The Complete Brief
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July 17, 2025
Wide-open-door policy ‘is not how we roll,’ Federal Court of Appeal judge tells would-be interveners
The Federal Court of Appeal’s senior puisne judge says those applying to intervene at the national intermediate appellate court should ask themselves whether their presence “will advance our work.”
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July 17, 2025
WeirFoulds adds associate Caelan MacDonald to litigation team
WeirFoulds LLP has welcomed Caelan MacDonald as an associate in its commercial litigation practice group.
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July 17, 2025
Court revives Clearview AI class action, finds query-based class identification not ‘opt-in scheme’
The Federal Court of Appeal has revived a proposed class action against facial recognition firm Clearview AI, ruling that a process requiring potential class members to query the company to confirm their inclusion does not undermine the “opt-out” nature of Canadian class actions.
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July 17, 2025
Forms of beneficial ownership: Inheriting gifts as joint tenants, tenants in common
When property is held by more than one person, beneficial ownership takes one of two forms — joint tenancy or tenancy in common. These forms of beneficial ownership also apply when a will leaves a testamentary gift to multiple beneficiaries, regardless of whether the will expressly addresses the intended form of joint ownership. If a will is silent on this point, the form of beneficial ownership will simply be determined through legal presumptions.
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July 17, 2025
The Friendly Bar Series, No. 5: What is a Friendly Bar without a Friendly Bench?
Not long ago, I sat in court as an observer and witnessed what many lawyers quietly know but seldom say aloud: family law litigation can be harrowing, not only for litigants but for the professionals entrusted to guide them.
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July 17, 2025
CIVIL PROCEDURE - Parties - Class or representative actions - Certification - Common interests and issues - Representative plaintiff
Appeal by appellants against a certification judge’s decision regarding a class action against respondents and cross-appeal by respondents to narrow the scope of the class action or dismiss it. The appellants proposed a class action against the respondents regarding defective BMW N20 engines in 2012-2015 model vehicles.
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July 17, 2025
DEFENCES - Intoxication - Provocation
Appeal by Saunders from conviction for second-degree murder. Saunders maintained that he should have been convicted of manslaughter.
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July 17, 2025
Court awards $400K in trial costs after successful appeal of Nigerian oil and gas case
The Ontario Court of Appeal has awarded $400,000 in trial costs relating to a failed oil and gas bid in Nigeria by an Ontario company, finding numerous errors in the trial judge’s findings.
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July 17, 2025
Teen language, a.k.a. sociolect, plays key role in Alberta Court of Appeal decision
A sociolect is a form of language used by a specific social group, such as teenagers. Teenagers often create and adopt slang or code words to establish their identity and distinguish themselves from adults or authority figures. The Alberta Court of Appeal was asked to interpret a sociolect used in a courtroom before a jury in its recent decision in R. v. Cervantes, [2025] A.J. No. 522, when Enrike Jose Cervantes and Chngkouth John Makuag challenged their sexual assault convictions.
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July 17, 2025
Ecofeminism and Canadian law: An emerging alliance
Imagine a world where caring for the land means caring for people, where the health of farms and natural resources is inseparable from the well-being of citizens in our legal system. This vision lies at the heart of ecofeminism, which advances a critical legal perspective that foregrounds the interdependence of ecological health and social equity.