International Law

Privacy Commissioner Responds on Veterans Affairs Investigation "Request"

Posted on September 29, 2010
Canada's Privacy Commissioner, Jennifer Stoddart, has announced her office will conduct a privacy audit of the federal Veterans Affairs department, after last week's shocking reports that confidential medical records regarding a critic of the department were widely circulated in ministerial briefing notes...

Do Texting Bans Reduce Auto Accidents?

Posted on September 29, 2010
No, according to a U.S. study by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI). In response, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood called the report "misleading and flawed."- Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW ? TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION ? TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

Nevada Lawsuit: Blogs, Copyright and News Excerpts

Posted on September 29, 2010
A Nevada lawsuit, considering whether copyright is infringed by the widespread practice of blogs to excerpt short snippets of news items, has enormous implications for the blogosphere, as a whole. Via Raw Story:The practice of excerpting news and linking to its source is what drives the blogosphere, engages millions in political discussion and aides the dissemination of information the world over...

Facebook, My Space and Pre-Sentencing Reports

Posted on September 29, 2010
From Law.com, a very thorough survey of the emerging importance of defendants' social media postings in sentencing dispositions by U.S. criminal courts:Embarrassing Facebook photos and regrettable MySpace statements are starting to become commonplace in pre-sentencing reports and disposition hearings...

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Not Mickey

Posted on September 29, 2010
Via BBC, this bread fail tale (or should I say tail?) is for strong stomachs only. Click at your own risk: U.K. firm fined after dead mouse found in loaf of bread(h/t: David B.)- Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW ? TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION ? TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

"Unliking" the Facebook "Like" Button

Posted on September 29, 2010
Readers may have noticed that we've recently removed the Facebook "Like" button from Wise Law Blog. We originally added this feature in May, 2010. Our primary reason for dropping it is that the "Like" widget was unacceptably slowing down our blog's load times - often by five seconds or more...

?There Will Be No Further Bricks and Mortar Courthouses Built after 2015?

Posted on September 29, 2010
Our friend, David Bilinsky summarizes his Take Aways from the Canadian Forum on Court Technology, held in Ottawa last week.- Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW ? TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION ? TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

Ontario Prostitution Decision to be Appealed

Posted on September 29, 2010
The federal overnment has confirmed it will appeal yesterday's Ontario Superior Court decision decision that found three Criminal Code provisions related to prositution contravene the Charter.See Tories to Appeal Prostitution Ruling from CBC.- Garry J...

140Law - Legal Headlines for September 29, 2010

Posted on September 29, 2010
Here are today's leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter!Canadian court overturns prostitution laws - Salon http://is.gd/fz2xYThe Role of Social Media in Sentencing Advocacy http://is.gd/fz0CNToo much information: The dangers of blogging about your client http://is...

The Weinberg-Springsteen Rule

Posted on September 28, 2010
With drummer Max Weinberg's announcement today that he will not be joining Conan O'Brien's new talk show as bandleader, Bob Tarantino of Heenan Blaikie's Law and Entertainment Signal recalls this gem from a 2009 Rollling Stone article:About 10 years ago, a well-known actress on an NBC sitcom (Weinberg doesn?t reveal her name) requested a sabbatical from the series to make a movie...

Canada's Prostitution Laws Struck by Ontario Superior Court Ruling

Posted on September 28, 2010
Madame Justice Susan Himel of the Ontario Superior Court today released her decision in the challenge to Canada's prostitution laws launched by sex trade worker Terri-Jean Bradford. "By increasing the risk of harm to street prostitutes, the communicating law is simply too high a price to pay for the alleviation of social nuisance...

140Law - Legal Headlines for September 28, 2010

Posted on September 28, 2010
What a dreary, rainiy Toronto day! You know what will fix that? Checking out today's leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter:The Onion - Law Schools Now Require Applicants To Honestly State Whether They Really,Seriously Want To Go To Law School onion...

Canadian Airport Security Checks and the Charter

Posted on September 28, 2010
An informative discussion at Toronto Defence Lawyers Blog on security checks at Canadian intenational airports:There is no place on Canadian soil where individuals have less constitutional protection than at an international airport. The government and the courts have determined that overriding concerns for effective law enforcement, security, and national sovereignty are more important than the protection of Charter rights in the airport context...

Interns and Employment Standards

Posted on September 28, 2010
Professor David Doorey tackles a thorny question: Are Unpaid Interns Illegal in Canada?And on a related note, see this post from a leading U.S. law blog: Above the Law Seeks Student Interns. (The crucial caveat appears to be that the internships are available only to students in New York City who are eligible to receive academic credit for interning)...

Census Challenge to Be Heard in Federal Court

Posted on September 27, 2010
CBC reports that the Federal Court of Canada will hear argument today on a Charter challenge by a Francophone association to the Harper government's voluntary "census" law:The Federation of Francophone and Acadian Communities of Canada has asked the court to void the Harper government's new policy, but it also wants an injunction that would keep the new census from being distributed this year...

