Reading Time: 2 minutesThe proposed Ontario 2024 Budget includes changes to the standard automobile insurance policy. The proposed changes would reduce the types of mandatory benefit coverage and increase the benefits that consumers would need to purchase as optional coverages. The proposed changes appear to remove standard income replacement benefits. The government says the potential for more personalized policies could save money for consumers and avoid duplication of certain coverages. Yet, it’s essential to navigate these waters carefully, especially when it comes to adjusting your benefi ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutesDuring my many gratifying years as a family physician it was not unusual for patients to confide their dissatisfaction with care they had received elsewhere in the health care system. A particularly unsatisfactory experience often causes patients to wonder if they have been the victim of medical negligence. What should a concerned patient know about dealing with such a concern? A bad outcome to care is not necessarily the product of negligence. For example, it is wrong to start with a poor result and the apply hindsight to work backwards to find negligence; quality is no ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutesIn a courtroom drama that could rival a Warholian masterpiece, the Andy Warhol Foundation and photographer Lynn Goldsmith have finally put their legal paintbrushes down, reaching a colorful settlement that’s sure to leave both sides seeing the world through a different lens.   Visualize the iconic Prince silkscreen series, a kaleidoscope of creativity born from a single photograph captured by Goldsmith. Commissioned by Vanity Fair in the flashy ’80s, it was intended as a one-time splash. However, Warhol, always the avant-garde artist, transformed it into a symphony ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutesOn March 1, 2024, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that an IP should be considered private. Police require judicial approval before asking for an IP address from an internet provider. This decision, made by a narrow majority of five judges, will likely spark more discussion in the future.   The decision’s importance should be assessed against the meaning of the IP address, which is compared to an online fingerprint insofar as it is “connected” and placed locationally and is an essential, perhaps, the most elementary aspects of the Internet that can nevertheless tel ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutesIn general, complicated cases involving several parties or complex legal issues will take longer to resolve than cases against only one defendant where liability is clear. The length of time will also depend on the willingness of both parties to settle a case and the availability of court dates for trial.   There is a rule requiring plaintiffs to set their matters down for trial within five years of commencing an action against a defendant. However, this does not mean that a case will be finished in five years. Setting down a case for trial is a formal process where ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutesIn the colorful circus of professional wrestling, where muscle-bound behemoths clash and melodrama reigns supreme, the saga of intellectual property rights unfolds like a soap opera on steroids. Picture this: the ring, a stage for both body slams and legal dramas, where the stakes are as high as the top rope and the tension thicker than a wrestler’s neck. And in this wild world of spandex and suplexes, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s recent legal smackdown to secure his iconic nickname is just the latest plot twist in a story that’s equal parts Shakespearean tragedy and sla ..read more

Reading Time: 4 minutesIn the world of human expression, few art forms have undergone as radical a makeover as tattooing. Starting out as cultural badges and rites of passage in ancient societies, tattoos have morphed into revered mediums of artistic expression, encapsulating personal tales, cultural legacies, and individual flair. From the intricate Polynesian motifs of the Pacific Isles to the dynamic imagery of classic Japanese irezumi, tattoos have transcended their modest origins to become enduring testimonials to the human journey. Throughout the ages, tattoos have served as badges of i ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutesIn a recent incident aboard an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max, passengers experienced a terrifying moment when a section of the aircraft’s fuselage, known as a “plug door,” suddenly detached, causing explosive decompression mid-flight. The door plug, essentially a blank section meant for optional door placement, failed, leaving a significant hole in the plane and chaos among passengers as the flight ascended from its origin in Portland, Oregon. Miraculously, no injuries were reported. If a Canadian had been on board Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, seeking damages would invo ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes In Koshman v Controlex Corporation, 2023 ONSC 7045, Nelligan Law successfully represented engineer Martin Koshman against his former employer, Controlex Corporation (“Controlex”), in a wrongful dismissal action.   After hearing the evidence, the Court awarded Mr. Koshman 24 months’ notice ($471,461.68), $50,000 in aggravated damages, $50,000 in punitive damages, and $192,112.19 in legal costs.   This case represents another example where an employer’s actions during the termination of a long-serving employee crossed the acceptable threshold and veere ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutesWhen a relationship between parent(s) and grandparent(s) breaks down, questions often arise over whether a parent can limit the contact a grandparent has with their child, or whether a grandparent has legal rights to such contact. In Ontario, family law matters arising over parenting time and contact are governed by the Children’s Law Reform Act (CLRA). While the CLRA recognizes the importance of children maintaining meaningful relationships with extended family, grandparents (and other extended family members) do not have a legal right or an automatic entitlement to con ..read more