I have provided columns in the past about actual legal cases that could be described as crazy, bizarre or outrageous. I’ve collected another batch for your summertime enjoyment. In 1997, a poor man from Nepal was hired to take a suitcase to the United States for $6,000. He didn’t know that the frame of the […] Read more
Stories by Rick Danyliuk
Lottery ticket rules
Q:I just read about the people who won the $50 million lottery, a couple in northern Saskatchewan and someone in Newfoundland. Did these people have to reveal their identities to the public? Do they have to pay tax on the winnings? How do you know whose money it really is? A:You pose three good questions, […] Read more
Buyer beware principle still applies today
Q: I was looking for a tractor equipped with a special transmission. I found one in Saskatchewan and asked the owner on the phone if it had this transmission. She didn’t know machinery and said that I should come to see it. I travelled there and the transmission had the factory stickers on it, so […] Read more
Counselling or helping person commit suicide can net jail time
Q: What is the status of the law in Canada on assisted suicide?A: This issue raises strong opinions and arguments, not only legal but moral as well.The fact that debate rages on in Canada and beyond is illustrated by the events of this past spring. A new federal law, Bill C-384, the Right to Die […] Read more
Unseeded acres, lower expenses may result in big tax bill
Q: I am a Saskatchewan farmer and, like many others this year, am flooded out. It is late June and it doesn’t look like I can get a crop in this year. Are there any legal ramifications? Can I get some assistance?A: The year 2010 is one of the wettest springs on record. I’ve driven […] Read more
Mom’s new relationship worries children
Q: My widowed mom was lonely, but has met a new guy. At first, it was OK for me and they were spending time together and giving each other companionship. However, he’s now moved in with her, doesn’t seem to be contributing to expenses, and I’ve found out he’s been divorced three times. Is there […] Read more
Deducting legal fees on income tax: case study
Q: I have been involved in a child custody and support court battle with my ex-wife for a couple of years. Because I have farming income, there’s been a dispute over how much I earn and how much I should pay, a dispute I recently won. Why can’t I deduct the legal fees for this […] Read more
Poor choices for grad can have consequences
Grade 12 graduation is a time of excitement and celebration for graduands and their families. But it can also be the start of trouble that lasts a short time, trouble that lasts a lifetime or trouble that snuffs out a life.First, consider drinking. Grad and drinking have long been associated. Drinking alcoholic beverages can create […] Read more
Different justice system for military
Q: A Canadian soldier in Afghanistan is in trouble because he was alleged to have shot a wounded person to put him out of his misery. How can he be tried in a Canadian court for something that happened there?A: A soldier who commits an offence while enlisted is not necessarily subject to the same […] Read more
Speaker of the House impartial, upholds democratic rules
Q: I have been watching all this stuff in Parliament about confidential information about Afghanistan and transfer of prisoners. How does all that work?A: The issue arose from demands for information in the House of Commons related to Canadian Forces’ transfer of Afghan detainees to Afghani from Canadian custody. The concern is that once they […] Read more
