Litigation Abuse in Family Law: Identification & Responding | CPDonline.ca

Litigation Abuse in Family Law: Identification and Responding

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Credits
Substantive: 0.75
50 minutes
Published
2026
Presenter(s)
Nicholas Bala
Source
County of Carleton Law Association (CCLA)
Provider
CPDOnline.ca
Language
English
Length
50 minutes
Price
$279.00 plus tax
35th Annual CCLA Institute of Family Law Conference
Includes Handouts

This presentation addresses litigation abuse in family cases, focusing on misuse of court processes that can increase cost, stress, and harm for parties, children, and the justice system. It reviews the legal principles and developing case law that frame this conduct as a serious family law concern, including its connection to family violence and the court’s authority to respond through costs, case management, and other procedural remedies. Presented by Nicholas (Nick) Bala, a law professor at Queen’s University since 1980 and a leading Canadian expert on legal issues involving children, youth, and families in the justice system, the session offers practical guidance on identifying harmful patterns early and responding in a focused, child-centred, and effective way.

Presenters

Professor Nicholas Bala

Nicholas (Nick) Bala has law degrees from Queen’s University (JD, 1977) and Harvard (LL.M. 1980). He articled in Ottawa with Burke-Robertson Chadwick & Ritchie and has been a Law Professor at Queen’s University since 1980. Nick is a leading Canadian expert on legal issues related to children, youth and families in the justice system. His work has been cited by all levels of court in Canada, including the Supreme Court.

 

Prof. Bala’s contributions to family law research and professional education were recognized in awards from Ontario’s Law Society, the Ontario Bar Association, and the Association of Family & Conciliation Courts (AFCC), and he is a member of the Royal Society of Canada. He has also won awards for teaching of law students, and was recently announced as the Mundell Medal winner for 2025 by the Attorney General of Ontario.

Practice Areas