Yan Muirhead lawyers Nathan Muirhead and Jaime Gray successfully represented Yicheng Jiang in a dispute concerning an investment in a start-up waste recycling company in British Columbia. After a 16-day trial, Justice Loo found that the defendants Paul Oei and Loretta Lai made fraudulent and negligent misrepresentations that induced Mr. Miang to invest. The Court ordered that they pay damages of approximately C$5,000,000.

A prior investigation by the British Columbia Securities Commission resulted in an order against Paul Oei, but the Securities Commission did not bring enforcement proceedings against Loretta Lai for the fraud. The Court found that she played an integral role in the fraud and was fully liable.

The decision noted that a claim by Mr. Chen against the lawyers and law firm who represented Paul Oei was settled before the trial commenced. The Court’s reasons for judgment are available here: Jiang v. Oei, 2023 BCSC 921

Jaime Gray, an associate at Yan Muirhead, conducted a two and a half day trial in Small Claims Court. Ms. Gray acted for a local business that was sued by its general contractor following a renovation. Ms. Gray successfully argued that there was a fixed price contract, rather than a contract for time and materials as the claimant alleged, and obtained a favourable outcome for the defendant.

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Yan Muirhead partner Nerissa Yan, and her co-counsel Caitlin Ohama-Darcus and Edith Chen represented an individual in an appeal of a decision from the Supreme Court dismissing her claim against a bank in relation to a wire transfer that she sent to fraudsters overseas.

The Court of Appeal held that was an issue as to whether the bank had breached its duty to warn the individual about the danger of fraud, and ordered that the case go to trial.

The Court of Appeal allowed an appeal brought by Yan Muirhead’s client to preserve a certificate of pending litigation in an employee fraud action. The Court of Appeal held that the chambers judge erred in principal in his assessment of both the hardship cause by the certificate of pending litigation and the strength of the employer’s case.

Nathan Muirhead and Jaime Gray represented the appellant. The Court of Appeal’s reasons are available here

Yan Muirhead LLP’s partner, Nerissa Yan (together with co-counsel, Jennifer Flood) represented Asian Women for Equality to intervene in the constitutional challenge to Canada’s prostitution laws.

On Friday, October 7, 2022, Asian Women for Equality intervened in Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. Canada before the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to support the constitutionality of Canada’s prostitution law, which came into effect December 2014 as the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act.

The Canadian Criminal Code targets and criminalizes pimps, recruiters, sex-buyers and marketing platforms that promote prostitution as a service. The law also recognizes the vulnerability and pressures that push women into prostitution and immunizes them from criminal charges. In this way, law enforcement resources are intended to be focused on the demand side of prostitution. “The law recognizes the impact of sexism and racism in creating the conditions that empower pimps, prostitution recruiters and sex buyers while disempowering women, particularly racialized and poor women,” says Alice Lee, a member of Asian Women for Equality. The group contends that the law is constitutional and requires better enforcement.

Additionally, Asian Women for Equality aimed to assist the Court to understand the negative impact of prostitution advertising which relies on and promotes deeply racist and sexist stereotypes. Advertising or marketing the sexual services of another is criminalized, thereby interfering with rampant commercialization of prostitution.

Yan Muirhead LLP represents John Nuttall and Amanda Korody in a civil action commenced against RCMP officers, the Attorney General of Canada, and others alleging, among other causes of action, that their rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms were violated.

Ms. Korody and Mr. Nuttall were imprisoned for over three years until the criminal charges against them were stayed. Justice Bruce of the Supreme Court of British Columbia found that they had been entrapped by the RCMP in an improper undercover operation.

The case has been reported by the Globe and Mail here. The Globe and Mail quotes Nathan as follows:

What happened to John and Amanda was a travesty of justice. There wouldn’t have been a plot if it weren’t for the actions of the RCMP,” Mr. Muirhead said. “There was psychological coercion (and) logistical support by the RCMP. These were people who were recovering from drug addiction, on welfare, on methadone. They weren’t leaving a small radius around their basement apartment.

Ms. Korody and Mr. Nuttall are represented by Yan Muirhead partner Nathan Muirhead.

A copy of the Amended Notice of Civil claim is available here.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver and the Star of the Sea Parish have issued a historic apology to the White Rock Pride Society and to the wider LBGTQ2+ community.

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The apology resolves a complaint the White Rock Pride Society filed with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation. after the Star of the Sea Parish refused to rent its community centre to host the White Rock Pride Society’s annual fundraising event in 2019. 

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Ernie Klassen, president of the White Rock Pride Society, issued the following statement:

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We formed the White Rock Pride Society to build understanding, support and inclusiveness in the community for people who identify as LGBTQ2+ and other at-risk groups. This is a huge step forward in creating an inclusive and diverse society. We are extremely appreciative of the Parish and Archdiocese's willingness to listen, change and work constructively towards identifying further opportunities for support, inclusion and dialogue within the Catholic Church. In the true spirit of reconciliation, the two groups have reached an agreement far better than what a ruling from the Human Rights Tribunal could have achieved.

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The White Rock Pride Society was represented by Yan Muirhead partner Nerissa Yan together with Caitlin Ohama-Darcus of Nathanson Schachter & Thompson LLP.

A joint statement issued by the White Rock Pride Society, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, and the Star of the Sea Parish, can be read here. Media coverage of the apology is available here and here.

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On January 17, 2022, Madam Justice Newbury of the BC Court of Appeal granted an application brought by Yan Muirhead’s client to preserve a certificate of pending litigation. The certificate of pending litigation, which records in the Land Title Office that a claim is made against title to the residence of the defendants, had been ordered to be struck by a justice of the Supreme Court, but Newbury J.A. allowed an applicaiton to preserve the CPL pending appeal.

The lawsuit involves allegations, which are denied by the defendants, that Yan Muirhead’s client, a car dealership, was defrauded by its former director and general manager. Nathan Muirhead and Nerissa Yan are involved in the representation.

The reasons for judgment of Newbury J.A. are available here.

On January 17, 2022, Master Harper of the Supreme Court of British Columbia allowed an application brought by Yan Muirhead’s client to amend a pleading to allege that the defendant had improperly destroyed evidence in the course of litigation. The defendant had saught to prevent this allegation from being pleaded. The decision is one of the first reported decisions in British Columbia in which a plaintiff has been permitted by the court to plead spoiliation.

Nathan Muirhead and Jaime Gray of Yan Muirhead represented the plaintiff.

The reasons for judgment of Master Harper are available here.