RP Blog
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly meeting, Chris MacDonald discussed a decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal, Aviva Canada Inc. v. 1843538 Ontario Inc., 2020 ONCA 581. In this case, the Court considered an appeal by the appellants, 843538 Ontario Inc., c.o.b. Mississauga Collison Centre, and/or McLaren Collison, Fady Rony Warda, Rony Amanuel Warda, (“the Wardas”)Read More
Another Jury Notice Struck Due to COVID-19
Last week, Alon Barda posted an article on our blog regarding a decision where the court struck a jury notice due to the delay that would be caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Another decision has been released where the court similarly struck a jury notice. In Louis v. Poitras, 2020Read More
Supreme Court of Canada Clarifies Test for Anti-SLAPP Motions
By Emily Vereshchak The Supreme Court of Canada has released two decisions interpreting the test on a motion to dismiss under s. 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act, known as the anti-SLAPP legislation (strategic lawsuits against public participation). The direction provided by the Supreme Court is likely to changeRead More
No Obligation to Make Offer to Settle
In Smith v. Kane, 2020 ONSC 4814, Justice Gans stated that there is no obligation on a litigant to make an offer to settle. Justice Gans relied on a previous decision which indicated that it would be “an error in law to deny costs to a successful defendant because ofRead More
Welcome Back Jocelyn-Rose Brogan!
We’re very pleased to announce the return of Jocelyn-Rose Brogan from maternity leave. Today is Jocelyn’s first day back with the firm. Jocelyn’s looking forward to reconnecting with clients and colleagues!Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly meeting, Athina Ionita discussed a decision of the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal decision, D.G. v. Co-operators General Insurance Company, 2020 CanLII 61461 (ON LAT). The case considered whether the applicant’s injuries fall outside of the Minor Injury Guideline (MIG). Facts The applicant was rear-ended by a TTCRead More
The End of Civil Jury Trials? Jury Notice Struck Due to COVID-19
By Alon Barda The recently released motion decision in Belton v. Spencer, 2020 ONSC 5327, is a very important one for anyone practicing civil litigation in the province. The Case The claim arises from injuries sustained by the plaintiff on May 21, 2010 when he was kicked by a horseRead More
When Less is More: ONCA Denies Request for Factum to Exceed 30 Pages
By Colleen Mackeigan In a recent decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal (“ONCA”) in Oz Merchandising Inc. v. Canadian Professional Soccer League¸2020 ONCA 532, OZ Merchandising Inc. (“OZ”) was denied leave to submit a 500 page factum, or alternatively a 125 page factum in support of its appeal ofRead More
Costs Decision in “Crushing and Complete” Trial Loss for Plaintiffs
In McNamee v. Oickle, 2020 ONSC 5078, the plaintiffs received $5,000 following a jury trial arising from a motor vehicle accident. Prior to trial, the defendant had offered a total of $350,000 plus costs. The plaintiffs had offered $900,000 plus costs. Justice Beaudoin described the result “as a crushing and completeRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly meeting today, Angie Bellehumeur discussed the Court of Appeal’s decision in Le Treport Wedding & Convention Centre Ltd. v Co-operators General Insurance Company, 2020 ONCA 487, which involved an insurance coverage dispute. On July 8, 2013, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) experienced the most expensive natural disasterRead More
Ignoring Page Limits Must Have Consequences, Says Judge
When a court orders submissions to be kept to a certain page limit, parties must comply with the order. In Stewart & Bernard v. Fuhgeh et al., 2020 ONSC 4850, the court ordered the parties to provide costs submissions by specific dates and limited the submissions to three pages plusRead More
Entitlement to Medical Cannabis in an Accident Benefits Context: P.A. v. TD General Insurance Company
By Carol-Anne Wyseman A recent decision of the Licence Appeal Tribunal (“LAT”), P.A. v. TD General Insurance Company, 2020 ONLAT 19-001349/AABS, considered an applicant’s entitlement to medical cannabis to treat psychological impairments resulting from a motor vehicle accident involving his family. Facts The applicant’s spouse and children were injured inRead More
