How Rogue Movers Will Rip You Off, and What the Law Has to Say About It

Written by Rocco G. Scocco on October 21, 2024. Posted in Consumer Protection, Latest from Scocco Law. No Comments on How Rogue Movers Will Rip You Off, and What the Law Has to Say About It

Overview of Moving Scams What is a moving scam? They come in many different forms, and varying levels of sophistication. All versions of a moving scam have these things in common: the mover takes your stuff, holds it for ransom, and charges you an inflated price. If you refuse to pay, they threaten never to deliver your items. All of your sports memorabilia! Your collection of baby photos! Your wheelchair! The dining room table that’s been in your family for over 50 years! All gone if you don’t pay the scammer. Local Moves Some scams are for local moves, where the scammer will agree...

AI: A New Medium Requires New Law

Written by Editorial Team on October 7, 2024. Posted in Latest from Scocco Law.

The field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has progressed rapidly in just the last five years. What once seemed little more than a novelty, with uncanny videos, abstract images and nonsensical paragraphs, has now transformed significantly. As both understanding of and interest in the AI sphere have increased, the rate of improvement has also accelerated dramatically. Whereas you would once have to wait upwards of 20 minutes to see an image vaguely representing your prompt, now, in under a minute, an AI can create an impressively high-fidelity interpretation of your prompt, be it realistic or...

Piercing the Corporate Veil: Insights from a Recent Judgment and the Consumer Protection Act Piercing The Corporate Veil

Written by Mustafa Paiz on September 23, 2024. Posted in Consumer Protection, Latest from Scocco Law.

Typically, shareholders and directors of a corporation are shielded from personal liability for the actions and debts of a corporation. However, there are certain situations in which the courts will “pierce the corporate veil,” rendering persons liable for corporate conduct. A recent decision in The Plaintiff v. Sakellaris (SC-21-7298) illustrates how the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 (CPA) can be used to pierce the corporate veil and prevent an individual from using a corporate entity to shield themselves from liability for their unfair business practices. Background The...

When Do You Not Have to Pay an Employee

Written by Editorial Team on September 9, 2024. Posted in Employment Law, Latest from Scocco Law.

Employment contracts are a tricky business. We spoke in our recent blog about the importance of employment contracts, and how they’re instrumental in setting out the expectations for both employers and employees in the working relationship. For employers especially, they are meant to provide a sense of formality, and certainty. They can also be minefields. That’s because employment contracts are different from most other types of contracts. Yes, it is possible to draw up a simple contract between two friends on a bar cocktail napkin and turn it into a legally binding agreement (although...

The Truth About Constructive Dismissal

Written by Editorial Team on August 26, 2024. Posted in Employment Law, Latest from Scocco Law.

Constructive dismissal is easily one of the most popular phrases from employment law within the past two decades. It is also one of the most widely misunderstood legal concepts in this field. Far too often, employees will come to see us claiming they have been constructively dismissed and then produce their termination letter, their Record of Employment, and other key documents that indicate this was not in any way constructive dismissal. Dismissal is a common problem for employees – most employees will go through a ‘layoff,’ ‘downsizing,’ or ‘dismissal’ at least once in their careers....

The Dangers of Termination for Cause

Written by Editorial Team on August 12, 2024. Posted in Employment Law, Latest from Scocco Law.

There is still a common belief among Ontario employees that holding onto a job forever is their right, and any time that an employer ends their employment they are automatically in the wrong. “They can’t fire me!” “They can’t do that!” “They need to give me a reason.” These employees are half right. Yes, if an employment contract does not have a fixed end date, then that job can theoretically run forever, or at least for the employee’s lifetime. However, either side still has the power to end that contract – employees can resign, and employers have the power to end their employment...