The Supreme Court of Canada, in R. v. Cole, 2012 SCC 53 (CanLII) recently confirmed that Canadians may reasonably expect privacy in the information contained on their workplace computers. The case involved a teacher whose board-issued laptop was found by a technician to contain child pornography. The laptop was seized and handed over to police,...Continue Reading

Catherine was a participant in the Law Society of Upper Canada’s 13th Annual Employment Law Summit, held on October 18, 2012.  She spoke on a panel discussing “Overlooked Claims in Dismissal Litigation” and presented a paper co-authored with Tamara Ticoll and Daryl Cukierman.Continue Reading

A decision of the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal (the “HRTO”) has clarified the law on discrimination on the basis of family status and added to the sparse jurisprudence addressing elder-care responsibilities in the human rights context. The decision, Devaney v. ZRV Holdings Ltd., 2012 HRTO 1590 (CanLII), involved an Applicant who worked as an architect...Continue Reading

On June 12 and 13th Catherine will be part of the faculty presenting at the Osgoode Professional Development program “The Duty to Accomodate: Making the Toughest Calls”.  She will be part of  a four-lawyer panel discussing first principles and tips in managing accomodation issues.Continue Reading

Tamara Ticoll joins Turnpenney Milne LLP as an associate. Tamara practices in all areas of labour and employment law. Prior to joining the firm, Tamara practiced at a boutique civil litigation firm and completed her articles at a prominent national law firm, where she gained experience in both civil and commercial litigation and labour and employment...Continue Reading

In a recent wrongful dismissal case, the British Columbia Supreme Court provided some useful guidelines around how (and how not) to conduct effective workplace investigations.  The Plaintiff, Stephanie Vernon, was an employee of the BC Liquor Distribution Branch for over 30 years.  She was the subject of a complaint in which it was alleged that her conduct...Continue Reading

Turnpenney Milne is proud to be a supply partner of Movember Canada.  Though we cannot grow our own Mo, we encourage our colleagues, clients, friends and family to be a part of this worthy cause.  As mothers, daughters and partners of men we recognize the importance of changing attitutdes and habits around men’s health issues, and appreciate and admire the great work of...Continue Reading

Catherine has been asked to be part of a practitioners panel presenting at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s Continuing Legal Education programme entitled “Ethical Issues in Employment Negotiations”.  Catherine and 6 colleagues from the employment law bar will be discussing ethical dilemmas faced in their practices and provide tips and advice on navigating those...Continue Reading

Catherine was interviewed for a recent Canadian Press article authored by Lauren La Rose and published in a nunber of national papers, including the Globe and Mail.  Catherine was asked to comment on the prevelance of social media in the workplace and the dangers that employees face when they post information about their employer’s business. The article can...Continue Reading

A recent decision from the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario serves as a warning to employers who use third party adjudicators to review their employee’s sick leave entitlements. Moneris Solutions Corporation was ordered to pay a former employee close to $50,000, including an award of $15,000 in damages for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect...Continue Reading

The Ontario Court of Appeal ruling in R v. Cole (a criminal case involving allegations of possession of child pornography found on a teacher’s board-issued laptop) has significant implications in the employment law realm. The issue before the Court was whether or not the search and seizure of the entire hard disk on the employee’s laptop...Continue Reading

Catherine has been asked to be a panelist at the Law Society of Upper Canada’s seminar entitled “The Annotated Employment Contract”.  The seminar will be presented on two occasions – January 13, 2011 and May 26, 2011 in Toronto with web dial in for out of town lawyers. Catherine and four colleagues from the employment...Continue Reading

Rachel and Catherine are pleased to announce that Betty Psarris has joined Turnpenney Milne LLP as an Associate. Betty is a graduate of the National Program of the University of Ottawa where she obtained both her LL.B. and LL.L. (Licentiate in Civil Law). Betty also received an Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Human Biology...Continue Reading

On October 27th and 28th, 2010, Catherine Milne will be co-chairing the 10th Annual Advanced Forum on Employment Law, to be held in Toronto. During the two-day forum leading employment law practitioners will discuss and debate a variety of topics including: Updates on Accommodation, Privacy Law, Overtime Class Actions, Bill 168, Executive Compensation, Hiring and...Continue Reading