Course and Program Offerings: How Do Ontario?s Six Common Law Schools Compare ?

Posted on September 27, 2010
Ontario?s six law schools are:1. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University 2. University of Toronto, Faculty of Law 3. University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law 4. University of Windsor, Faculty of Law5. University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law 6. Queen?s University, Faculty of Law Let?s briefly consider what each school offers in terms of programming...

How Do Ontario?s Six Law Schools Compare?

Posted on September 27, 2010
Ontario?s six law schools are:1. Osgoode Hall Law School, York University2. University of Toronto, Faculty of Law3. University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law4. University of Windsor, Faculty of Law5. University of Western Ontario, Faculty of Law6. Queen?s University, Faculty of LawLet?s briefly consider what each school offers in terms of programming...

140Law - Legal Headlines for September 27, 2010

Posted on September 27, 2010
Good day, readers. I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend and got a chance to catch the twitter inspired premiere of "$#*! My Dad Says" last night on CTV.Here are today's leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter.Supreme Court awards charter damages in the absence of bad faith http://is...

The Importance of Up-to-Date Powers of Attorney and Wills

Posted on September 26, 2010
The Court of Queen?s Bench of Alberta released a decision in May 2009 which brings home the implications of not having a will, or powers of attorney, covering decisions concerning your property and health-care. Arnot Russell Maves was a man of reasonable means, with assets worth in excess of $300,000...

Seven Practical Tips for Getting Into Law School

Posted on September 25, 2010
Many sources give information on the process of getting into a Canadian law school and becoming a lawyer. Very few, however, give practical tips on what you can do to separate yourself from the rest of those thousands of other potential candidates who are also trying to get admitted into LL...

Video: Colbert Congressional Testimony

Posted on September 25, 2010
Enjoy: * - Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW ? TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION ? TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

"From Writer's Block to Cell Block"

Posted on September 24, 2010
A chronically overdue Michigan court reporter has been sentenced to thirty days in the slammer for contempt of court. See ABA Journal: Court Reporter Tossed in Jail for Missing Transcript Deadlines, Fleeing Courthouse- Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www...

Quotable

Posted on September 24, 2010
Eugene Robinson:The Republicans were doing pretty well for themselves as the Party of No. So why did they decide to rebrand themselves as the Party of Nonsense?- Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW ? TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION ? TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

Mr. Colbert Goes to Washington

Posted on September 24, 2010
Comedian Stephen Colbert, testifying in character today at Washington before a House Judiciary Subcommittee on migrant labour:"I don't want a tomato picked by a Mexican. I want it picked by an American, sliced by a Guatemalan, and served by a Venezuelan, in a spa, where a Chilean gives me a Brazilian...

140Law - Legal Headlines for September 24, 2010

Posted on September 24, 2010
It's Friday, and here's hoping this wonderful Toronto weather lasts for the weekend! Here are today's leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter.Overtime class actions - Ontario courts provide some clarity on certification requirements in two recent decisions http://is...

Ontario Employment Law: Notice Periods for Non-Managerial Employees

Posted on September 23, 2010
Ontario employers are required to provide reasonable notice when terminating employment without cause. The duration of the notice period required is based on a number of factors, such as duration of employment, seniority, the employee's age, likelihood of re-emoployment and character of employment...

140Law - Legal Headlines for September 23, 2010

Posted on September 23, 2010
Here are today's leading legal headlines from Wise Law on Twitter.Is infanticide a legitimate defence? - Toronto Star http://is.gd/fonIaProbe of 'secret' G20 law should be public: critics - Toronto Star http://is.gd/fonS9Mayoral Debate At York University Heats Up http://is...

Rose Coloured Hockey Visors

Posted on September 23, 2010
Pension Plan Puppets' tongue-in-cheek commentary on last evening's 4-1 exhibition victory by the Toronto Maple Leafs over the hated Ottawa Senators:...Break Up the LeafsThe only fair thing to do after a performance like last night's is to force the Leafs to tear apart this juggernaut...

Quoteworthy: On Joint Custody

Posted on September 22, 2010
National Post's Barbara Kay, arguing for family law reform to establish "equal parenting as the default custody presumption (in the absence of abuse) after separation:"Decades ago women told men they had to take more responsibility for active parenting...

Toronto's Next Mayor?

Posted on September 22, 2010
Oy... Rob Ford on bike lanes: (h/t: Omar)- Garry J. Wise, TorontoVisit our Toronto Law Firm website: www.wiselaw.net TORONTO EMPLOYMENT LAW ? TORONTO CIVIL LITIGATION & ESTATE LITIGATION ? TORONTO FAMILY LAW & DIVORCE ORIGINALLY POSTED AT WISE LAW BLOG ? SUBSCRIBE TO WISE LAW BLOG

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