Law News

Social workers need permission to access parents’ medical records: BC Appeal Court

11/07/2025despair

The BC Court of Appeal has struck down a section of the province’s child protection legislation that allows social workers to access a parent’s medical records without their consent, a search warrant or a court order.

A three-judge panel said a section of BC’s Child, Family and Community Service Act was unconstitutional, finding the legislation lacked safeguards to protect parents’ deeply personal medical information.

The ruling, posted Monday, says the act allowed child welfare workers with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to access private medical information on parents from public bodies, including hospitals and medical clinics.

The panel

Opinion: Dominion Voting Systems’ legal win against Fox News doesn’t solve the bigger problem

09/07/2025despair

Davida Brook, left, Justin Nelson, center, and Stephen Shackelford, right, attorneys for Dominion Voting Systems, exit the New Castle County Courthouse in Wilmington, Del., on April 18.Julio Cortez/The Associated Press

Dominion Voting Systems’ large settlement in its high-profile defamation lawsuit against Fox News is an important win – for Dominion and for democracy. And for anyone who believes you cannot just go on TV night after night and amplify a lie you do not believe, but what you do believe will be good for ratings.

“The mountains of evidence we discovered in the course of this litigation revealed that

No fines issued under Ontario’s new long-term care law

19/05/2025despair

No one has been fined in Ontario so far under a new law that can require patients to pay a daily $400 penalty if they refuse to move from a hospital to a long-term care home not of their choosing, the province and its hospitals say.

But families and advocates argue the threat posed by the law is pushing patients into nursing homes they wouldn’t otherwise choose.

The law, which went into effect in September, can move discharged patients into nursing homes they did not consent to. Patients in southern Ontario can be moved to homes up to 70 kilometers

Resignation of an executor.

16/05/2025despair

At times an executor was appointed by a testator in their will and the executor was ill equipped or unwilling to act as executor. In these circumstances, it is necessary for an executor to formally renounce their role as executor.

Quite often executors are confused if they can resign as an executor of a Will or how to go about it.

Renouncing an execution is a formal legal process and involves lodging documents with the Supreme Court of Victoria (or relevant court in other states) after the death of the testator. The documents should be drafted by a lawyer and

Do ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws apply?

14/05/2025despair

Correction: Andrew Lester is 84 years old. An earlier version of this article contained incorrect information.

An 84-year-old white man was charged with armed assault Monday days after shooting a Black teenager whose family members said went to the wrong house.

Two days after 16-year-old Ralph Yarl was shot in Kansas City, Missouri, Kaylin Gillis, 20, was shot and killed by a homeowner in upstate New York while in a car that mistakenly turned into the wrong driveway.

The shootings by homeowners probably will renew debates about the nation’s patchwork of “stand your ground” laws, which govern the use of

When to Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer vs. Settling Alone

09/05/202509/05/2025despair

Accidents are unpredictable. One moment you’re going about your day, and the next, you’re dealing with pain, insurance calls, and overwhelming paperwork. In times like these, one question comes up often: Should I hire a personal injury lawyer or try to settle this myself?

Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense.

When Settling Alone Might Make Sense

If your injury is minor, like a small bruise or scratch, and medical costs are low, you might be able to handle things on your own. Maybe the insurance company is responsive, and they’re offering a fair amount to cover …

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When Settling Alone Might Make Sense