What is Equity?
November 12, 2024 By Brian Babcock We have posted several articles that refer to “equity” or its cousins, such as “equitable principles” or “equitable remedies”. We have tried to give short explanations, but some readers may want the full story. If so, read on. Equity has its roots as a corrective for harsh or unfair […]
Are Restrictive Covenants Enforceable in Ontario?
November 7, 2024 By Brian Babcock There was a lot of publicity when Ontario amended the Employment Standards Act to make certain restrictive covenants unenforceable. This has created some confusion, with people mistakenly believing that ALL restrictive covenants are unenforceable in court. To begin to understand this, we must first note that the ban only […]
Oral Evidence May Not Help You Win
November 5, 2024 By Mark Mikulasik We have talked about the advantages of putting a contract in writing. THE ISSUE You need to be aware that if you put the contract in writing, particularly if it deals with land, evidence of a witness (as opposed to written evidence) will not be admitted if it contradicts […]
So, You Want A Permanent Injunction
October 31, 2024 By Jonathon Clark We have written before about the test for an “interlocutory injunction”, or an injunction pending trial or other final determination of a dispute. But what if you are seeking a “permanent injunction”, one which continues after the dispute is finally ended, indefinitely into the future? At that point, the […]
Injunctions: Frequently Asked Questions
October 29, 2024 By Brian Babcock What is an injunction? An injunction is a court order which instructs someone (a natural or legal person) to do something, or NOT to do something. What court do a go to? In Ontario, you bring a proceeding in Superior Court. Do I need a lawyer? In theory, you […]
Inadequate Provision For Dependents In Your Will
October 24, 2024 By Brian Babcock By its very name, a will is supposed to reflect the desires of the testator- the person whose will it is. This discretion to leave your assets to whoever you wish is not unlimited. In Ontario, two laws limit your ability to write the will you want. Under the […]
Anti-SLAPP Motions: Weighing The Public Interest
October 17, 2024 By Brian Babcock An “Anti-SLAPP motion” is a motion by a defendant, usually in a defamation case, to have the action dismissed at its beginning, because public discussion of matters of public interest is important. Because of this, on Anti- SLAPP motions, emphasis is often placed upon whether statement under attack is […]
Is That Non-Compete Enforceable?
October 15, 2024 By Nick Melchiorre Non-compete agreements are common in employment contracts and sales of businesses. They are not always enforceable. Public policy favours vigorous competition, to maintain a free market for goods or services. Non-compete agreements will only be enforced if the party who benefits from the agreement has a legitimate interest that […]
If Your Wall Falls Down
October 10, 2024 By Brian Babcock Insurance policies cover fortuitous losses, but what does that mean? Lalani Properties International Inc. v. Intact Insurance Company is a very long Ontario Court of Appeal decision, which we have read so you don’t have to. One of the reasons it is so long is that it deals with […]
Weather and the Law
October 8, 2024 By Brian Babcock Weather- everybody talks about it, but no one does anything about it. In Thunder Bay weather can range from heat in the summer to extreme cold in the winter – with lots of thunderstorms, as the name implies. At Weilers LLP we cannot control the weather, but weather is […]