A builder’s lien is a simple way for a contractor to protect himself when dealing with non-paying clients. Liens are easy to file and can effectively put pressure on property owners and general contractors. But knowing how to file a builder’s lien is not always enough to force a property owner to pay. Filing a… Read more »
Author: Marketing
Hamilton Duncan Congratulates Brian Duncan on his Retirement
On December 31, 2015, Brian Duncan officially retired from Hamilton Duncan and the practice of law. Brian was one of the firm’s founding partners, a former managing partner, and one of the firm’s senior solicitors. Brian has provided legal advice to the Fraser Valley business community since the late 1970s. Brian focused his practice on… Read more »
Mediation in a Time of Mourning
Some months after the tragic passing of comedy legend Robin Williams, reports began to emerge that members of his family were becoming embroiled in a legal battle over the distribution of the movie star’s sizable estate. Some news outlets reacted cynically, with the Daily Mail snidely characterizing the dispute as being over ownership of Mr…. Read more »
Are You Unknowingly Unduly Influencing Your Elderly Parent?
If you have ever received a substantial gift from an elderly parent, or if you know that you will be receiving a gift under that parent’s will, the law may presume that you have received that gift as a result of your “undue influence” over that parent, and set aside the gift. Section 52 of… Read more »
The Supreme Court of Canada clarifies the principle of constructive dismissal.
If an employer indefinitely suspends an employee for administrative (i.e. non-disciplinary) reasons and that employee responds by suing the employer, does that mean the employer constructively dismissed the employee or did the employee quit? Recently, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) considered this question in a case called Potter v. New Brunswick Legal Aid Services… Read more »
No Right to Visit Elderly Parents
In a recent case, the B.C. Supreme Court refused to order a visitation schedule between a 90-year-old dementia patient and her three sons in the face of an objection by the patient’s daughter. Before becoming incapable of communicating effectively, the parties’ mother had appointed her daughter as her representative pursuant to the Representation Agreement Act. Due… Read more »
Shareholders Agreement: What is its value?
Your New Business Venture You left your employment to start a new business venture. You are excited to become your own boss. You can visualize how your business will look and run from here forth. Your business and marketing strategies are in place. You have unbounded optimism as to your business’s future success and a… Read more »