Dog Bite Injury Claims in BC

Dog Bite: The Law in British Columbia: Establishing Liability If you have been injured in a dog bite incident in British Columbia you have three legal avenues to pursue to establish liability against a dog owner: 1) scienter doctrine 2) negligence 3) or the Occupiers Liability Act. Scienter Doctrine Scienter is the Latin word for ‘knowledge’. The…

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What is Occupiers’ Liability in BC?

What is Occupiers’ Liability? This area of law involves those who have suffered injuries due to unsafe property conditions. In British Columbia the Occupiers Liability Act (“OLA”) details the legal obligations that occupiers owe to persons visiting their premises. Who is an Occupier under the OLA? Section 1 of the OLA defines an “occupier” as any person…

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In a Post-Pandemic Era, is Coughing on Someone an Assault?

Does coughing on a person constitute an assault under the Criminal Code? Alberta’s provincial court has ruled that it does in R. v. Pruden, 2021 ABPC 266. Mr. Pruden was found guilty in relation to an incident that occurred inside a local Calgary pub in November 2020. At the time of the incident, Mr. Pruden…

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Residential Tenancies: Wrongfully Evicted by a BC Landlord?

Eviction Notices: Landlord’s Use Did your former landlord end your tenancy so that your unit could be occupied by the landlord or the landlord’s close family member, but fail to use the unit for this purpose?  If so, your landlord may owe you 12 months of your previous rent as compensation. Who is a Close Family Member? The Residential…

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Judge Points to BC Court Registry Flaw where Litigant Sought 500,000 Tesla Shares as Remedy

In a decision released March 5, 2021, a BC Court Judge has pointed to a lack of screening of court filings at the registry that permitted a litigant to use incorrect procedures to add numerous unrelated parties to a lawsuit where he sought outlandish remedies such as 500,000 Tesla shares and a private audience with Her…

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BC Supreme Court Strikes Down Civil Resolution Tribunal’s Jurisdiction in ICBC Cases

The Chief Justice of the BC Supreme Court released a 108-page decision today that strikes down portions of the Civil Resolution Tribunal Act as unconstitutional. The decision means that for motor vehicle accidents (ICBC Claims) that happened on or after April 1, 2019, the Civil Resolution Tribunal (“CRT”) can no longer: determine if an injury…

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BC Extends Suspension of Civil Jury Trials Due to Covid-19

The Ministry of the Attorney General of BC announced today that it is extending the current suspension of civil jury trials in the Supreme Court of B.C. until October 8, 2022 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its affect on the Courts. Any civil trial taking place before October 8, 2022, will be heard…

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Family Feud: Top 8 Things To Have Before Asking for a Divorce

As I was watching one of America’s hottest game shows hosted by Steve Harvey, an interesting question came up for the feuding families.     They asked 100 people to name the top 8 things to have before asking your spouse for a divorce. And the survey said… A Good Lawyer Cash/Swiss Account Place to Crash…

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What are the ICBC Minor Injury Caps for Accidents after April 1, 2019?

Have you been injured in an accident on or after April 1, 2019 only to be told by the ICBC Claims Adjuster that the maximum settlement is $5,500.00 for pain and suffering (or $5,627.00 after April 1, 2020)?   I have answered many calls over the last year and a half from injured people in BC…

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Medical Negligence and Dental Malpractice Law – Making a Claim in BC

Even though Canada is at the frontline of quality medical and dental care, sometimes mistakes do occur. Medical and dental professionals (including nurses and other health care professionals) must provide an acceptable level of health care that protects their patients from harm. If this duty of care is not met, then the health care practitioner…

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