Year: 2017
Is a real property survey still required?
When I’m asked if a real property survey is still required, I answer it depends, but do you and I agree on what it depends? Traditionally, real estate lawyers undertook a series of investigations – title and off-title – to provide the purchaser and lender clients with an opinion on whether title was good and… Read More »
Categories: Real Estate, The TitlePLUS Program & Title InsuranceEquipment purchase scam using the name Yuto Tsukasa and Gen Company Limited
Two Ontario firms have notified us that they received an email from the purported Yuto Tsukasa of Gen Company Limited International looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam (with a real company likely being impersonated) that presents as legal matter requiring the… Read More »
Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud, Fraud WarningsTop reasons files stall
Whether you run a lean and mean or volume-oriented personal injury practice, certain files are more prone to languish than others. What’s the real cost of running a file for too long? Work-in-progress accumulates with little to show for it, expert reports grow stale and need to be updated (which significantly increases disbursements), witnesses’ memories… Read More »
Categories: Civil Litigation, Limitations ClaimsEquipment purchase scam using the names Rudolf Dietze and Vosta LMG International
Two Ontario firms have notified us that they received an email from the purported Rudolf Dietze of Vosta LMG International looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam (with a real company likely being impersonated) that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance… Read More »
Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud, Fraud WarningsEquipment purchase scam using the name Huang Weimin
Two Ontario firms have notified us that they received an email from the purported Huang Weimin looking to retain them with regards to making a large commercial purchase. This appears to be a bad cheque scam (with a real company likely being impersonated) that presents as legal matter requiring the assistance of a lawyer. In… Read More »
Categories: Equipment / Inventory Purchase Fraud, Fraud WarningsWant a challenge-proof will? Think like a (wannabe) beneficiary
As a lawyer, you have likely been trained to maintain a laser focus on your client’s interests and how to express and defend them. Being a fierce advocate is usually a good thing. But when preparing a will for a client, it can be a useful exercise, once you have a good first draft, to… Read More »
Categories: Wills & EstatesRECO issues public advisory regarding John Van Dyk
The Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) is warning members of the public not to engage in real estate transactions with John Van Dyk, of Chatham, Ontario. Neither he nor his company J. Van Dyk Realty Inc. are registered to trade in real estate. In order to trade in real estate in Ontario, salespersons and… Read More »
Categories: Fraud PreventionThe importance of reporting letters
From both a client communication and a claims prevention perspective, reporting letters may be among the most important documents in a lawyer’s file. Reporting letters support client communication by describing the work that has been completed and the results achieved. Good reporting letters should also communicate whether any issues remain to be resolved or tasks… Read More »
Categories: Communication Errors