June 5, 2020 — Marilyn Piccini Roy, Ad. E., TEP, was recently awarded the 2019 Volunteer of the Year award by STEP Canada, a leading association of tax and estate professionals.
She was also re-elected as Secretary of the International Academy of Estate and Trust Law.
By Sydney Warshaw, from our Business Law Practice Group
June 4, 2020 — The Federal Department of Justice recently published the Time Limits and Other Periods Act (COVID-19) as a response to ongoing delays and complications in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
This draft legislation provides for automatic extensions to several federal deadlines. It also gives authorized ministers the powers to extend or suspend the time limits or periods in various federal acts and regulations.
By Mariella De Stefano, from our Insurance Law Practice Group
June 3, 2020 — As you may know, the activities have gradually resumed at the court houses in Quebec as of June 1, which is great news for the legal community as well as for citizens. Each judicial district is however distinct with respect to issuing and filing of proceedings.
With respect to the judicial districts of Montreal, Longueuil and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, it is now possible for bailiffs to issue and file at the counter of the court houses proceedings associated with non-urgent matters. This is still not the case in Laval and Saint-Jérôme; however, we continuously verify, as the situation is in constant evolution.
June 1, 2020 — The Quebec courts, including the Superior Court, Commercial Division, District of Montreal, declared that they were resuming their activities in progressive fashion as of Monday, June 1.
This morning, June 1, Jean-Pierre Sheppard and Lauren Flam, from our Commercial Litigation Team, attended court on behalf of a shareholder involved in a dispute within a family company. RSS obtained an order forcing the other shareholder/director to cease unilaterally declaring dividends, withdrawing funds from the company’s bank accounts and from using the company’s credit facilities.
By Mariella De Stefano, from our Insurance Law Practice Group
May 28, 2020 — The threat of the coronavirus is far from over. Yet, some activities slowly resume. The Courts, which were almost paralyzed for over two months, are gradually adjusting to the new reality. What will the impact be?
By Nicolas Melillo, from our Insurance Law Practice Group
May 18, 2020 — Following the state of health emergency decreed by government, and in accordance with the health measures that have been progressively imposed, condominiums have adopted measures alongside the government’s instructions.
By Eliab Taïrou, from our Labour and Employment Law Practice Group
May 15, 2020 — On April 6 the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled, in Cadieux c. Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp., 2020 QCCA 498, that a unionized employee, dismissed by his employer, did not have sufficient legal interest to personally and directly appeal an arbitral award, even in the context of significant and manifest conflict of interest on the part of the union. In other words, the employee could not bypass the union in order to challenge his dismissal himself.
By Martin Côté and Sydney Warshaw, from our Business Law Practice Group
May 14, 2020 — Much of our communication with one another has been taking place on social media. Networks such as Facebook and Instagram provide an unbeatable platform for making ourselves heard. Think twice before you criticize or complain online because your rant on social media could make you liable for defamation.
In Ville de Longueuil c. Théodore, 2020 QCCS 1339, the Quebec Superior Court recently held that the right to express opinions is not unlimited. Mr. Théodore had written a series of Facebook posts about various City of Longueuil officials, including several police officers. He was complaining about corruption, criminality and incompetence of City officials.
May 12, 2020 — RSS is pleased to announce the launch of the Regroupement des firmes de services professionnels indépendantes — the RFSPI.
The Regroupement is an alliance of 80 Quebec-owned firms united to promote their expertise with Quebec decision-makers, who will have to make crucial judgments over the coming weeks in the interest of their businesses.
By Jean Denis Boucher, from our Labour and Employment Law Practice Group
May 8, 2020 — Following the Québec government’s decision to allow the restart of commercial activities in the manufacturing, retail, and construction sectors, the question that keeps coming up is the application of the concept of the right of refusal. Numerous employers are wondering whether their employees can refuse to return to work after a recall, following the restart of the economy scheduled to take place between now and May 25th.