53°33′40.68″N 113°33′59.1336″W / 53.5613000°N 113.566426000°W
| Headquarters | Huff Bremner Estate 11210 142 St NW Edmonton, AB T5M 1T9 |
|---|---|
| Date founded | 1975 |
| Founder | Peter Bruce Gunn |
| Website | https://www.gunnlawgroup.ca |
The Gunn Law Group is a Canadian law firm based in Edmonton, Canada. In the 1980s and 1990s, the Gunn Law Group defended a number of flagship cases and received considerable media attention in criminal cases involving driving under the influence.[1][2][3][4]
History
editThe Gunn Law Group was founded in 1975 by Peter Bruce Gunn. In 1987 Peter Bruce Gunn was jailed in for being too disruptive in the courtroom.[5][6][7][8]
Leadership
editPeter Bruce Gunn
editIn R. v. Rain (1998), the court addressed whether the lack of publicly funded counsel impaired Ms. Rain’s right to a fair trial under sections 7 and 11(d) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Provincial Court judge had initially stayed the proceedings, but the Court of Appeal ruled that this decision was in error. However, due to significant delays—five years since charges were laid—the court upheld the stay, citing Ms. Rain's right to a trial within a reasonable time under section 11(b). Bruce Gunn, Ms. Rain's lawyer, played a critical role in advocating for her right to a fair and timely trial, bringing forward concerns regarding legal representation and due process delays.[9]
Shannon Prithipaul
editFollowing the passing of Peter Bruce Gunn in 2006, Gunn's daughter Shannon Prithipaul (nee Gunn) has been principal lawyer with the firm.[10][11] She is known for her work in both trial and appellate courts, having argued numerous cases before the Alberta Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.[12] Prithipaul has been involved in representing clients in cases concerning breaches of Charter rights, often focusing on the right to counsel and the exclusion of improperly obtained evidence. She has also been a representative for the Criminal Trial Lawyers Association in multiple high-profile cases.[13]
Notable cases
editOliver et al. v. The Queen, 1981
editThe Gunn Law Group represented defendant Scott Oliver in the flagship case R v Oliver. This Supreme Court of Canada case dealt with the accused being acquitted of importing heroin. The trial judge had doubts about the accuracy of the drug analysis, leading to the acquittal. The Crown's appeal was unsuccessful, as the Court upheld the trial judge's decision due to the reasonable doubt raised about the forensic evidence.[14][15]
Goodwin v. British Columbia (2015)
editIn 2015, the Court reported that "BC’s Latest Scheme to Deter Drinking and Driving Largely Upheld in Goodwin."[16] This case challenged the constitutionality of British Columbia's immediate roadside driving prohibitions under the Motor Vehicle Act, arguing that the legislation violated Charter rights. The Supreme Court upheld the legislation, ruling that it was a reasonable limit on Charter rights under Section 1.
R. v. Gubbins (2018)
editIn 2018, the Court reported that "R v Gubbins Introduces Evidentiary Hurdles for Those Charged with Driving Over 80."[17] The issue in this case was whether the Crown must disclose maintenance and calibration records of breathalyzer machines used in impaired driving cases. The Supreme Court ruled that such disclosure is not required unless the records are directly related to the circumstances of the specific case, limiting the scope of disclosure to the "fruits of the investigation."
References
edit- ^ "Lawyer Lays Charges Against RCMP Officers". Edmonton Journal. October 16, 1992. pp. B4.
- ^ "May Appeal Jail Sentence". Edmonton Journal. August 31, 1974. p. 54.
- ^ "$1500 Fine in Impaired Driving Case". Edmonton Journal. January 24, 1984. pp. A12.
- ^ Bremner, Rolland (November 16, 1991). "Defence Tactic Backfires in Cop's Trial on Breathalyser Charge". Edmonton Journal. pp. B3.
- ^ Barrett, Tom (August 5, 1987). "No Apology, So Judge Jails Local Lawyer". Edmonton Journal. p. A15.
- ^ Barrett, Tom (August 6, 1987). "Lawyer Meets Old Clients, New After Landing In Jail For Contempt". Edmonton Journal. p. A1.
- ^ Barrett, Tom (August 7, 1987). "Jailed Lawyer Warned Repeatedly". Edmonton Journal. p. B1.
- ^ Barrett, Tom (August 8, 1987). "Jailing of Lawyers for Contempt Rare in Alberta, says Law Official". Edmonton Journal. p. B8.
- ^ "R. v Rain". Canadian Criminal Cases (Third Series). Vol. 130. Canada Law Book Inc. 1999. p. 173. OCLC 1017051903.
- ^ Purdy, Chris (January 21, 2006). "Drunk Driver Convicted of Causing Death". Edmonton Journal. p. B1.
- ^ Hawkins, Jeffrey (December 1, 2006). "Appeal Dismissed in Impaired Case". Edmonton Journal. p. B6.
- ^ Klingbeil, Cailynn (January 8, 2015). "Changes to Drug Treatment Court Worry Lawyers". Edmonton Journal. p. A6.
- ^ Schultz, Heather (July 28, 2007). "Drunk Driver's Appeal Rejected". Edmonton Journal. p. B1.
- ^ "R. v Oliver, Oliver and Henderson". National Reporter. Vol. 38. Canada Supreme Court. 1981. p. 315.
- ^ "Oliver et al. v. The Queen, 1981". CanLII. October 20, 1981.
- ^ Bruni, Cassandra (2015-10-20). "BC's Latest Scheme to Deter Drinking and Driving Largely Upheld in Goodwin". TheCourt.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
- ^ Brown, Steph (2018-12-03). "R v Gubbins Introduces Evidentiary Hurdles for those Charged with Driving Over 80". TheCourt.ca. Retrieved 2023-03-09.