Blog Posts
Welcome to the Richter Trial Lawyers Blog, where we share insights, updates, and practical guidance from our legal team. Our goal is to help readers understand the latest developments in estate litigation, family law, civil disputes, and personal injury matters in British Columbia. Because the legal world changes often, we work hard to keep this page current, clear, and useful.
What You Will Find on the Richter Trial Lawyers Blog
Here, we publish articles about new decisions from the BC Supreme Court, the BC Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of Canada. These decisions often shape how the law works in real life. As a result, our blog highlights what these rulings mean for individuals, families, and professionals.
We also write about practical issues that clients raise every day. For example, many people want to understand wills variation claims, undue influence in estate planning, time limits in family matters, or how personal injury damages are calculated. Our lawyers break down these topics in plain language so readers can feel more confident about their rights.
Who Writes Our Blog Content
The Richter Trial Lawyers Blog features posts written by members of our legal team, including our managing partner, John M. Richter. Because we appear regularly in court, we bring firsthand experience and real-world context to every article. In addition, our team aims to explain complex legal issues in a way that is straightforward and accessible.
Why Our Blog Matters
We created this blog to give readers quick access to reliable legal information. Although our posts are not legal advice, they can help you understand the issues involved in your case and prepare better questions when meeting with a lawyer. If you want more detail about any topic you see here, we invite you to explore our related practice pages or contact our office for assistance.
On June 14, 2016, Justice Pearlman of the BC Supreme Court released a decision on the issue of special costs in Dyer v. Dyer, 2016 BCSC 1115. The issue was whether Mr. Dyer was entitled to recover special costs against Mrs. Dyer after she brought an application to have the firm McLachlan Brown Anderson disqualified […]
The goodfirm personal injury lawyers want to draw attention to a recent case involving a dog bite and a claim for damages at the BC Supreme Court. In Bloski v. Chopyk 2016 BCSC 1022, a former professional ice hockey player, injured by a roving pit bull, recently brought a claim for damages against neighbors who […]
The goodfirm ICBC personal injury lawyers want to share a recent case that demonstrates the cautious approach the court takes in assessing a plaintiff’s injuries where there is little or no objective evidence. In Gordon v. Ahn, 2016 BCSC 795, a 19 year old woman was injured in a motor vehicle accident when the vehicle […]
A recent ruling from the Ontario Court of Appeal sheds light on the extent of an insurance company’s duty to defend additional insureds under an insurance policy. On a snowy day in Pickering, a man was killed when his car skidded on ice and snow on the roadway, which was maintained by the Regional Municipality […]
More British Columbians are being killed by distracted driving than impaired driving, according to B.C. Attorney General Suzanne Anton. Eighty-one people were killed in 2012 in distracted driving accidents, compared to 55 deaths caused by drinking and driving accidents. This is not necessarily a reduction in drunk driving itself, but rather a fatal increase in […]
The Family Law Act was meant to simplify property division on divorce in British Columbia. So far in practice, it seems to have had the opposite effect. Vancouver family lawyers are finding it more difficult to advise spouses of their legal rights and obligations on divorce. In July 2010, the Ministry of Attorney General Justice […]
In the recent case of MAV v. EKM, 2016 BCSC 594, John M. Richter appeared on behalf of father, MAV. In that case, MAV was applying for increased parenting time of his three boys. Since the date of separation in August 2015, the children had been primarily staying with the mother in the parties’ former […]
The good firm ICBC lawyers want to share the latest development in the area of ICBC personal injury law. On April 14, 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia in relation to the 2015 decision of Felix v. Insurance Corporation of British Columbia 2014 […]
The good firm ICBC lawyers want to warn families and couples injured in a car accident of a potential conflict of interest. A recent ruling in a personal injury case illustrates how conflicts of interest can arise when couples and families seek legal representation together. In Hanlan v. Wilson, 2016 BCSC 372, the British Columbia Supreme […]
What the BC Wills Variation Act Was Designed to Do The BC Wills Variation Act protected spouses and children from unfair disinheritance. Although the Act has been replaced by WESA, many people still search using the old name, which is why it remains important for public understanding. The purpose of the Act was simple: to […]
Under Supreme Court Civil Rule 14-1(9), unless the court awards otherwise, the cost of a trial must be awarded to the successful party. The effect of this rule in personal injury cases is that a plaintiff who is successful in proving liability and damages at trial will recover the cost of the action from the […]
In a recent BC Supreme Court case Chiu v. Lam, 2016 BCSC 299, Mr. Justice Verhoeven reviewed the law with respect to oral agreements. Before you lend someone money based solely on an oral agreement, you should consider whether you will be able to prove it. Ms. Chiu argued that she had lent money to […]
Outside courtroom 40 at the Vancouver law courts, the lawyer who prepared a 2010 will waits with his file and his lawyer. The plaintiff’s lawyer in this wills variation claim had subpoenaed him to give evidence even though he had asserted privilege over the file during discovery. The executrices sitting in court had not waived […]
The Insurance Company of British Columbia has the right to retain their own doctor and assess a plaintiff in relation to injuries in a Part 7 or Tort claim. Although the doctors that ICBC uses are meant to provide an “independent” assessment, they are often almost certain to provide a medical opinion which minimizes a […]
Under the Supreme Court Rules in British Columbia, a party to an action may require that the trial be heard by a jury. The right to a trial by jury is a substantive right of great importance. The courts have consistently held that a party should not be deprived of this right except for compelling […]
If someone is injured in a car accident, under part 7 of the Insurance (Vehicle) Act, ICBC is required to pay all reasonable expenses for necessary medical, surgical, dental, hospital, ambulance or professional nursing services. Where does this leave medical marijuana users? According to surveys commissioned by Health Canada, there are roughly 500,000 medical cannabis […]
Vancouver family lawyers know that parents must carefully consider family law settlements before agreeing to terms. In February 2015, an “intactivist” Florida mother made headlines when she disappeared with her son because Florida courts ordered that she agree to circumcise her son. “Intactivists” believe that circumcision is medically unnecessary and urge doctors not to perform […]
Outside of the traditional single testamentary dispositions are other types of wills. The terms “mutual wills”, “joint wills” and “mirror wills” are often used interchangeably to describe situations where people such as a husband and wife make a reciprocal, corresponding or identical wills that leave the estate to the surviving spouse with the remainder passing […]
Vancouver family lawyers know that British Columbia parents must pay child support. Child support is the right of the child, not the parent. What if a parent dies? Does the parent continue to owe child support after they are dead? In McLeod v. McLeod, 2013 BCCA 552, the BC Court of Appeal dealt with this […]
What you post online matters in a personal injury case. As of August 27th 2015, 1 in 7 people on earth used Facebook to connect with friends and family. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and the so called “twittersphere” have shaped the way we interact and connect with friends, family and acquaintances. The advance (or as some […]