osgoode Hall Law School and Pam Marshall of the Ontario Bar reveal an insight into law school that can be appreciated by those contemplating a career in law and those who have already taken the plunge into law school....

Long way to go (income security child and spousal support payments).
February 1, 1997... Income security is a phantom concept for many people who rely on child and spousal support payments. Of all court orders, support orders are probably the most consistently and flagrantly ignored. A support order is only a piece of paper...

You can make a difference (human rights).
February 1, 1997... The theme of this issue of LawNow is investment and taxes, and even in this field, human rights concerns arise. Indeed, it might even be suggested that the areas of investment -- and, indeed, everyday shopping -- represent ways in which...

Writing for real people (plain language).
February 1, 1997... Why do plain language writers emphasize audience research? They do this because once you know who your readers are, you make choices that will make reading easier for them. You make these choices in grammar, vocabulary, and design. ...

Franchise legislation in Alberta: what you should know.
February 1, 1997... Application The Franchises Act of Alberta applies to the sale of a franchise in Alberta if the franchise business is to be operated either partly or wholly in Alberta and if the purchaser of the franchise is an Alberta resident or has a...

Top seven (web) sites for free Canadian legal information.
February 1, 1997... Having used the Internet almost everyday of the last three years, I have come up with a list of favourite for locating Canadian legal information. The World Wide Web has had a huge impact on the way information is made available to users....

Do with me what you will.
February 1, 1997... In the most recent volume of The University of Saskatchewan Law Review (vol.59) I came across an intriguing article by American poet and law professor Lawrence Joseph. In it he recounts his admiration for certain works of literature that deal...

Life after law.
February 1, 1997... In the not too distant past, it was believed that entry into law school, graduation, and then admission to the Bar, were the first footfalls in a career which would span your entire lifetime. Such a belief was usually shared by those outside...

Charities: a top ten list.
February 1, 1997... The Federal Court of Appeal, in a recent two to one judgment, allowed the appeal of Vancouver Regional FreeNet against Revenue Canada's refusal to register it as a charity. The case is a good opportunity to examine the legal meaning of...