Law Matters
Train creeps
I’d guess that most people in B.C. have traveled on the SkyTrain in the Lower Mainland. I love it. I can get downtown from my home in New Westminster...
Grandparents: no grandkids for you!
People love grandkids. And, why not? It’s exciting, right? You get to play with and spoil a child WITHOUT all the early mornings or dirty diapers. Good...
Lying about rape, violence, drug dealing?
If you haven’t been living under a rock, you’ve heard the allegations against Jian Ghomeshi and Bill Cosby. And, in light of those accusations...
Separating from partner? Big dollars!
Separating from your partner can be painful. Maybe you still love your former partner and you wish you were still together. Or, MAYBE you’re really happy...
Sex offenders and their children
Few, if any, people are as hated in our country as sex offenders, particularly those sex offenders who commit crimes against children. With that said, then,...
Afraid of a family member?
Whether or not you choose to believe it, domestic violence is incredibly, incredibly common. Here are some Canadian statistics: In 2006, 12% of all criminal...
Child Support: A must read for parents
Ever wonder why the women on the Maury Povich show want to confirm ‘who the father is’? My (jaded) guess: they want child support. On that note,...
Divorce? Get out of my house!
In the wake of Valentine's Day, I thought I would write a column about family law. Ironic, I know… This column’s topic isn't exactly...
Legal aid: horrendously underfunded
This week, I am writing about legal aid. Yes, I’ve written about it before: Politics and Legal Aid in BC. But, it’s a crucial topic, so I am going...
Complaining about (family) lawyers!
I haven’t written a column about family law before. I’m going to break that trend this week... And, I’m going to start from scratch, from the...
Begging for money?
So, last week, I was on the radio in Vancouver. I was a guest speaker on CKNW radio, talking about panhandling and the laws around it. Now, if you recall, I...
Lessons from the Nude Beach
As I write this column, I recognize it's an unusual topic… but, hear me out… Vancouver has a lot of famous landmarks. And one of those...
Big car crash: not big injuries!
Here is a classic misconception: big car crash = big injuries. This is one of the biggest misconceptions that exist around my job. And, it drives me...
Prostitution is legal?!
I was in Las Vegas recently and, if you’ve been there, you’ll probably remember the ‘business cards’ that depict semi-nude women and...
ICBC advice you need to know!
While it’s one of my primary areas of practice, I try to stay away from writing about personal injury law topics. After all, there are already several...
Be careful when accepting job!
Whether or not you realize it, you regularly enter into contracts with other people or companies. In fact, you probably do it several times a day. And, despite...
Drunk driving law 101
While working in a Vancouver courthouse, I watched a judge tell a self-represented person, who had been charged with drunk driving, to seriously consider hiring...
(Sad) future of B.C. politics
This recent provincial election was…interesting. And, historical for a number of reasons: some good, some bad. First, it’s great that Christy Clark...
Sue your family!
When in a car, I prefer to drive. I am not sure why, but I do. But, now and then, I am a passenger in a vehicle. My friends and family members are good...
Witnesses are crucial in lawsuits
Think of some high profile cases and imagine what would have happened if there were no witnesses. Consider: Robert Pickton’s case, in which over 120...