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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 and Stephen explore the wider implications of public discourse, the abuse of legal systems to silence opposition, and how the courts are pushing back in defense of free expression.

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0:26 Sweating the Law: No A/C and Smog in Downtown Toronto

2:51 Legal Bullying 101: Developers vs. Ratepayer Groups

5:13 David vs. Developer: The Sheridan Retail Inc. Case

7:51 $300,000 Lawsuit Against a 24-Year-Old

10:05 Judge Calls Out Strategic Silencing

13:14 Damages Awarded To the Defendant? Yes.

17:07 In Defense of Development: The Other Side of the Story

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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 policy in municipal law enforcement, and the historical tensions around Irish-Canadian identity.

The duo debates whether municipalities should embrace or suppress grassroots celebration—and what it means when courts target faceless organizers for simply wanting to party.

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01:01 From Saint to Street Party

02:44 The Rise of Nuisance Bylaws

06:40 What Is a Quia Timet Injunction

14:55 No Right to Party Says the Court

18:51 The Forgotten Politics of St Patrick’s Day

26:48 The Ban That Makes Them Party Harder

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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 integrity of the Charter itself and spark wider political consequences—like making the "notwithstanding clause" less taboo.

It’s a spirited, provocative conversation that questions who really gets to decide the greater good in a democracy.

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4:42 Supervised Injection Sites Showdown

5:49 Bike Lanes Become a Charter Issue

10:59 Small Businesses Hit by Bike Lanes

12:50 Tyranny of the Few vs. Majority Rule

17:23 Stretching the Charter to Its Limits

20:04 The Notwithstanding Clause: Friend or Foe?

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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.

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2:20 The Airbnb Lawsuit from Milton
4:45 Licensing, Liability & a $4 Million Claim
6:05 Justice, Balance & Vacation Property Economics
20:07 Charter Rights vs. Economic Interests
22:26 Who Really Pays the Fines?
24:40 Asset Devaluation & Changing Laws

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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 transition — a fact the judge was never told.

With sharp legal insight and candid commentary, they question whether harm reduction truly reduces harm—or if it's deepening the crisis.

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8:37 Old Policy, New Crisis: Are Safe Sites Effective?

15:17 Legal Showdown: Government vs. Harm Reduction

23:54 Can Courts Force Policy?

25:29 The Notwithstanding Clause: A Charter Time Bomb

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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 crime syndicate.

They explore the gatekeeping role of the courts, the need for better safeguards like a vexatious litigant registry, and the human cost of unchecked legal abuse.

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1:32 What Does “Vexatious Litigant” Even Mean?

4:13 A Wild Case of 13 Lawsuits and a Legal Crime Syndicate

6:06 How Courts Declare Someone Vexatious

11:04 The Missing Registry: How Do We Track These People?

12:24 The Baby Stroller Plaintiff: A Wild Legal Tale

20:39 SLAPP Suits and the Broader Problem

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Are the courts becoming the new political battlegrounds?

Gavin and Stephen dive into the concept of "lawfare"—the weaponization of the legal system for political gain.

Focusing on the Ontario Place redevelopment case, they explore the delicate balance between democratic governance and the courts' role as a check on power.

As they reflect on the nostalgic past of Ontario Place, the hosts tackle complex legal issues like standing in litigation, the public trust doctrine, and the broader implications of challenging government decisions in court.

Listen For:

05:11: Ontario Place: A brief history of its rise and fall

09:34: Standing in court: Who has the right to sue?

19:58: Lawfare in action: How Ontario Place’s redevelopment became a battleground

23:01: The “public trust” doctrine: A failed legal argument

A Practical Guide to the Law of Defamation. ow.ly/Wnml50T6Zbe - This book offers guidance on current and developing defamation law in Canada. It lays out prominent cases, prevalent legal principles and more.

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Are you aware of the hidden dangers lurking in your restaurant orders and online agreements?

In this episode, Gavin and Stephen discuss a tragic case involving a fatal food allergy at a Disney Springs restaurant.

They dive into the legal complications that arose, particularly focusing on Disney's controversial attempt to force the case into arbitration based on a seemingly unrelated online agreement.

The discussion highlights the broader implications of clicking "I agree" without understanding the potential legal consequences. Tune in to hear how this case unfolded and the lessons it offers about food safety and legal agreements.

Listen For:

02:29 - Tragic Allergy: A Fatal Dinner at Disney Springs

09:27 - Wrongful Death Claims: Surprising Low Damages

17:52 - Arbitration vs. Court: The Hidden Costs

22:15 - Contracts of Adhesion: The Click That Binds You

A Practical Guide to the Law of Defamation. ow.ly/Wnml50T6Zbe - This book offers guidance on current and developing defamation law in Canada. It lays out prominent cases, prevalent legal principles and more.

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Gardiner Roberts website | Gavin email | Stephen email