Sotos Class Actions
Ethanol-fueled fire pits can be deadly, Health Canada warns
Ethanol-fueled appliances have increased in popularity over the years. They can add warmth or ambiance without the trouble and expense of digging a traditional fire pit. But recent fatalities and serious injuries have prompted Ontario’s Fire Marshal and Health Canada to issue safety warnings about the risks of ethanol-fueled appliances. The injuries are caused by […]
Read more »Godfrey provides clarity on Canadian antitrust lawsuits: Umbrella purchasers are covered
/On September 20, 2019, the Supreme Court of Canada (“SCC”) released its judgment in Pioneer Corp. v Godfrey, 2019 SCC 42 (“Godfrey”). The majority’s decision is a win for Canadian consumers. The decision clarifies that the limitation period for private actions under the Competition Act is subject to the rule of discoverability. It also confirms […]
Read more »Sotos Class Actions ranked as leading law firm by Chambers Canada
/Sotos Class Actions is proud to announce that our team has again been highly ranked in the field of Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Plaintiff) by Chambers Canada in its 2020 edition. The publication states: Highly regarded Toronto-based boutique active in the plaintiff class action space. The team is particularly strong in franchising, employment, privacy and […]
Read more »Public USB Charging Stations Pose Data Security Risk
Imagine this: You’ve arrived at the airport. You check in, and want to tweet about your upcoming adventure. Panic sets in as you look at your phone and realize it has less that 10% battery life left. At your gate, or built into the tables at the airport bar, you see a charging station with […]
Read more »Big Tech hears your privacy concerns — because they’re always listening
From competition law concerns to the value of personal information, big tech companies are facing increasing scrutiny. This summer, Apple and Facebook both admitted to listening to their users’ conversations to “improve” their services. In August 2019, Facebook confirmed that it paid outside contractors to transcribe audio clips from users. It did not tell the […]
Read more »Backgrounder: What is competition law?
/Background Competition is everywhere. In a free-market economy, companies compete for customers, buyers compete for manufacturers, employers compete for employees, etc. The theory is that, when enough participants compete, companies make what people want and offer it at a price that will sell. A competing company with a better product will attract consumers. If consumers […]
Read more »So you’re the victim of a data breach. What now?
/Data breaches are becoming all too common. Canadians entrust companies with all sorts of personal information. This data can be immensely profitable to fraudsters. And high-profile breaches — from Yahoo!’s in 2013 to Equifax’s in 2017 to Capital One’s this year — seem to be on the rise. Millions of Canadians have had their personal […]
Read more »Dark Patterns: How shopping sites exploit consumer vulnerabilities
If you have ever felt pressured to purchase something online that very second, it turns out that may not be your fault. A recent study out of Princeton University sheds light on “dark patterns”, or deceptive marketing practices that websites use to manipulate online shoppers – to complete a sale or spend more money.[efn_note]Arunesh Mathur, […]
Read more »Smoke & mirrors: Are vapes a safe alternative to cigarettes?
Vapes, or e-cigarettes, have long been sold as a safer alternative to cigarettes, or an easier way to quit smoking. As it turns out, doctors have found that they are about as harmful as the real thing. More specifically, the flavourings post risks for your heart. CBC News reports that Joseph Wu and a team […]
Read more »Door-to-door Misrepresentations
Most people have had the experience of a pushy door-to-door sales representative who will not take ‘no’ for an answer. Unfortunately, these sales tactics often result in homeowners being misled and pressured into signing contracts they don’t fully understand, for products that don’t perform as they were led to believe they would. Ontario has banned […]
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