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Litigant decries ‘post-traumatic court disorder’

Yamri Taddese - Monday, May 13, 2013
Each time Rhonda Nordlander leaves the courthouse, she suffers an episode of what she calls “post-traumatic court disorder.”

Like many family law litigants in this country, Nordlander has found herself navigating the complex court system by herself. She’s been trying to get access to her children who live with her ex-husband. The do-it-yourself journey has been a downward spiral littered with frustration and failure, she says.

“It’s turned into something that’s way over my head.”

Stories like Nordlander’s are at the heart of a final report on self-represented litigants in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. As part of her research, University of Windsor law professor Julie Macfarlane...
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LSUC hearings consider alternatives to disciplining lawyers with mental-health issues

Monday, 20 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Yamri Taddese

Lawyer and therapist Doron Gold has had many patients who told him they couldn’t open their e-mails.

What’s the cost of a life of crime?

Monday, 20 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Elizabeth Thompson

OTTAWA — How much do criminals actually cost society? The federal government is looking to answer that question through a new effort to study the cost of a life of crime in Canada in a bid to bolster the case for youth crime prevention.

Group calls for uniform international arbitration rules

Monday, 20 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Yamri Taddese

Lawyers are hoping for more consistent rules for international arbitration across Canada as plans are in the works to smooth out differences between the provinces and territories.

The Dirt: Condo cost rulings tilting away from generous awards

Monday, 20 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Jeffrey Lem

Several court decisions dealing with cost recovery have emanated out of condo land lately. While the ratios vary, the scattering takes on a distinct shape when viewed as a group that’s trending away from generous cost awards for condominium boards that are successful in their litigation against unit owners. While most of these cases arise out of s. 134(5) of the Condominium Act, they also provide valuable insight and guidance to all lawyers on the law of costs.

Focus: Ontario firms slow to embrace locum option

Monday, 20 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Charlotte Santry

Coping when lawyers take extended time off for maternity leave, bereavement or sickness poses a challenge for many law firms.

Ontario ruling sheds light on massive scam targeting law firms

Monday, 13 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Marg. Bruineman

Details of an international scam targeting law firms in Canada and the United States that bilked them of an estimated $70 million are slowly emerging in court actions on both sides of the border.

Lawyer ‘devastated’ after 28-year employee took $3M

Monday, 13 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Yamri Taddese

Real estate lawyer James Naumovich says he couldn’t have known his law clerk of 28 years would start diverting millions in client money held in trust.

Editorial: Making legal services by web, phone more useful

Monday, 13 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Glenn Kauth

Rhonda Nordlander certainly isn’t alone in having a bad experience as a self-represented litigant.

Speaker's Corner: LAO refugee changes amount to cutbacks

Monday, 13 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Maureen Silcoff and Kristin Marshall

If you broke your leg, would you look for a remedy on the Internet or go to the hospital? The answer is clear. But what if the hospital put out a notice telling you to cure yourself over the Internet?

Focus: Survey shows mixed views on unbundling

Monday, 13 May 2013 07:00 | Written by Charlotte Santry

The majority of firms offering unbundled fees find they’re helping them to attract more business, according to a Law Times poll.

Other News

Editorial Cartoon - May 13, 2013

Inside Story

Monday, May 20, 2013

NEW REGIONAL SENIOR JUDGE APPOINTED

Justice Hugh Lloyd Fraser will become the new regional senior judge for the east region of the Ontario Court of Justice this summer, the province announced last week.

Fraser replaces Justice Lise Maisonneuve in the role. He starts his new position on July 25, according to the Ministry of the Attorney General. That’s the same day Maisonneuve becomes the court’s associate chief justice.

Fraser became a judge in 1993. As a regional senior judge of the Ontario Court of Justice, Fraser will exercise the power of the chief justice in his assigned region. These duties include scheduling court hearings and assigning cases to judges.

TORYS INVESTS IN BB10

Torys LLP lawyers will be brandishing BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones by this summer as the firm announced it has invested in the newest models of the Canadian brand.

Torys, a long-standing BlackBerry customer, announced last week it’s looking forward to rolling...

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