The Complete Brief
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July 16, 2025
Unique family law issues: Parents with disabled children
Some years ago, I was engaged in a case where the family had a severely disabled eight-year-old daughter. The daughter was born with multiple health issues and required both home and community support. The matrimonial home had been retrofitted to meet the needs of her wheelchair and other devices necessary to meet her health issues.
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July 16, 2025
The judge’s pen is mightier than the sword
The phrase “The pen is mightier than the sword” was written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in his 1839 play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy. The pen is mighty powerful indeed; however, it never fails to amaze me how kind and gentle the bench can be when writing decisions concerning the behaviour of bad parents.
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July 16, 2025
Court lifts stay, allows $2M to be paid into court in contempt case
The Ontario Court of Appeal has allowed a motion to partially lift a stay in a contempt case where nearly $2 million was ordered to be paid into court.
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July 16, 2025
SENTENCING - Sexual offences, public morals, disorderly conduct and nuisances - Totality principle - Sexual offences against children
Appeal by accused Schofield against his eight-year sentence for three child sexual offences.
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July 16, 2025
RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES - Termination by landlord - Illegal acts - Recovery of possession
Appeal by tenant from denial of application for stay of order of possession pending hearing of his judicial review application. The tenant removed pieces of artwork from the laundry room of the apartment building, claiming he did so to preserve the artwork from potential disposal.
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July 16, 2025
Dentons stands by its commitment to inclusion as it navigates trade volatility, say CEOs
These are “interesting times” to be one of the world’s largest law firms. With about 5,900 lawyers across more than 80 countries, Dentons is helping clients navigate some of the worst economic volatility in decades and generational technological change as it carefully works to protect its own flanks from a U.S. administration that’s frequently been hostile to the legal sector. Global CEO Kate Barton said that while several major U.S. law firms have been targeted by President Donald Trump — particularly those perceived as opposing him or representing his adversaries — Dentons has managed to avoid the administration’s scrutiny by maintaining a bipartisan approach.
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July 16, 2025
Competition Bureau, Schlumberger reach agreement on competition concerns
The Competition Bureau and oilfield services company Schlumberger Ltd. (Schlumberger) have reached a consent agreement to address “competition concerns” related to the proposed acquisition of ChampionX Corp. (ChampionX).
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July 16, 2025
Prepare for change: The plain language legal writing standard is coming
What lawyer has not heard that legal writing should be clear and concise? Everyone wants legal documents to be straightforward, client-oriented and “crisp.” Yet, cryptic memoranda, wordy submissions, legalese-filled judgments and insurmountable walls of text in contracts and policies remain common. Even with clarity in mind, writing clearly is hard without knowing the rules to guide the process.
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July 15, 2025
Dumping inquiry launched for cast iron soil pipe from China
The Canadian International Trade Tribunal has initiated a preliminary injury inquiry into a complaint by Quebec company Canada Pipe Company ULC that claimed it suffered injury due to dumping and subsidizing of cast iron soil pipe from China.
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July 15, 2025
N.S. requires hurt workers, employers to ‘work together’ in return to job
Nova Scotia now requires that injured workers and their employers cooperate in planning a return to work. According to a July 15 news release, new “return-to-work” legislation is now in effect, requiring “workers injured on the job and their employers to work together for a timely and safe return to work.”