Q: I read about the recent Supreme Court’s decision in the case of the Saskatchewan prosecutor and the sexual assault case. What is malicious prosecution, and why wasn’t this prosecutor liable? A: This case was about whether a crown prosecutor, in a complex sexual assault case, believed there was a proper case to run. If […] Read more
Stories by Rick Danyliuk
Surgery consent form confirms procedure, risks are understood – The Law
Q: I was recently in the hospital for treatment, and before fairly routine and minor surgery, I had to complete and sign a big consent form. What was that about? A: This is about ensuring you understand the procedure you’re about to undergo, the risks involved and the fact that things can go wrong even […] Read more
Trial determines guilt or innocence, not preliminary inquiry – The Law
Q: I always hear in the media that someone is going through a preliminary inquiry. Is that the same as a trial? If not, what is it and why do we have them? A: The preliminary inquiry, which is sometimes called a preliminary hearing, is not the same as a trial. It is not well […] Read more
Pyramid scams generate money only through recruitment – The Law
Last week I discussed Ponzi schemes. This week I want to talk about a common variation, the pyramid scam. Many people fall for this type of con game and a lot of money is lost every year. These scams are not multi-level marketing setups. They share the same attributes, but true multi-level marketing organizations are […] Read more
Methods of scam artists – The Law
The Madoff situation was a variation of the classic Ponzi scheme. Named after Charles Ponzi, this scam depends on constantly obtaining new investors and new sources of money. The first investors are paid from money from the second wave, the second wave paid by a third group and so on. The original Ponzi operated in […] Read more
Academic plagiarism can reap more than failing grades – The Law
Students in elementary, junior high, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions are all toiling away despite the unseasonably warm weather we are enjoying in much of the West. I feel really bad for them. There is a growing concern with plagiarism at all levels of education. Some of it is simple. If you copy someone else’s […] Read more
Asset transfers to avoid creditors bad idea – The Law
Q: I am in financial distress and some of my creditors are pursuing me aggressively. I want to transfer some assets to my adult kids and to my wife, but my lawyer has advised me against doing it. This seems like a good way to keep the creditors away from these assets. A: Listen to […] Read more
Avenues to pursue to fight a speeding ticket – The Law
Q: I got a speeding ticket. Are there any ways to beat it? A: Sure, obey the speed limit. Prevention is the surest way to avoid speeding tickets. Speeding tickets are difficult to beat. The technology has evolved to the point where radar devices are sophisticated and can detect speeding objects quickly and accurately. It […] Read more
Supreme Court of Canada says photo ID not a religious issue – The Law
The Hutterian Brethren of Wilson Colony challenged the law demanding photographs be taken and affixed to drivers’ licences within the province of Alberta, a requirement for most provinces’ licensing plans. The argument was based on religious freedom and based on their interpretation of the Second Commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a graven image, […] Read more
