Yacht maintenance – the “Reel Nauti” – signing a waiver matters
Waiver of liability for damage to a vintage yacht undergoing repairs at RVYC.
Articles
Forum Shopping: Colorado v. British Columbia
This case, from the world of indoor rock climbing, involved a dispute over made in B.C. software and hardware.
A question of law or a question of fact?
A developer could not appeal an arbitrator’s $6 million delay award: its grounds were not pure questions of law. CIMIC v. Chandos, 2026 BCCA 2.
Tax deductions in employment settlements
On appeal, the court found a binding wrongful dismissal settlement: asking for payment without tax withholding was a request, not a counteroffer.
Flexible or Remote Work Arrangements Can Become Binding
Cancelling a long-time employee’s flexible, remote work arrangement without notice was constructive dismissal. Parolin v. Cressey, 2025 BCSC 741.
Corporate deadlocks: how to resolve them?
How a BC court broke a 50/50 shareholder deadlock with a “shotgun” buy-sell order, and who had to make the first offer. Emadi v. Soleymani, 2025 BCSC 1178.
Your legal rights when someone forges your signature
Immigration consultants who forged a lawyer’s signature on 20 applications must pay him $400,000 for unjust enrichment. Bao v. Welltrend, 2025 BCCA 3.
Immigration: when does one have a right to appeal a removal order?
Supreme Court of Canada: if your permanent resident visa was valid when you arrived, you can appeal a removal order even if it has since expired.
Can texting a “thumbs up” emoji take the place of a signature on a contract to sell real property? The answer is “no” in British Columbia.
A thumbs-up emoji signed a flax contract in Saskatchewan, but in BC a contract to sell land must be in writing and signed. Ross v. Garvey, 2025 BCSC 705.
Tax Deductions and Settlement Agreement in a Wrongful Dismissal
An employee asked for her wrongful dismissal settlement to be paid without tax withholding. The court held there was no binding settlement as a result.
A party’s conduct may preclude it from relying on its contractual right to arbitrate a dispute, forcing it into Court
By moving to strike parts of a claim before seeking a stay, a party gave up its right to arbitrate. Montaigne Group v St. Alcuin College, 2024 BCSC 1465.
A shareholder’s conduct can disentitle them from shareholder remedies
A court refused to liquidate a family printing company for a shareholder whose own misconduct got him fired. Castilloux v. Mitchell, 2024 BCSC 1985.
“Kicking the tires” on the purchase of a business can be costly.
A “non-binding” letter of intent can still bind you: a buyer that walked away from a dealership purchase lost its $250,000 deposit. 2024 BCSC 1829.
Expos fever is among Montreal connections in Vancouver
A Montreal columnist’s Vancouver trip: an Expos tribute night at Nat Bailey Stadium, and Neal Steinman helping a renovicted Burnaby couple pro bono.
Connection to the North
Neal Steinman’s travels and cases across British Columbia, from a cross-Canada bike trip to Prince George and the Cariboo, and why the North matters.
Lawyer Offers Services Pro Bono to Renovicted Family
Neal Steinman took on a Burnaby couple’s “renoviction” case pro bono and concluded there were no grounds to evict them. As reported by the Burnaby NOW.