Because genetic research and the recent advances in that field have the actual power to change life as we know it, it is critical that Society as a whole and the Legal community insure that the proper safeguards are in place.  The questions raised in this area do not  have easy answers and people’s views on those questions are affected by many different influences.  This makes it very difficult to provide a Legal framework for how the advances can be used and developed.  One thing we do know however, is that the advances and questions will

Most people associate Patent Law and patents with tangible goods.  This new area of Patent Law goes far beyond that.  Given the pace of technology and the very high stakes in business these days, it is easy to see why business people are taking all the steps they can to protect themselves. 

Lawyers generally form partnerships for a number of reasons.   A partnership allows individual lawyers to specialize in their preferred areas of practice and be much more proficient in providing that service to their clients.  By having partners who handle other areas of the law the firm can then offer a full range of services to their clients.   Most Canadian law firms follow that plan and in the larger centres, such as Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, these firms can grow to be very large.  Some of the biggest international firms have grown to huge proportions in order to serve their international clients better.  An Article in the Canadian Lawyer listed the top three billing International Law firms as having i)2,922 Lawyers; ii)2,644 Lawyers; and iii)1,727 Lawyers, respectively.  Together, those firms had $5.7 Billion dollars in revenue!   Those are astounding numbers.   Bell, Jacoe & Company doesn’t come close to those numbers, but we pride ourselves on providing the South Okanagan with “Big City” expertise and “small town” service.

BC has revised its legislation for companies.  The BC Business Corporations Act has now been in effect for some time. The new Act is a complete revision of company legislation.  Many changes from the old BC Company Act have been made, too many to list in a column of this nature.  For a complete review of the changes and how those changes will affect your company please call Patrick Bell of Bell, Jacoe & Company.  With over 28 years of handling company incorporations, reorganizations and general corporate matters, he is Summerland’s most experienced Lawyer on these matters.

There are many reasons why a Lawyer may consider this drastic step.   Normally, it involves lack of payment of the Lawyer’s bill.  Lawyer’s, just like everyone else have the right to be paid for their services and can refuse to act when they are not paid on a timely basis.  Occasionally though the reason for refusing to act stems directly from the client’s attitude or conduct.  The Law Society of B.C. has set up rules on how Lawyers disengage themselves from clients when involved in litigation.  Timing is very important and preventative measures are in place to ensure that no party is unduly prejudiced by the withdrawal.

Please use caution when driving and take advantage of Taxis and a designated driver.  It is far more important to get home safely than risk the consequences of overindulging in Christmas cheer.  All the best from Bell, Jacoe & Company, Summerland’s longest established Law Firm.  

The National Lawyer’s magazine reported on a court case with a twist the other day.  Every young girl’s favourite fashion model has reached the Supreme Court!  Mattel Inc., Barbie’s creator has taken a small Quebec restaurant to court over the use of the name “Barbies”.  The company contends that allowing the use of the name for  “adult-oriented bar/grills” would create confusion in the minds of consumers, who would automatically link it to the famous doll.

For their part the Quebec restauranteurs argue that everyone thinks of the phrase “throw some ribs on the barbie” when they see their proposed name and design.  They feel that there would be no confusion caused by the two “Barbies”

The Supreme Court will decide this case in the near future.  Perhaps it will lead to an entirely new set of accessories for the age old Doll.

A recent Statistics Canada report shows that only 12% of Canadians earn more than $50,000 per year and only 2% earn over $100,000 per year.  The “average” Canadian male earned $39,000 per year and the “average Canadian female $25,000 per year.  It is not hard to see from those numbers that there are not a lot of extra dollars floating around a household.

Anyone who has had to deal with a matter in Court can tell you the rising cost of justice in Canada.  It is said now that if you have a civil claim in Vancouver that’s under $200,000.00 it’s better to walk away from it than try to take it to Court.  That is a very bitter pill to swallow for most people.

The answer lies in developing alternate methods of resolving disputes.  Mediation and Arbitration can be very cost effective if everyone agrees on the format.  What will happen is anyone’s guess.

Court Systems - www.supremecourtselfhelp.bc.ca and www.lawcourtsed.ca

BC Legal Services Society - www.lss.bc.ca

LawLink BC - www.lawlink.bc.ca

People’s Law School - www.publiclegaled.bc.ca

Ministry of the Attorney General - www.ag.gov.bc.ca/programs/hrc/index.htm

If those sources do not provide answers or direct you to a place that does, give us a call at Bell, Jacoe & Company. 

Upon being advised of the registration of the Transfer the first purchaser was surprised to find that he owned the property jointly with Mr. Tom Obo, a person he had never heard of!  Turns out that the mysterious Mr. Tom Obo was in fact the Postal Code for Airdrie, Alberta - T0M 0B0.