Claims for Damages: Municipal and Administrative Law: Baker & Baker Services, Vancouver

Claims for Damages

Actions against municipal governments often invoke a series of unique legal principles. Actions can be lost within weeks of their arising if the statutory notice of claim is not filed on time. Municipalities can avail themselves of defences that are not available to others.

Certain presumptions arise in their favour; they are entitled to injunctions even where they have not acted equitably. Rules of interpretation which once favoured property owners now tend to favour local governments. They may discriminate in the enforcement of their own regulations. As in all areas of law, the exceptions are as important as the rules.

Only a law firm with a high degree of specialization is equipped to handle matters in this complex area.