In The News

Our lawyers are pleased to share their insight about the latest important news on business transactions, precedent-setting court decisions and changes in law and offer summaries of the recent developments here. We are also pleased to provide news to clients and friends of the firm about upcoming educational events. Our goal is to focus on the latest developments in law and business and to make them relevant and understandable.

A client of Toronto criminal lawyer Tyler Smith has been discharged of a first-degree murder charge after a preliminary hearing into the death of a 20-year-old Milton man.

Any assets that Mohammed Shafia, convincted of four counts of first-degree murder, has remain in his hands despite his conviction of four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his daughters and his first wife, says Tyler Smith, a partner at Hicks Adams LLP.

A human trafficker has pleaded guilty to being part of a ring that lured victims into working forced labour in Hamilton. Toronto criminal lawyer Tyler Smith says his client admitted his part because he is dying of stomach cancer and is "very anxious to move on."

Toronto criminal lawyer Colin Adams says there are a number of barriers to reducing court delays that are often unrecognized. "Some of these are a result of false economies," says Adams, a partner at Hicks Adams LLP.

The death sentence that was once AIDS is no longer the reality. The fact that AIDS is survivable and, more importantly, potentially not transmittable even after unprotected sex, makes the current state of the law archaic.

A Niagara Falls police officer, who testified that nine times out of ten when he sees a pair of scissors in a car it means drugs are there too, gave "false evidence," a judge has decided.

Sweeping changes to Canada's criminal justice system have been introduced to the House in omnibus crime bill.

Two Hamilton men whose murder convictions were quashed by the Ontario Court of Appeal last month, will be in court today to set a new trial date, says Toronto criminal lawyer Catriona Verner.

It could be that police have such an affinity for solving mysteries that they can't bear to leave their line of work following their retirement. Regardless of the reasons, many former officers join established private investigation companies or start up their own businesses.

Toronto appellate lawyer Catriona Verner says that while Prime Minister Stephen Harper has the opportunity to stack the Supreme Court when he chooses two new judges this summer, she's cautiously optimistic his track record indicates otherwise.

News that Prime Minister Stephen Harper will appoint replacements for two retiring Supreme Court justices this summer doesn't bode well for eroding Charter rights, says Toronto criminal lawyer Tyler Smith.

An escaping drug suspect was legally justified in tearing a board off a fence to defend himself against a pursuing police officer because he had been unlawfully arrested, a judge has ruled.

Tom Shade, who went by the name Magic, immediately called this mechanic he knew who had previously worked on his 1995 Chrysler Sebring.

The Ontario Court of Appeal will hear arguments today in a case that could lead to several convictions being overturned in the province as a result of secret jury vetting by the Crown and police.

In October of 2007, K.P. found himself in an unenviable position. He had been arrested by the Toronto Police Homicide Squad and charged with first-degree murder. It was alleged that K.P. had provided a gun to a person known as "Carl" and ordered him to kill O.R., a rival drug dealer in the Jane and Woolner area of Toronto.

The prohibition against simple possession of marijuana has been upheld by an Ontario Superior Court judge, in a closely watched case that stemmed from the prosecution of Clifford Long, who was arrested by Toronto police with $40 worth of cannabis.