author archive



SOPA/PIPA Blackout Roundup

by Michael Lines

January 20th, 2012

Here are just a few links to what seems the most thoughtful commentary on the aftermath of the Jan. 18 Blackout. Add more in the comments, if you got 'em.… [more]

Nice New Software Tool for Herding Cats

by Michael Lines

January 6th, 2012

Trello, from Joel Spolsky's Fog Creek Software, is a really nice tool for organizing a project, collaboratively, and for free.

Launched back in September, I just found out about the… [more]

Global Surveillance Market of 5B.

by Michael Lines

December 2nd, 2011

Now being reported widely (5, 6, 7), Wikileaks and partners have documented an international market in computer, cellphone, and GPS surveillance software that can and has be used by governments… [more]

A Framework for Teaching Good Legal Writing

by Michael Lines

November 18th, 2011

A recent working paper by Mark K. Osbeck of the University of Michigan Law School, proposes a framework for understanding, and teaching, good legal writing.
Available via SSRN, What is… [more]

Libraries Without Librarians, Archives Without Archivists

by Michael Lines

November 11th, 2011

Libraries, and especially public libraries, are routinely an early target of budget cutting initiatives. It seems HR pros and other administrative types typically have not personally experienced how valuable sustained… [more]

More Readers for Legal Scholars

by Michael Lines

November 4th, 2011

Yale law library's Open Access publishing initiative produces enormous download rates for its authors, and makes the material available to scholars and others all over the world, without regard to… [more]

Open Access Week

by Michael Lines

October 28th, 2011

This has been Open Access Week across North America and even further afield. There have been many events. In Canada, CARL/ABRC has a list of OA Week events, but not… [more]

Identity Management From the Personal POV

by Michael Lines

October 14th, 2011

Google provides a dashboard where you may view and edit the information it collects about you, and set policies for its collection of info in future. Google also describes data… [more]

#OccupyWallStreet's Vancouver Connection

by Michael Lines

October 7th, 2011

Adbusters' founder Kalle Lasn talks with The Tyee about his role in the current US protests, other contributors, and what he sees as the nub of the problem:
When the… [more]

2011 FOI Audit

by Michael Lines

September 30th, 2011

On the 26th, Newspapers Canada released its 2011 National Freedom of Information Audit.
Everybody fails, apparently, (and especially BC, and Ottawa) except PEI. At least, that's what the reporting emphasizes,… [more]

One in Six Own an eBook Reader in the US

by Michael Lines

September 23rd, 2011

At least according to this poll, conducted by private US research firm Harris Interactive. The poll includes some interesting numbers on the current (general) geographical distribution of e-readers, plans of… [more]

Routine Information Sharing

by Michael Lines

September 16th, 2011

Looks like litbots and databases will soon be providing routine updates of structured information to human readers via newspapers and news websites in the form of machine written articles. Narrative… [more]

SlawTips      

SlawTips Top 10 Financial Errors: #9 Avoid Having a Written Office-Sharing or Partnership Agreement
Thursday, February 9

Max Amsterdam once said: “Business is the art of extracting money from another man’s pocket without resorting to violence.” The purpose of having a written agreement between all … »»

Practice

SlawTips Open Access Journals
Wednesday, February 8

There is good leagal content that doesn’t necessarily come in the neat packages that we usually look in.  Though our commercial legal database subscriptions have linked, vetted, edited, and easily. […] »»

Research

SlawTips Use join.me to Get on the Same Page Across the Web
Wednesday, February 8

When you need to collaborate on a document displayed on your screen, it’s great to have a colleague from down the hall come into your office and look over your … »»

Technology

noted on Slaw    

MLB Selected Case Summaries    

These summaries of selected recent cases are provided each week to Slaw by Maritime Law Book.
More information.

  • Banks and Banking - Liability of banks to third parties - Negligence - General

    The plaintiffs were the former shareholders of a company that failed. They sued the defendant bank alleging that it breached its contract with the company and the plaintiffs and breached a duty ...

  • Actions - Cause of action - General principles - New or extended cause of action - Opening of floodgates

    The plaintiff and defendant worked at different branches of the same bank. The defendant’s common-law husband was the plaintiff’s ex-husband. Over a four year period, the defendant ...

  • Aliens - Definitions and general principles - Immigration consultants

    The Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC) had been designated as the sole regulatory body of immigration consultants in Canada from 2004 until June 2011. On June 30, 2011, Bill C-35 came into force, which significantly amended ...

  • Criminal Law - Sexual offences, public morals and disorderly conduct - Public morals - Obscenity - Possession of child pornography

    The accused was convicted of making child pornography available and two counts of possession of child pornography (see [2010] Sask.R. Uned. 197). Subsequently, he was sentenced ...

  • Criminal Law - Procedure - Charge or directions - Jury or judge alone - Directions regarding pleas or evidence of witnesses, co-accused and accomplices

    Rowe was convicted by a jury of five offences. He appealed.

    The Ontario Court of Appeal allowed ...

  • Narcotic Control - Offences - Possession - General

    The accused wished to access marijuana for medicinal purposes but did not have an authorization to possess marijuana issued under the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations. He was notified that a package of marihuana addressed to him had been ...

  • Narcotic Control - General - Legislation - Exemptions - Medicinal marijuana

    McCrady, who had an application pending under the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) to possess and grow marijuana, was convicted of possession of marijuana (Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), s. 4(1)). Hearn pleaded guilty ...

  • Criminal Law - Sentence - Trafficking in hashish or marijuana (incl. possession for purposes of trafficking)

    The accused pleaded guilty to one count of possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. He was sentenced to 30 days’ imprisonment to be served intermittently and 11 months’ ...

  • Municipal Law - Powers of municipalities - Particular powers - Imposition and collection of taxes or fees 

    Catalyst Paper Corp. operated a paper mill in the District of North Cowichan. Catalyst objected to the tax rate that it paid compared to residential ratepayers. In 2009, the ...


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TalkLaw/ParLoi    

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