Criminal
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August 20, 2025
Settlement of $59M reached in Ontario correctional facilities lockdowns class actions
A proposed settlement of $59 million has been reached in Ontario class actions relating to lockdowns in correctional facilities due to alleged lack of staff, providing each eligible claimant with between $2,000 and $68,000 in compensation if approved.
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August 20, 2025
Federal Court imposes prison terms for contempt by father and son in IPTV piracy case
The Federal Court has sentenced a father and son, central figures behind an unauthorized IPTV service, to prison terms of at least four and six months, respectively, for contempt of a Federal Court Anton Piller order, with both facing up to nearly five years in prison if they fail to cure their contempt.
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August 20, 2025
Immigration fraud and the need for reform
Canada is known as a welcoming country for immigrants, but there is a serious problem with some unscrupulous immigration consultants who take advantage of people’s trust, hopes and money by committing fraud and engaging in dishonest practices.
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August 19, 2025
Alberta investing $4M to help prevent family violence provincewide
Alberta has announced a multimillion-dollar investment in community-based projects aimed at preventing family violence across the province.
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August 19, 2025
Privacy challenge in DUI blood test case fails to sway Quebec Court of Appeal
Fighting an impaired driving charge can be challenging, but it is not impossible. Obstacles often stem from potential errors in police procedures, faulty breathalyzer readings and alternative explanations for a toxicologist’s report. These issues were highlighted in a recent Quebec Court of Appeal decision (R. v. Chartrand, 2025 QCCA 945).
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August 18, 2025
Appeal court determines self-represented accused capable, dismisses application for counsel
While writing these columns for Law360 Canada, I have found that a significant issue in appeals of conviction is the sufficiency or admissibility of evidence. Difficult questions often arise that challenge even well-trained and experienced lawyers. Is it likely that an intelligent self-represented litigant may also struggle when such evidential issues are central to an appeal? This was the question to be decided in the case of R. v. Moylett, 2025 NLCA 25.
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August 15, 2025
Saskatchewan releases mid-year stats for ‘policing teams’
Saskatchewan has released mid-year results of its provincially-funded “policing teams” — which seized numerous guns and drugs and laid hundreds of charges for offences such as drug dealing and human trafficking.
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August 15, 2025
Murder trial jury instructions inadequate, new trial ordered
It was meant to be a coworkers’ celebration of life for a Boston Pizza employee who had died in 2018. That celebration turned tragic when three people were stabbed, one of whom died.
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August 15, 2025
Beyond the bar: When nobility rings hollow
I recently sat for the New York “bar exam” (also known as the Uniform Bar Exam or UBE), which is a gruelling and high-stakes test that marks the gateway to practising law in the United States. On the second day of this 12-hour exam, a tragic and jarring incident occurred: a fellow examinee collapsed from cardiac arrest while the test continued unabated.
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August 14, 2025
DEI dilemma: U.S. state bars grapple with DEI programs, language amid legal threats
State bar leaders across the U.S. are wrestling with whether to stand firm on their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs or quietly rework programs and language as they face rising political pressure and potential legal challenges.