What is an NDA? An NDA is a Non-Disclosure Agreement, also referred to as a Confidentiality Agreement or “gag order.” It is an agreement in which one party agrees not to speak to any number of facts in relation to a particular incident, typically in exchange for compensation. The non-disclosure section is typically a smaller…

This article is part of a series of educational blog posts created by a team of Watson Goepel women lawyers in light of International Women’s Day 2023, to empower, celebrate, and encourage women in Canada. “Othering” refers to “viewing and treating a person or group of people as different from yourself and most people. Othering can lead to discrimination…

This article is part of a series of educational blog posts created by a team of Watson Goepel women lawyers in light of International Women’s Day 2023, to empower, celebrate, and encourage women in Canada.   Women continue to be statistically at a far greater risk of sexual violence in Canada. The Canadian Women’s Foundation summarizes statistics of gender-based…

When a slip and fall occurs on an icy sidewalk, if it isn’t the responsibility of a homeowner or commercial property owner, should the municipality be liable for the accident? Although municipalities are generally the owners of sidewalks, that does not necessarily mean they are liable for slips and falls that occur due to icy…

In our recent blog post, we discussed the rights and responsibilities of individual homeowners when accidents happen on an icy sidewalk. What about commercial property owners? Do they have different obligations and rights? In a recent case, Der v. Zhao, 2021 BCCA 82, the BC Court of Appeal commented that it may be easier to…

Anyone who has lived through a winter in British Columbia (even relatively mild Vancouver) has encountered an icy sidewalk that was not cleared properly or at all. According to statistics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (https://www.cihi.ca/en), falls on ice are the most common cause of sport and winter injury hospitalizations in Canada, with…

As of May 1, 2021, ICBC insurance benefits for people injured in a car accident have fundamentally changed. Those who are not responsible for crashes will no longer be able to sue the person who is at fault and ICBC adjusters will be the ones to determine benefits and compensation. These changes effectively deny accident…

E-bikes and scooters have become popular transportation options for commuters and recreators alike. They get you from points A to B quickly, at a relatively low cost compared to a car, and without the same effort as a traditional bike. But when do they become vehicles under B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act, and what are the…

The use of cell phones or other handheld electronic devices while driving has been banned in BC since 2010, but defining what constitutes “use”, especially with the advent of Bluetooth technology that allows for increased hands-free capabilities, has created a legal grey area that the courts have been left to clarify. A recent Supreme Court…

Unsurprisingly, Canadian courts have considered numerous personal injury claims over the years arising from hockey and other sports injuries. These cases can be difficult for plaintiffs to navigate due to the element of risk that is accepted as a fundamental aspect of all sport in general. Although an injury may be the foundation of a…