Concise Factums Required
A factum at the Court of Appeal is limited to a maximum of 30 pages. If a party wishes to submit a lengthier factum, leave must be sought from the Court of Appeal. Leave is rarely granted. In OZ Merchandising Inc. v. Canada Professional Soccer League Inc., 2020 ONCA 532,Read More
2020-2021 Articling Students
We’re delighted to welcome our newest articling students to the firm, Angeline Bellehumeur, Athina Ionita, and Christopher MacDonald. Congratulations to Angeline, Athina, and Christopher on completing law school! We hope that you have a fulfilling articling term. You’ll be full-fledged lawyers before you know it!Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly firm meeting, Chris MacDonald presented the case of Lamb v. Co-Operators General Insurance Co., 2020 ONSC 4955. This case concerned a motion brought by Co-Operators for summary judgment involving an unidentified vehicle claim by the plaintiff, Lamb. The court considered whether there was a triable issue onRead More
Multiple Lawyers from Rogers Partners in The Best Lawyers in Canada
Rogers Partners LLP is pleased to announce that the following lawyers have been named in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in Canada: Stephen Ross, Kevin Adams, Anita Varjacic, Brian Sunohara, and David Rogers.Read More
The Latest on Disclosure of Adverse Costs Insurance
By Andrew Yolles Since the proliferation of adverse costs insurance through the legal industry over the last few years, there have been a handful of decisions in Ontario dealing with a plaintiff’s disclosure obligations with respect to such insurance policies. Generally speaking, adverse costs insurance, sometimes referred to as “AdverseRead More
Court Denies Request for Summary Judgment Motion to be Heard Prior to Certification Motion in Class Action
The court has discretion on whether to permit a summary judgment motion to proceed prior to a motion for certification in a class action. In Belec v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2020 ONSC 4961, Justice R. Smith outlined the following factors to consider, as determined in a previousRead More
What is a Speed Test?
A person who operates a motor vehicle is not permitted to engage in a “race” or a “speed test”. Doing so is a breach of a statutory condition in the standard Ontario Automobile Policy. In Vyas v. Brown, 2020 ONSC 4916, Justice O’Brien noted that the case law indicates that aRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
This morning, at our weekly firm meeting, Athina Ionita discussed the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Atlantic Lottery Corp. Inc. v. Babstock, 2020 SCC 19. This case dealt with a number of issues, including whether waiver of tort is a valid cause of action, the remedy of disgorgement, andRead More
Suspension of Limitation Periods Ending
The suspension of limitation periods in Ontario is coming to an end on September 14, 2020. The suspension is retroactive to March 16, 2020. If counsel were delaying commencing claims during the period of the suspension, now is the time to think about those claims. Section 1 of Ontario RegulationRead More
Chronic Pain and the MIG
By Alon Barda The issue as to what constitutes removal from the Minor Injury Guideline (“MIG”) continues to be one of the most common issues I deal with at the Licence Appeal Tribunal. This is particularly the case when the claim involves an apparent chronic pain diagnosis. The MIG establishesRead More
Further and Better Affidavit of Documents Ordered in Bad Faith Claim
In Carroll v. Aviva Canada Inc., 2020 ONSC 4683, the plaintiff brought a motion for the defendant insurer to serve a further and better affidavit of documents in an insurance dispute. The action arose out of a motor vehicle accident. The plaintiff sued her own insurer for underinsured coverage. The plaintiffRead More
SCC Grants Leave in Dispute Over Release in MVA Claims
The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to appeal in a case involving the interpretation of a release in a matter relating to a motor vehicle accident. The brief facts of the case, City of Corner Brook v. Bailey, are as follows. Bailey was operating a vehicle and struck TempleRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly Friday meeting, Angie Bellehumeur discussed a decision of the Licence Appeal Tribunal, R.A. v. Aviva Insurance Company, 2020 ONLAT 19-004208/AABS. The issue in this case was whether a chronic pain assessment costing $2,010 was a reasonable and necessary expense resulting from a motor vehicle accident according toRead More
