Author: Alistair Vigier
Imagine being one of the parents of the Sandy Hook shooting. Think about what it might be like a few hours after the shooting. Let’s say it’s 11:35 am, and you were sitting at work about to go for lunch, and you get a phone call from the school or the police. The person who calls you tells you that someone had entered the school of your six-year-old with a Bushmaster XM15 rifle (AR-15 type) and shot your child to death. It’s hard to imagine a situation that would be more difficult and painful than hearing this, assuming that your brain was…
Let’s be real—nobody wants to think about their brokerage firm going under. But with the financial world throwing curveballs every few years, it’s a fair question: What happens to your investments if your brokerage firm becomes insolvent? A lot of people still have PTSD from 2008 when Lehman Brothers collapsed, taking billions of dollars and global market stability with it. More recently, MF Global went down in flames in 2011 after using customer funds to cover bad bets. So, what’s stopping your brokerage from making the same mistakes? And if they do, are you protected? If Your Brokerage Firm Becomes…
Andrew Elbaz is a contributor to Advocate Daily. He writes about cybersecurity law and business law. He practices capital markets and securities law. He is a partner/owner of the law firm Minden Gross LLP in Toronto, located at 145 King Street West Suite 2200. We like that Minden Gross LLP offers detailed instructions on how to arrive at their office on their website. Andrew Elbaz has written about how the Investment Industry Association of Canada (IIROC) created new rules regarding mandatory cybersecurity breach reporting. These rules came out or were updated, on February 10, 2022.
Millions of people get into their cars every day around the world for their daily commutes to work or school, and it’s no surprise that accidents happen as roads become more congested and choked with traffic. Car accidents, in turn, injure and kill thousands of people and often result in legal actions, both civil and criminal, depending on the circumstances. For the most part, those proceedings involve drivers or operators of vehicles suing each other for damage to their cars and any resulting injuries from the crash. But what about passengers who get hurt in car crashes? Can you sue…
The question of how to keep our police officers accountable has been a hot topic in the media these days. Stories of cops abusing their powers or using too much force in enacting their duties are all too common. Concerned citizens want to know what they can do to help keep those charged with keeping us safe from taking a step too far. What are your options as a concerned member of the public? If you see an on-duty police officer committing an offence, can you arrest a cop? Technically you can arrest a cop. Police officers are people under…
It’s become increasingly rare for any important or sensitive material to be sent through the mail these days. The much more modern, economical and ecologically friendly option is, of course, email. Most people prefer the convenience of simply checking their computer or mobile phone to view their latest bills for subscriptions, utilities, taxes, you name it. The post is more often than not seen as outdated, giving rise to the popular moniker of “snail mail”. Our mailboxes (when we do check them) are usually filled with flyers, coupons or mail from a former resident at your address. According to some…
Ever been to a concert and seen an entire sea of glowing phone screens? Instead of enjoying the moment, people are filming, hoping to relive it later—or rack up likes on social media. But beyond the question of “why bother recording at all?” there’s a bigger one: is it even legal to record and share a concert in Canada? The Short Answer? Technically, No Under Canadian copyright law, the rights to a song or performance belong to the artist (or their record label). That means you’re technically making an unauthorized copy of copyrighted material when you pull out your phone…
Let’s clarify: You can legally ask for ID in Canada. Whether you’re a business owner checking age for alcohol sales, a security guard at a venue, or just someone verifying identity for a transaction, you can ask. But here’s the catch—you can’t force someone to show it, and you can’t search them without solid legal reasons. When Can You Ask for ID? Plenty of places require ID, and most of us don’t even think twice about it. If you’re buying liquor, renting a car, or entering a 19+ club, handing over your ID is just part of the deal. However,…
Gary Botting has been recognized as an extradition expert by Trent University. The world we live in has become a smaller place, thanks to globalization and the ease of travel. However, this has also led to an increase in the rate at which crimes can now easily cross international borders. As a result, there has been a rising demand for extradition experts, legal professionals who specialize in the laws and procedures involved in the extradition of individuals between countries. Becoming an extradition expert is not an easy task. It requires years of hard work and dedication. In this article, we…
Have you ever noticed how lawyers act like it’s some radical experiment every time a judge wants to write in plain language like a normal person? It’s wild. Legal writing is famous for being dense and unreadable. However, it becomes an academic debate when someone dares to make a judgment clear. Shouldn’t this be the norm? Why is clarity disruptive in an industry built on rules, fairness, and public service? The Rare Unicorn of Plain-English Judgments Take Justice Peter Jackson from the UK. A few years ago, instead of delivering a judgment packed with legalese, he wrote it as a letter—directly…