law: the good, the bad, the ugly... and the uglier...

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Provinces can sue tobacco companies, S.C.C. rules

The Supreme Court of Canada has opened the door for the provinces to try to recover billions of dollars in health-care costs related to smoking by ruling unanimously that British Columbia can proceed with a landmark suit against tobacco companies. The top court said B.C. legislation that authorized the government to file a lawsuit is constitutional and the judges unequivocally rejected all the tobacco companies' arguments that the law is unfair. Now B.C. -- and other provinces -- can proceed with legal claims against Canadian tobacco companies and their U.S. counterparts.

NZ legal first on HIV disclosure

A New Zealand court has ruled that a man who did not tell his sex partner that he was HIV-positive should not be prosecuted, because he used a condom. In what is believed to be a legal first, Justin Dalley was acquitted of two charges of criminal nuisance. New Zealand law says people with HIV should disclose their condition if it could endanger their partner. The New Zealand Aids Foundation welcomed the ruling, saying it highlighted condoms kept people safe.

Euthanasia test for U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing its first case under new leadership, concerning the emotionally charged issue of assisted suicide. The federal government argues that a law in the state of Oregon allowing terminally ill patients to end their own lives should be overturned. The court's ruling will have implications across the U.S. Oregon is the only U.S. state to permit euthanasia, following a 1997 law that was backed in a state referendum. Since then 208 people, mostly cancer patients, have elected to die under the law, which has strict conditions.

Dane fights for state-funded sex

A disabled Danish man is fighting for the state to pay for him to have a prostitute visit him at home. Torben Hansen, who has cerebral palsy, which severely affects his speech and mobility, believes his local authority should pay the extra charge he incurs when he hires a sex worker - because his disability means he cannot go to see them. His case is currently being considered. In Denmark, local authorities compensate disabled people for extra costs incurred because of their disability.

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