There are some crazy laws out there. Many made sense at one time, but have become outdated and seem weird now. Some would be crazy in any place or time and others just cannot be explained. In Etobicoke, Ont., a bylaw stated that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub. […] Read more
Stories by Rick Danyliuk
Claim based on reasonable conduct
Q: I live in the country and downwind from an intensive livestock operation. Some days, the smell is intolerable. We moved out here from the big city to “get away from it all.” Is there anything we can do about this? A: You may have a claim in nuisance. Private nuisance is often defined as […] Read more
Laws on criminal charges in sports
Q: I recently saw the vicious hit in the Quebec hockey league where one player injured another with an elbow to the head. How is it that no charges have been laid? A: I think a lot of people saw that, and almost everyone would agree that was way out of line. The league responded […] Read more
Divorce agreements not made in good faith can be overturned
It is an unhappy fact that divorce is common in our society. Statistics show us that close to one out of every two new marriages will fail. Horror stories abound about bitter divorces, multi-year and multi thousand-dollar court battles and damaged children. However, many people are able to deal with the legal issues of their […] Read more
New organic rules apply to out-of-province sales
Q: I produce vegetables in fairly large quantities, grown the old-fashioned way. I sell them at farmers’ markets and advertise them as organic. I am now told I cannot do that any longer. Is that true? Why can’t I do this? A: Your issue relates to the fact that after years of regulatory void, national […] Read more
Court can veto youth’s position on medical treatment – The Law
Q: My 15-year-old son was injured at a hockey tournament. He was taken to the local hospital and treated, and the staff let him decide what would be done. Don’t you have to be an adult to agree to treatment? A: Usually, you do have to be 18 or older, but there are exceptions. The […] Read more
Employment type affects deductions – The Law
Q: I farm but also do crop insurance work. I tried to deduct expenses on my tax return but the deductions were disallowed because I am considered an employee rather than an independent contractor. What is the difference? A: The easy part to answer is the effect. If you are an independent contractor and not […] Read more
New law allows apology – The Law
Q: I had an accident and damaged a neighbor’s property. I’d like to say I’m sorry but my lawyer has cautioned against it, saying that could be seen as an admission that I’m in the wrong. What can I do? A: That is not bad advice. Generally speaking, any admission tending to show you think […] Read more
Check out seller before buying online – The Law
Q: I buy and sell items online. A couple of times I haven’t received what I paid for, but they’ve been small items and I haven’t been worried. Other times, buyers have complained to me about what they bought. Are these legal contracts? A: Generally, yes they are. Most people deal with one of the […] Read more
Legal issues arise with the holidays – The Law
It’s the holiday season, and many businesses are having annual holiday or Christmas get-togethers. I have little personal experience but understand that sometimes the consumption of liquor is involved in these celebrations. If that’s the case, then caution is required. Drinking and driving is the main and most obvious concern. My legal advice is: don’t […] Read more
