Send us a text What happens when one vote decides an election and that vote never makes it to the ballot box? Gavin and Stephen dive deep into a razor-thin electoral result in Terrebonne, Quebec, where a federal seat was won by a single vote. But here's the twist: a mail-in ballot that could have tied the race was rejected due to a postal code error, an error made not by the voter, but by an Elections Canada official. Drawing on their own high-profile experience in the Opitz...

Send us a text What happens when a law meant to protect society’s most vulnerable ends up protecting the predators instead? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele tackle one of the most emotionally charged Supreme Court decisions in recent memory: the striking down of mandatory minimum sentences for child pornography possession. With characteristic clarity and sharp legal insight, the hosts unpack the shocking facts of the Seville and Naud case, the controversial use of hypotheticals by t...

Send us a text Who gets the last word in Canada’s democracy: judges or elected lawmakers? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele unpack the politics and law of the notwithstanding clause, tracing its 1982 origins as a grand bargain that paired constitutional rights with parliamentary supremacy and a five year sunset. Using Quebec’s secularism law as a live test case, they explain why some rights like voting cannot be overridden and how current fights over bike lanes and speed cameras pull...

Send us a text Can someone really steal land just by building a fence around it? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dissect a controversial Supreme Court of Canada decision in Koki v. City of Toronto, where a private homeowner gained legal ownership of 3,600 square feet of municipal parkland through adverse possession. They break down the complexities of Ontario’s real property laws, from the nuances of the land title system versus registry, to the doctrine of “squatter’s rights,” a...

Send us a text What if your next speeding ticket came from a machine you can’t question, can’t confront, and can’t appeal? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele take aim at Toronto's controversial speed camera program, dissecting its implications for justice, privacy, and public policy. From discussing the opaque review process to sharing personal anecdotes of fines issued without due process, the duo explores how what began as a public safety initiative has morphed into what they argue is a t...

Send us a text What happens when debate dies and violence takes its place? In this episode of Beneath the Law, Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele examine the shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk in Utah, unpacking its chilling implications for free speech, civil discourse, and the rule of law. They examine the reaction to Kirk's death, from public celebrations to university professors facing consequences for online comments and explore everything from potential civil liability to th...

Send us a text Is it a gift—or a $500,000 mistake? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele examine one of the thorniest issues in today’s overheated real estate market: when parents help their kids buy a home, is it really a gift? Or a ticking legal time bomb? Using a fascinating case as their backdrop, they unravel the legal complexity behind intergenerational transfers of wealth, gift letters, resulting trusts, and how mortgage requirements can force a legal narrative. Before you w...

Send us a text What happens when a private moment becomes a global spectacle? In this episode of Beneath the Law, Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele break down the infamous “Coldplay kiss cam” scandal that captivated the internet and derailed two high-profile careers. With sharp legal insight and a touch of dry humour, they explore the complex web of privacy rights, defamation claims, employment law, and the darker side of public voyeurism. From jumbotrons and digital fine pr...

Send us a text Is fame the ultimate shield from justice? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive deep into the sensational and disturbing criminal case against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Prompted by a listener’s request, the duo unpacks the Diddy trial through a legal lens, comparing the celebrity-driven U.S. justice system to Canadian standards. They explore how RICO charges — originally designed for organized crime — were controversially applied, why Diddy’s violent behav...

Send us a text What happens when neighborly charm turns into a courtroom showdown over driveways, fences, and junk piles? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive into a thorny Ontario neighbor dispute that spiraled from idyllic cottage country peace to legal chaos. They explore how landlocked lots, easements, bad behavior, and skyrocketing property values fuel some of the most bitter legal fights — and why even the nicest people can turn fierce when defending their turf. With st...

Send us a text Is Canada really safer from gun violence—or just legally blind to the problem? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive deep into Canada’s hidden handgun crisis, the porous border with the U.S., and the legal implications of a groundbreaking class action lawsuit against gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson. Framed by the tragic 2018 Danforth shooting in Toronto, the conversation explores the dramatic rise in gun violence, the role of smart gun technology, and whether Cana...

Send us a text What happens when a 24-year-old student takes on a powerful developer—and wins? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dig into Sheridan Retail Inc. v. Roy, a landmark Ontario case that captures the very essence of anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) legislation. They unpack the David-and-Goliath dynamics between a large developer and a university student who dared to speak up about potential code violations in a redevelopment project. Gavin a...

Send us a text Are city crackdowns on St. Patrick’s Day parties really about public order—or about squashing a good time? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele tackle the curious case of Waterloo v. Persons Unknown, where the city sought a rare quia timet injunction to prevent unpermitted St. Paddy's Day gatherings. What starts as a lighthearted banter about Guinness and green garb quickly dives into deeper waters: civil liberties, the evolution of secular holidays, the role of public po...

Send us a text Are we stretching the Canadian Charter to cover bike lanes and park encampments? Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive into a fiery debate on the limits of judicial activism and the clash between democracy and constitutional rights. From the controversy over supervised injection sites to the latest showdown over Toronto’s bike lanes, the duo critiques court decisions that override elected governments’ social policies. They explore how recent rulings may threaten the i...

Send us a text Imagine your peaceful cottage weekend being hijacked by Airbnb party animals. In this episode of Beneath the Law, Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive into the legal and ethical quagmire of short-term rentals in Ontario and beyond. They unpack a shocking case from Milton where a tenant secretly turned a landlord’s home into an illegal Airbnb operation—complete with unauthorized renovations and fire code violations—then had the audacity to sue the town for millions. L...

Send us a text Is our approach to drug addiction helping or hurting our cities? Gavin and Stephen tackle one of the most controversial issues in modern urban life: safe injection sites and the opioid crisis. The duo breaks down a controversial court injunction that temporarily blocked the government's plan to convert supervised injection sites into rehab-focused "hubs." But in a twist worthy of a legal thriller, it turns out 9 of the 10 sites had already voluntarily agreed to tran...

Send us a text Ever been sued for making it rain? In this thought-provoking episode of Beneath the Law, Gavin Tighe and Stephen Thiele dive into the murky waters of vexatious litigants—those who weaponize the justice system for personal vendettas, harassing opponents with endless, frivolous lawsuits. From gladiator references to baby stroller briefcases, they unpack real-world cases, including a wild Ontario saga involving 13 lawsuits, social media rants, and accusations of a legal cri...

Send us a text Weighing justice and prejudice in the Weinstein case reversal. In this episode, Gavin and Stephen explore the controversial overturning of Harvey Weinstein's conviction. They explore the nuanced and often polarizing landscape of legal standards, particularly focusing on the balance of evidence and the dangers of prejudicial character evidence in sexual assault cases. They discuss the implications of Weinstein's case on the #MeToo movement, the role of similar fact evidenc...

Send us a text In this episode we’re unwrapping the tale of the Banker’s Sandwich Scandal. You might have read the headlines. Szabolcs Fekete, a financial crime expert at Citibank was fired by the bank after claiming a two-sandwich lunch on expenses. He’d claimed he ate one sandwich for lunch then ate the second for dinner. But under closer scrutiny he admitted he had travelled with a partner and the second sandwich was for them. But is firing the right price for this deception? S...

Send us a text An elderly widow scored a courtroom victory! In this episode, Stephen and Gavin dive into the gripping legal battle between a powerful Canadian bank and an elderly widow over a disputed $50,000 credit card debt. They unravel the complexities of the case, highlighting the bank's aggressive tactics, the widow's defense as an authorized user, and the court's sympathy for her plight. The discussion explores broader issues of predatory lending, the ethics of increasing c...