In 2021, Singapore's court system underwent a momentous change with the creation of the Appellate Division of the High Court. In UJM v UJL, the Court of Appeal (“CA”) clarified the statutory scheme allowing for appeals from Appellate Division decisions to the Court of Appeal. The CA also explained what the requirements under the Supreme Court of Judicature Act and the Rules of Court entail.
Can a Doctor’s Private WhatsApp exchanges bring Disrepute to the Medical Profession?: Ong Kian Peng Julian v Singapore Medical Council and other matters [2022] SGHC 302
Doctors are medical professionals whom patients trust with personal information. But what happens when doctors share their patients’ contacts with each other in their own private WhatsApp exchanges? In Ong Kian Peng Julian v Singapore Medical Council, the Singapore High Court held that sharing patients’ contacts with one another could amount to improper conduct that brought disrepute to the medical profession, warranting significant penalties.
Telemedicine – Your Rights as a Patient
One can now easily seek help via an online video consultation with a doctor, also commonly known as a telemedicine consultation. But what if after taking the medication prescribed, your discomfort persisted? Worst still, what if you found out that the telemedicine doctor had incorrectly diagnosed you? Could you sue the telemedicine company or the doctor? For those who are keen to try out a tele-consult, this article will guide you on some practical information you should be aware of, and the possible courses of actions you can take in the event of being misdiagnosed.
Granting a Child Relocation Order to an Expatriate Parent
As Singapore becomes more globalised, there has been a significant increase in the number of international marriages. However, these relationships are not immune to the trials and tribulations of marriage. If you and your expatriate ex-spouse are divorced, and they decide to return to their home country, you may wonder if they can take your child with them. You may also worry that they may resort to extreme measures and take your child overseas without your consent. What can you do in such a situation?
You Accidentally Entered Into an Automated Contract – Are You Legally Bound?
In recent years, software programmers have developed computer programs that can automatically draft contractual terms and enter into a contract without human intervention. However, the lack of human oversight means that users of automated methods of contracting may sometimes make a mistake and inadvertently enter into a contract. Against this backdrop, this article seeks to inform users of automated means of contracting on: (a) the validity of such contracts; and (b) whether they are legally bound if they inadvertently enter into such contracts.
Are NFTs property?: Janesh s/o Rajkumar v Unknown Person (“CHEFPIERRE”) [2022] SGHC 264
Non-Fungible Tokens (“NFTs”) have, in recent times, emerged as highly sought-after collectors’ items. This has resulted in a number of disputes involving NFTs. A question has arisen over whether NFTs are capable of giving rise to proprietary rights, which could be protected via a proprietary injunction. In Janesh s/o Rajkumar v Unknown Person, the High Court answered this issue in the positive, granting the claimant’s application for a proprietary injunction over the NFT in question.
Introducing new evidence after trial is over
Suppose that you have been charged for a crime. During trial, perhaps you tried to raise a defence or a mitigating circumstance. However, you failed due to insufficient evidence. But after the trial, you discovered evidence in your favour which could give you a lighter sentence. What can you do? In such cases, you may apply for the court to consider this new evidence. For criminal cases, a different set of requirements apply depending on whether you have already filed an appeal. This article will explain the different scenarios in criminal cases, and how to meet the respective requirements. Civil cases will be briefly considered at the end.
Stealthing: Filing charges for non-consensual condom removal
I had sex with my boyfriend. I told him to use a condom, and I actually saw him put it on. But it turns out he did not. Luckily, I did not get pregnant. But can I still file charges against him?
Insolvency in the Digital Age: Cryptocurrency and its Impact on the Law
*Written by: Lin Shuang Ju I. IntroductionCryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance have drawn scrutiny from regulators worldwide as public concerns over the use of cryptocurrency in money laundering and its high-risk nature emerge.[1] Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, was recently banned from offering services in Singapore after the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) found … Continue reading Insolvency in the Digital Age: Cryptocurrency and its Impact on the Law
Acquisition of a small software company in Singapore
COVID-19 was a bloodbath for small and medium sized enterprises (“SMEs”) that manufacture specialised parts. Their Achilles’ heel proved to be the disruption in global supply chains, and the lack of a stable workforce in the fight against the pandemic. In their struggle for survival, some SMEs chose to retrench its workers. However, the more forward-thinking ones have invested in technology that increases their long-term productivity and growth potential. One way that an SME can invest in technology is through an acquisition of a software start-up that has great synergies with its businesses. This article hopes to help Singaporean SMEs in their digitalisation efforts by sharing some legal and practical insights on the process of acquiring a software start-up.