This is the third Tale in my recent mini-series on Real Property Reports (RPR), municipal compliance, and building/development permits. Our first two Tales dealt with the maze of bureaucracy that surrounds permits and the dangers of not getting a clean RPR with compliance when buying real estate. As per usual, my examples are from Alberta, because that’s…
A bankruptcy discharge releases the debtor from pre-bankruptcy debts or liabilities. The purpose is to give the debtor a “fresh start” from excessive debts that cannot be repaid, except in certain situations such as where the debt arises from deceitful or fraudulent conduct. In Poonian v. British Columbia (Securities Commission), the British Columbia Court of…
Read More “Securities Sanctions Survive Bankruptcy, British Columbia Court of Appeal Rules” »
In a letter to the New York Times editor 20 years ago, I referred to the NYC Marathon as a “magnificent piece of urban theatre.” With a one to two million spectators, random New Yorker’s (including cops and firefighters) cheering for middle-of-the-packers, handmade signs in a thousand comical iterations, it a wonder to both to…
The domain industry may not be set to shrink, but it’s not set to grow either, according to predictions in ICANN’s newest draft budget, published this week. The Org’s bean-counters have also confirmed that the recently announced fee increases for registries, registrars and registrants may become a “repeatable” occurence. ICANN says its budget for fiscal…
Read More “ICANN eyes more price hikes as it predicts dismal year for industry” »
Every once in a while the ghost of McCoy v. Feinman, 99 N.Y.2d 295, 304 (2002) comes floating into view, (with apology for the mixed metaphor). The importance of this case is as an alternative theory for when the statute of limitations commences to run. Its application is seen in a passing comment in Lambro…
“I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” With this quote, Douglas Adams managed to capture the feeling that deadlines trigger among students, authors, professionals, academics and millions of others time and again. Since last Wednesday, this quote could easily apply to Brexit as well. The UK’s withdrawal from…
Read More “Reaching the Larry David Moment of the Saga — On Secessions, Constitutions and EU law” »
From what feels like time immemorial the UK government has paraded its proposed online harms legislation under the banner of ‘What is Illegal Offline is Illegal Online’. As a description of what is now the Online Safety Bill, the slogan is ill-fitting. The Bill contains nothing that extends to online behaviour a criminal offence that…
Read More “(Some of) what is legal offline is illegal online” »
The Difference Between Winning and Losing A Real Estate Contract Lawsuit I have handled countless cases enforcing and defending real estate contracts, particularly involving Offers to Purchase and Purchase and Sale Agreements. For buyers, these cases typically involve the standard form Offer (or Contract) to Purchase, a one or two page short form contract, which…
Newly obtained Government of Japan records show that horses exported from Canada in June for slaughter overseas sustained serious injuries during transport. According to the data obtained by Japan-based Life Investigation Agency (LIA), at least one horse died after suffering agonizing injuries during the harrowing flight to Japan. The fate of a second…
Nearly 20,000 children have been abducted from Ukraine since the Russian invasion. As peace talks emerge, our gaze must return to these children and the gross violations of their rights. Reflections on ‘After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children Come Home’, a film by Sarah McCarthy Last month, I watched ‘After the Rain: Putin’s Stolen Children…