Further Courtrooms in Ontario To Be Reopened
The Ministry of the Attorney General plans to open several further courtrooms in various jurisdictions on September 14, 2020. A list can be found here.Read More
Consolidation vs. Hearing Together
Rule 6.01 of the Rules of Civil Procedure permits the court to consolidate multiple proceedings or order that they be heard at the same time or immediately after the other. This relief can be granted if the proceedings have a question of law or fact in common; if the reliefRead More
Factors in Counsel’s Removal from Record
In Baradaran v. Alexanian, 2020 ONSC 4759, the court reviewed the case law on the principles applicable on a motion to remove counsel from the record. These principles include the following: A lawyer must have “good cause” or “justifiable cause” to withdraw from representation. The commentary under rule 3.7-1 of theRead More
Amendment to Plead Battery Denied in Cosmetic Surgery Case
The case of Piatkowski et al v. Drakos, 2020 ONSC 3928, addresses the test to amend a statement of claim to assert a new cause of action following the expiry of the limitation period. In November 2013, the plaintiff underwent tummy tuck surgery. She alleged that she sustained full skin necrosisRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
11th Hour Change in Discovery Plan Deemed “Hiccup”: Motions for Costs Dismissed This morning, at our weekly meeting, Angie Bellehumeur discussed the court’s decision in 1479021 Ontario Inc. v Hawkesbury (Town of) et al., 2020 ONSC 4570, which involved a motion and a cross-motion for costs arising from cancelled discoveries.Read More
$21 Million PJI Award in Insurance Dispute
By Brian Sunohara In MDS Inc. v. Factory Mutual Insurance Company (FM Global), 2020 ONSC 4464, the plaintiff was awarded prejudgment interest (“PJI”) of $14.8 million (USD) or $21 million (CAD) on a judgment of $25 million (USD). The action arose from an insurance dispute, specifically a claim for lossRead More
New Regulation on Virtual Commissioning
There is a new regulation which expressly permits virtual commissioning. Ontario Regulation 431/20 – Administering Oath or Declaration Remotely, which came into effect on July 31, 2020, outlines the requirements for virtual commissioning, including: The person administering the oath or declaration and the deponent or declarant must be able toRead More
Strict Time Limit to Apply for Income Replacement Benefits
In C.G. v. Pembridge Insurance Company, 2020 ONLAT 19-010979/AABS, the Licence Appeal Tribunal held that there is a strict time limit to apply for an income replacement benefit (“IRB”). The accident in question occurred on October 31, 2016. The applicant applied for accident benefits on November 8, 2016. On December 1,Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
Our newest articling, Angeline Bellehumeur, discussed a very interesting court decision at our weekly meeting this morning. The issue in Thomson v. Watson, 2020 ONSC 4409, was whether a worker who is involved in an accident outside of Ontario and elects to receive workers’ compensation benefits outside of Ontario, canRead More
Superior Court’s New Document Sharing & Storage Platform
Chief Justice Morawetz has announced in a memorandum that the Ontario Superior Court of Justice will be implementing CaseLines, which is a cloud-based document sharing and storage e-hearing platform for remote and in-person court proceedings. Court documents will continue to be filed with the court office. However, parties will nowRead More
Summary Judgment Motions: Proceeding With Diligence
Certain principles on the conduct of summary judgment motions emerge from the court’s recent decision in Meagher v. Hooper-Holmes Canada Limited, 2020 ONSC 4480. The plaintiffs commenced a medical malpractice claim. The defendants brought a summary judgment motion, which was first scheduled to be heard in January 2019. The plaintiffs soughtRead More
Fall Jury Trials in Central-East Cancelled
In a Notice to the Profession for the Central-East Region that was released yesterday, it was announced that the civil (non-family) trial sittings scheduled to commence on November 16, 2020 are cancelled. This means that there will be no civil jury trials in the Central-East Region this fall. The Notice indicatesRead More
Misnomer Motion Granted Despite Plaintiff’s Knowledge of Correct Defendant
