Sue your family!
May 14, 2013 / 5:00 am
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 drivers, but they can make mistakes… And, if they did make a mistake and caused a crash that resulted in me suffering some injuries,...
Witnesses are crucial in lawsuits
May 7, 2013 / 5:00 am
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 witnesses were presented; Robert Dziekanski’s final video-taped moments at the Vancouver Airport and how the RCMP...
Politics and legal aid in BC
Apr 30, 2013 / 5:00 am
So, there’s an upcoming election and, if you’re like me, you’ve heard a lot of promises. But, I haven’t heard much about the funding of B.C.’s justice system, which makes me wonder, “What the heck?!” Photo: Contributed Now,...
Bullied, raped student ends her life...
Apr 16, 2013 / 5:00 am
I’m angry… By now, you’ve heard about the tragic death of Rehtaeh Parsons. But, in case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s the tragedy… Photo: Contributed Rehtaeh, 17 and from Nova Scotia, was taken off of life support and...
Give me back my money, now!
Apr 9, 2013 / 5:00 am
Have you ever owed someone money? Has someone ever owed money to you? Photo: Contributed You may already know this, but there are rules that have to be followed when collecting a debt. Typically, a “collector” cannot start a lawsuit to recover a debt...
Consequences of a criminal record
Apr 2, 2013 / 5:00 am
Receiving a criminal conviction will change your life, period. And, it can happen to almost anyone. Let’s face it: a lot people commit a crime at some point in their lives. They just don’t always get caught. Try to remember your youth: have you ever drank a little too...
Take it seriously: don’t use a Will kit
Mar 26, 2013 / 5:00 am
You will probably get a Will at some point in your life. Most people do. But, whatever you do, don’t do it yourself (and don’t use a Will kit). A lot of people seem to think that drafting a will is easy. It’s not. Really, it doesn’t cost much money to get a lawyer...
Watch your mouth!
Mar 19, 2013 / 5:00 am
Unless you have been living under a rock, you’ve seen a young male wear a t-shirt with an inappropriate or adult-themed expression or joke written on it. Photo: Contributed If you are prude, you probably wondered, “How is that person allowed to wear that,...
Can police search your home or car?
Mar 5, 2013 / 5:00 am
Several years ago, a friend of mine was stopped by a police officer for speeding. The officer should have just given her a ticket. But, he didn’t. The officer asked her some very pointed questions about the contents of her vehicle, suspecting that she had some illegal items in her car....
Seeing dead people (and lawsuits)
Feb 26, 2013 / 5:00 am
In your time on Earth, you have probably witnessed some horrific sites and scenes. Hopefully, those scenes didn’t leave you with any psychological scars. But, maybe they did. If they did, you might be able to start a lawsuit. I’ll back up... Photo:...
Stalking your ex-girlfriend?
Feb 19, 2013 / 5:00 am
If you’re reading this column, you’ve probably been in a romantic relationship. And, if you’ve been in a relationship, you’ve likely had your heart broken. Maybe you were “dumped” or maybe you “did the dumping”… Photo:...
Hit and runs: know your rights
Feb 12, 2013 / 6:00 am
A short time ago, I wrote a column giving you some tips about what to do after being in a car crash. Those tips included 1) taking photographs of the crash; 2) getting witness names and contact information; and 3) getting the contact information of the other drivers involved in the...
Arrested? Right to lawyer?
Feb 5, 2013 / 5:00 am
Hopefully, you have never been arrested. But, maybe you have... If you have been arrested, then you might already know a little bit about this week’s column topic: a person’s right to a lawyer (upon arrest). You have probably seen it on television many times: someone is...
You're worth more alive than dead
Jan 29, 2013 / 5:00 am
I had someone ask me last week, "What is the family of a car crash victim (who dies in the crash) entitled to?" That was a great question and is the topic of this week's column. Photo: Contributed To start, you probably know that if you are...
Wear seatbelt or lose (big time!)
Jan 22, 2013 / 5:00 am
This is a column that everyone should read… Car crashes are way TOO common. A crash happens in Kelowna every one hour, which is completely ridiculous. As a result of these car crashes, people often suffer injuries (and losses), which can lead to lawsuits to recover...
Sexual assault explained
Jan 15, 2013 / 5:00 am
There are few crimes that cause more anger and fear than sexual assault. Despite the intense emotion that it conjures up, few people know much about the crime of sexual assault. So, this is the topic of this week’s column. To start, it seems like most people think the term...
Test your criminal law knowledge
Jan 8, 2013 / 5:00 am
Do you know what happens to a person after he/she is arrested for committing a crime and released from police custody? Do you know about the court appearances that an accused person has to make before his/her trial date? If you don’t know, you’re not alone. From reading the news,...
Law Society is scary to lawyers
Dec 25, 2012 / 5:00 am
In case you didn’t know, lawyers regulate themselves. And, it would be disastrous to have it any other way…. Every now and then, someone complains that lawyers should not be allowed to police themselves, thinking that lawyers will “stick together”. To those people:...
Lawyers at (Christmas) parties
Dec 18, 2012 / 5:00 am
Have you ever met a lawyer at a party? (Insert stupid joke here…) Photo: Contributed Seriously though, if you have met a lawyer at a party and told him/her about your legal troubles, you might have caused problems for that lawyer. I’ll...
The scary thing about jury trials
Dec 11, 2012 / 5:00 am
Photo: Contributed When going to court, the thought of a jury can be terrifying (even to the lawyers). They are completely unpredictable, but are still one of the best ways to settle disputes. There is a lot of public confusion around juries, so this column is intended...
The views expressed are strictly those of the author and not necessarily those of Castanet. Castanet presents its columns "as is" and does not warrant the contents.
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