This week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan: A long-running neighbour dispute over garbage, grass clippings, dog feces, a dead snake on a trampoline, and a retaining wall consumes 13 days of court time and results in a $16,000 award. One of the feuding neighbours spray painted and then jackhammered a concrete retaining wall […]
Election Act voting requirements for mail in ballots, and third party advertising rules
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminBecause the British Columbia provincial election was called suddenly none of the political parties have candidates nominated in all ridings. As a result of COVID-19, many people have also requested mail-in ballots. Without candidates having been determined yet, the mail-in ballots being distributed simply have a blank space to write in the name of the […]
Annulment for Impotence & False Claim to Inheritance
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThe premier of a province doesn’t actually have the authority to call an election. Authority to dissolve the legislature and call an election resides with the Lieutenant Governor. Ordinarily, the Lieutenant Governor would call an election at the request of the premier. In unusual circumstances, such as those that currently exist in British Columbia, […]
COVID-19 school disputes, parenting coordinators, reports from trial judges for appeals, management fees and interest
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThis week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan: As schools attempt to reopen for in-person instruction, amidst increasing COVID-19 infection rates, disputes between separated parents over sending children back to school have started showing up in court. Disputes of this kind are analyzed based on the best interest of the child. In a recent […]
Illegal Airbnb Contracts, Judge Pay & Costly Data Breach
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThis week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan: A claim for an alleged breach of contract to rent a property so as to permit it to be used as an Airbnb is denied on the basis that the short-term rentals are not lawfully permitted. Contracts involving illegal activity are not enforceable in court. You […]
Stopping School Reopening & Safety Equipment Firing
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThis week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan: Two fathers have filed a petition in the British Columbia Supreme Court to prevent schools from reopening without adequate COVID-19 safety protocols. In order to permit schools to reopen, the latest provincial Public Health Act order that sets out safety requirements for virtually any public gathering […]
Bitcoin Litigation & Family Law Case for Global Sailors
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThis week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan: In 2018 a BC man made an agreement to sell 50 bitcoins for $10,700 each for a total of $535,000. The purchaser didn’t complete the purchase of the bitcoin, so the prospective seller sued. The person who was sued claimed that he didn’t enter into the […]
Retaining Wall Dispute & Costs Award Against Lawyer
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminThis week on Legally Speaking with Michael Mulligan: A long-running neighbour dispute over garbage, grass clippings, dog feces, a dead snake on a trampoline, and a retaining wall consumes 13 days of court time and results in a $16,000 award. One of the feuding neighbours spray painted and then jackhammered a concrete retaining wall […]
Transit Police Assault, Judicial Salaries & UBC’s $1M Fine
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminIn 2011 a black, 22-year-old, UBC student went to the upper deck of a SkyTrain station to meet a friend. As he was not planning to ride the SkyTrain, he did not purchase a ticket, despite being in a “fare paid” zone. When he received a message from his friend, advising of a change […]
Beacon Hill Park Trust Conditions & ICBC Employee Sells Personal Information
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminAs a result of the City of Victoria deciding not to enforce a bylaw that prohibits camping in Beacon Hill Park, 78 structures have been erected in the park. Following weeks of complaints from nearby residents, and other people wishing to use the park, the City of Victoria obtained an interim injunction requiring people […]
Resuming jury trials during COVID-19, time limits for police seized evidence, and a Sidney cannabis licence in court
/in Legal News /by mtp_adminJury trials have proven to be the most challenging parts of the justice system in the age of COVID-19. The Court of Appeal has been conducting appeals using Zoom. The Provincial Court has been conducting sentencing and judicial release hearings by telephone conference. Both the Provincial Court, and the Supreme Court, have been utilizing […]