The doctrine of misnomer is quite broad. In the recent decision of Scace v. Withers et al., 2020 ONSC 90, the plaintiff knew the name of a home renovation contactor that he alleged to be negligent, but named the contractor in the statement of claim as a pseudonym, “XYZ Contractor”.Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
This morning, at our weekly firm meeting, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Ontario Licence Appeal Tribunal decision of J.A. v. Intact Insurance Company, 2020 ONLAT 19-005110/AABS. The applicant was injured in an automobile accident on April 3, 2016 and sought benefits under the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (the “Schedule”). Intact deniedRead More
COVID-19 Screening Protocol at Courthouses
The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General has advised that, as part of its COVID-19 Active Screening Protocol, a screening questionnaire must be completed before entering a courthouse. The questionnaire is available on-line, and the results of the questionnaire can be shown on your phone to a designated person atRead More
Suspension of Limitation Period Due to Incapacity
By Rebecca Moore In Ontario, the time period for a claimant to commence an action is outlined in the Limitations Act, 2002, (“LA”). The ‘basic limitation period’ is two years from the date on which the claim was discovered. There are, however, exceptions that have been carved out for particularRead More
Trampoline Injury: Defendant’s Motion to Enforce Waiver Dismissed
By Brian Sunohara In Zaky v. 2285771 Ontario Inc., 2020 ONSC 4380, the plaintiff went to an indoor trampoline and fun park, Sky Zone, in Mississauga, Ontario. While attempting a backflip, he landed hard on his head and sustained a fractured vertebrae in his neck that required surgery. The defendant broughtRead More
Litigation Not on Hold Due to COVID-19
In Elson v. Polyethics Industries Inc., 2020 ONSC 4335, the defendant corporation refused to provide an affidavit of documents due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The defendant stated that requiring someone to attend at the office would risk spreading COVID-19 and that its CEO, who would be the person responsible forRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly meeting, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Ontario Court of Appeal decision of Woods v. Jackiewicz, 2020 ONCA 458. The appellant physician appealed from an award of damages against him for negligent management of a twin pregnancy, following a jury trial. He did not challenge the jury finding thatRead More
COVID-19: Ultimate business interrupter
An article by David Rogers, entitled “COVID-19: Ultimate business interrupter”, was published in The Lawyer’s Daily this week. David says “it is unlikely that COVID-19-related losses would be covered under the business interruption provisions of most all-risks property policies, which require actual property damage”. However, David also notes that policyRead More
Class Actions Against SABS Insurers Dismissed for Lack of Jurisdiction
In Dorman v. Economical Mutual Insurance Company, 2020 ONSC 4004, class actions were commenced against several insurance companies for allegedly improperly deducting HST from statutory accident benefit payments. Justice Belobaba agreed with the insurers that the court does not have jurisdiction over the dispute. As a result, the class actionsRead More
The Talented Gemma Healy-Murphy
Gemma Healy-Murphy recently displayed her incredible singing skills at The Lawyer Show Cabaret in a heartwarming rendition of For the First Time in Forever from the movie Frozen! The event was held on-line by Nightwood Theatre in support of many worthy causes. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Gemma was aRead More
Emily Vereshchak in The Lawyer’s Daily
Emily Vereshchak was recently featured in a two-part series in The Lawyer’s Daily on joint liability and subrogation under the OPCF 44R. Both parts can be found here: Part 1 Part 2Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly firm meeting, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Ontario Superior Court decision’s in Moxam v. Anderson, 2020 ONSC 4173. This action arose from two motor vehicle accidents. The first occurred on April 12, 2012, and the second on March 27, 2013. The plaintiff, Moxam, was a passenger in eachRead More
Access to Justice & Summary Judgment Post-Pandemic: A “Culture Shift” – At Long Last?
