The Complete Brief
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April 16, 2025
B.C. Court of Appeal orders new trial in auto crash case over jury instruction errors
The B.C. Court of Appeal has overturned a jury verdict that found a driver not liable for rear-ending a car merging onto a highway, ruling that the trial judge failed to properly instruct the jury on the legal duties of both drivers.
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April 16, 2025
B.C. brings legislation to eliminate sick notes for short-term absences
The B.C. government is bringing changes to the province’s Employment Standards Act, eliminating the need for workers to get sick notes for short-term absences. The province said this would give health care providers more time to spend with patients, saving over 180,000 physician hours each year.
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April 16, 2025
Ontario unveils legislation aimed at reducing interprovincial trade barriers amid trade war
The Ontario government has joined Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in announcing legislation aimed at reducing interprovincial trade barriers and improving labour mobility across Canada in the face of U.S. tariffs.
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April 16, 2025
Alberta Court of Appeal rules First Nation's contingency fee agreements with law firm were invalid
The Alberta Court of Appeal has allowed a First Nation’s appeal disputing the execution and timeline of contingency fee agreements it had with a law firm.
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April 16, 2025
Alberta bill raising concerns about political interference in legal system funding
Legal observers in Alberta are raising alarm bells about provincial legislation that they say would lead to political interference in funding decisions for access to justice initiatives, but the province is saying some of the concerns are being “unfairly and inaccurately” mischaracterized.
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April 16, 2025
Manitoba court examines ‘adverse inference’ in medical malpractice case
It is up to trial judges whether to apply “adverse inference” in cases of medical malpractice, says a lawyer, after Manitoba’s top court found that a local doctor, while negligent, did not cause a patient’s death due to his failure to spot a cancerous tumour.
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April 16, 2025
Dickinson Wright welcomes Shona Musimbe to its Toronto office
Dickinson Wright has announced that Shona Musimbe has joined the firm’s Toronto office as an associate.
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April 16, 2025
Leonard Lee joins Wildeboer Dellelce as partner
Wildeboer Dellelce has welcomed new partner Leonard Lee to its real estate practice group.
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April 16, 2025
Client service excellence leads to lasting growth
You may believe you are already offering the very best service. Some of your clients may even have told you so. But in my experience, you can never put too much emphasis on excelling in client service. It is the number one differentiator between you and your competitors.
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April 16, 2025
Municipal Elections Act, 1996: Recent decisions clarify mandatory audit requirements
Municipal lawyers are taking note of two recent decisions from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Thompson v. City of Ottawa Elections Compliance Audit Committee, 2025 ONSC 682 (Thompson, as yet unpublished) and Phillips v. Compliance Audit Committee, 2025 ONSC 1180 (Phillips), that have established a clear and stringent interpretation of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996 (MEA) regarding the mandatory nature of compliance audits.