GENDER ISSUES IN FAMILY LAW

Family mediation has been the target of criticism from feminists, the legal profession, and mental health professionals. Although this article will primarily address the concerns of feminists, it will, to a limited extent, address some of the concerns put forth by the other groups because of the similarities in their perspectives. Many of the concerns and issues expressed by feminists are valid on one hand, yet contradictory on the other. By exploring the gains made by women and how these gains were incorporated in the Ontario Family Law Act, the contradictions inherent in their arguments will be revisited and discussed in relation to a feminist-informed mediation process. This article will explore seven aspects of the feminist critique of family mediation: protection of women and children's rights, spousal and child support, equal distribution of marital property, negotiations, empowerment, custody, and spousal abuse. Many of these issues are intertwined and therefore will occasionally be discussed in relation to other issues.     

Review of Christopher Fynsk: Language and Relation: ... That There is Language

International Journal for the Semiotics of Law - Revue internationale de Sémiotique juridique -     

Der Biodiversitätsschaden nach 21a des Bundesnaturschutzgesetzes

Zusammenfassung Im Mai 2007 wurde das Gesetzes zur Umsetzung der Richtlinie des Europ?ischen Parlaments und des Rates über die Umwelthaftung zur Vermeidung und Sanierung von Umweltsch?den verabschiedet, das seinerseits die Umwelt-Haftungsrichtlinie (UH-RL) in deutsches Recht umsetzt. Auf Grund von Art. 72 Abs. 3 S. 2 GG treten Gesetze auf dem Gebiet des Naturschutzes mit Ausnahme der abweichungsfesten Teile frühestens 6 Monate nach Verkündung in Kraft. Folglich sieht Art. 4 des Gesetzes vom 10. Mai 2007 vor, dass das Umweltschadensgesetz (USchadG) und die ?nderungen im Wasserhaushaltsgesetz und im Bundesnaturschutzgesetz zum 14. November 2007 in Kraft getreten sind.     

Determining distinctiveness in infringement proceedings

In determining the distinctiveness of a trade mark in infringementproceedings, a court must look at the perception of the relevantpublic at the time when use of the infringing sign commenced;an order to cease using the infringing sign may often be appropriatewhere loss of distinctive character derives from the defendant'sactions.