Stephen Ross and Gemma Healy-Murphy have written a thought-provoking article entitled “Access to Justice & Summary Judgment Post-Pandemic: A ‘Culture Shift’ – At Long Last?” In the article, Stephen and Gemma say: “The wheels of justice move slowly and it is only now, over six (6) years later, and inRead More
Preparing for Mass Remote Court Attendances
By Meryl Rodrigues Earlier this week, courts commenced their gradual reopening in the face of COVID-19 still persisting and public health and safety measures still in place. Since their closure in mid-March, although courts have been addressing urgent matters and some consent or other matters (depending on the region and/orRead More
Virtual Trials Can Work Says Judge
The use of technology in the courtroom is important to keep cases moving forward in an efficient manner. A recent decision of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice shows that “virtual trials” can work. The case arose in the criminal context. The trial took place by Zoom over four days,Read More
Superior Court’s Updated Notice on Resumption of Court Hearings
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice issued a further Notice to the Profession on June 25, 2020. The Notice indicates that COVID-19 risk assessments are being conducted at each Ontario courthouse. Issues such as physical distancing, facility and room capacity, plexiglass barriers, enhanced cleaning, courtroom configuration, document transmission, and COVID screening areRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
This morning, at our weekly firm meeting, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Ontario Court of Appeal decision of Nanda v. McEwan, 2020 ONCA 431. The appeal was brought by the moving party/defendants from an order made under s.137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act dismissing an “anti-SLAPP” motion. The action wasRead More
From the Desk of Colleen Mackeigan
Tips for Conducting Virtual Discoveries As society continues to learn to adapt to our “new normal” of social distancing, the legal profession has made every effort to persevere and find innovative ways to ensure, to the extent possible, that access to justice is preserved. One way in which lawyers continueRead More
Happy Canada Day!
From all of us at Rogers Partners, we wish you a safe, happy, and healthy Canada Day!Read More
Resuming Court Operations: Ministry’s Precautionary Measures
The Ministry of the Attorney General has released a very detailed guidebook called “COVID-19 Recommended Precautionary Measures – Resuming Court Operations”. The topics covered in the guidebook include: Preparing the court environment, including enhanced cleaning protocols, plexiglass barriers, physical distancing, and the use of face coverings Attendance at the courthouse,Read More
Successful WSIAT Hearing by Rogers Partners
In a decision released last week (Decision No. 1543/19), Tom Macmillan, Meryl Rodrigues, and Matthew Umbrio were successful in a hearing before the Workplace Safety Insurance and Appeals Tribunal. The main issue was whether the plaintiff was an employee of a tour bus company or an independent contractor. The factRead More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly firm meeting this morning, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Ontario Superior Court decision of The Estate of Donald Farb v. Manulife, 2020 ONSC 3037. The applicant was the estate for Mr. Farb, who sought reimbursement for hospital expenses incurred while on vacation in Florida. Manulife had denied his claimRead More
Principles of Litigation Privilege
In Walsh Construction Company Canada v. Toronto Transit Commission, 2020 ONSC 3688, Master McGraw went over the main principles of litigation privilege: Litigation privilege is a fundamental principle of the administration of justice which serves an overriding public interest to ensure the efficacy of the adversarial process by protecting communicationsRead More
Extra-Provincial Application of Ontario’s Priority Scheme
By Matthew Umbrio The Ontario Court of Appeal has recently released Travelers Insurance Company of Canada v. CAA Insurance Company, 2020 ONCA 382[i], which addresses the extra-provincial application of the Ontario Insurance Act in the priority dispute context. The decision was written by Justice Lauwers, who was joined by Justice PacioccoRead More
Rogers Partners In|Sight – Summer 2020 Newsletter
We’re pleased to present the Summer 2020 edition of our newsletter, In|Sight. We hope you enjoy the following: COVID-19: The Ultimate Business Interrupter Special Awards at the LAT – An Upward Trend The Latest Ruling on Social Host Liability House Construction: The Duties of Contractors and Municipal Building Inspectors Access to Justice &Read More
