In this issue - #166 December 20, 2012

It is with mixed feelings that the lawyers and staff at Pushor Mitchell wish to announce the retirement of Rick Pushor from the practice of law effective December 31, 2012.

• Monday, Dec 24th - Closed
• Tuesday, Dec 25th - Closed
• Wednesday, Dec 26th - Closed
• Thursday, Dec 27th - Regular Office Hours
• Friday, Dec 28th - Regular Office Hours
• Monday, Dec 31st - Close at 3:00
• Tuesday, Jan 1st - Closed

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the staff and lawyers at Pushor Mitchell.

Why did you become a lawyer?

I enjoy helping people with the problems they are facing.  I was looking for a career that would engage and challenge a variety of aspects of my personality.  I like to think about difficult problems or puzzles and I like to debate.  Law seemed like a career that would be intellectually challenging, interpersonally challenging and would provide me with many options for the future.  My mother says that I debated everything with her from the time I could speak so she was not at all surprised with my career choice. 

Here are the five most popular Pushor Mitchell articles in 2012:

1. Strata Property Act Changes – Depreciation Report Requirements – Brad Cronquist
2.  Probate Fee Planning – Theresa Arsenault
3. Thinking Of Buying Property In The US? Consider Ownership Through A Canadian Trust – Melodie Lind
4.  Is ICBC Watching Me? – Keri Grenier
5. Medical Malpractice 101, The Top 7 Things You Need To Know About BC Medical Malpractice Cases - #2 – Paul Mitchell

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...
How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "Elves,"
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.

Accidents in winter are often more serious because cars can't slow down as quickly.

This article gives some practical tips on how to drive in the winter.

Forward this article to your teenager who is learning to drive in winter conditions.

A recent case in Alberta (Globex- 2011) suggests that an employer who terminates an employee without just cause and without sufficient notice repudiates the contract of the employment and thus releases the employee from all obligations including any clause preventing the employee from competition and solicitation of the employer’s customers and employees.

November has been celebrated for many years as Adoption Awareness Month.  I have practiced adoption law since 1987, when “private adoption” became the primary means of hopeful adopting parents to be chosen by birth mothers for whom adoption as the best option for their children.

Your Will is an essential part of any Estate plan, but it only comes into effect on death. As such,  your Will is not able to address issues that may occur while you are alive, such as appointing representatives to act on your behalf in the event of mental or physical incapacity. Powers of Attorney (POAs), Representation Agreements and Living Wills are all important “Life Planning” tools that are effective while you are alive, and which can address these types of issues (amongst others).

Thinking of lending your car out?  Here are some things to consider.

Australia’s Federal Court of Appeal has allowed a claim for injuries suffered by a female worker caused during what must have been adventurous sex while on a business trip.

All signs this month indicated I needed to write about deer.  First, there’s a funny story out of North Dakota where a woman called into a radio station and wanted to know why the government was posting signs encouraging deer to cross the interstate.

The Family Law Act (“FLA”) comes into effect on March 18th, 2013.  One of the most significant changes the FLA will make is in regard to common-law spouses and their rights with regard to property division.  Under the FLA, common law spouses will be treated the same as married spouses with respect to property.

Although there are commonalities, no two commercial financings are the same.  Typically, your legal counsel is not involved until after you have signed a letter of offer or credit agreement with your bank setting out the business terms of the financing.  That said, we are happy to help at this stage with advice regarding the security you are being asked to provide.  Where the bank is taking security for their loan, they usually retain legal counsel once the credit agreement is signed.

Okanagan Life recently released the results of their 18th annual Best of the Okanagan 2012 survey results and we are honoured to have been voted the best law firm in the Central Okanagan. The lawyers would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our clients and our staff – you are the best!

Keri Grenier and Katy Williams recently had a successful verdict in a personal injury jury trial.  The claim involved a collision often referred to by ICBC as Low Velocity Impact. Despite the minor damage, the client sustained significant injuries.  ICBC refused to move from their original offer until 2 days before trial where they increased their offer slightly.  After 2 weeks of trial the jury ultimately returned a verdict that was approximately $326,000 plus costs and disbursements.  This result was over 8 times ICBC’s original offer and over 4.5 times ICBC’s last offer.

Find out more about our Personal Injury Law Group: http://www.pushormitchell.com/service/personal-injury