Material Changes in Risk: Causal Connection to Loss Not Required
The Supreme Court of Canada recently denied leave to appeal in an insurance coverage dispute. A building on the plaintiffs’ property was damaged by fire. The plaintiffs’ insurer denied a claim under a homeowner’s policy based on the plaintiffs’ failure to notify of a material change of risk, in particular,Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At today’s weekly firm meeting, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Ontario Court of Appeal decision of Peter B. Cozzi Professional Corporation v. Szot, 2020 ONCA 397. The appellant in this decision was the solicitor for Mr. Nguyen, the plaintiff in a motor vehicle personal injury action. The Court of Appeal wasRead More
Early Investigation & Preservation of Evidence in Personal Injury Claims
By Gemma Healy-Murphy When adjusters are put on notice of a potential lawsuit, either by an insured or the potential claimant, there are several loss control measures that can be taken at an early stage and in contemplation of litigation (thus arguably preserving the privileged nature of any such effortsRead More
Court of Appeal Overturns Coverage Decision in Sexual Abuse Claim
In a previous blog post, we discussed a decision in which an insurer was ordered to defend a training academy for allegations related to the alleged sexual abuse of a student. The decision was overturned yesterday by the Court of Appeal. In Southside Muay Thai Academy Corporation v. Aviva InsuranceRead More
Allegations of Personal Liability of Employees
The Court of Appeal’s decision in Burns v. RBC Life Insurance Company, 2020 ONCA 347, dealt with a motion decision to strike a statement of claim against two employees of the defendant insurer for disclosing no reasonable cause of action. The plaintiff sued RBC Life in a disability benefits claim.Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
At our weekly firm meeting, Matthew Umbrio addressed the Divisional Court decision of Industrial Alliance Securities Inc. v. Kunicyn, 2020 ONSC 3393. The appellant, Ms. Kunicyn, appealed the Order of Justice Stewart dismissing her motion seeking answers to certain questions that were refused and disclosure of certain documents. The refusals concernedRead More
Procedure for Opposed Short Motions in Toronto During COVID-19
In Mann v. Chack-Wai, 2020 ONSC 3428, Justice Myers considered the first opposed short motion in writing under the Toronto Region Notice to the Profession, dated May 13, 2020. Justice Myers described the procedure for such motions. Parties who seek to bring a short opposed motion or application must fileRead More
Bifurcated Trial, Bifurcated Offers, and Bifurcated Costs
By Erin Crochetière In a recent costs decision in Blaese v. Metcalfe, 2020 ONSC 3432, the Court dealt with some interesting issues regarding offers to settle in the context of bifurcated trials. The parties in the action agreed to bifurcate the issues of liability and damages, and a trial onRead More
Jurisdiction of Court of Appeal to Order Appeals to be Heard in Writing
In 4352238 Canada Inc. v. SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., 2020 ONCA 303, Justice Roberts held that the Court of Appeal has jurisdiction to order a civil appeal to be heard in writing, regardless of whether one of the parties objects. Justice Roberts noted that the Court of Appeal has broad implicitRead More
The Two Types of Set-Off
In Mujtaba v. Yasin, 2020 ONSC 2554, Justice Emery addressed the two types of set-off: legal set-off and equitable set-off. Legal set-off is provided for in section 111 of the Courts of Justice Act, which states: “in an action for payment of a debt, the defendant may, by way of defence,Read More
Fridays With Rogers Partners
David Rogers led a seminar on productions this morning at our firm’s weekly meeting. The court’s decision in SecurityInChina International Corp. v. Bank of Montreal, 2019 ONSC 7183, provides an excellent summary of production requirements. Justice Mitchell outlined the following principles: [8] Rule 30.06 requires production of every document relevant to any matterRead More
Joint Liability and the Nature of Subrogation under the OPCF 44R
By Emily Vereshchak The Court of Appeal has released a new and detailed decision in Tuffnail v. Meekes, 2020 ONCA 340, which addresses issues related to underinsured automobile coverage.[1]. The decision was written by Associate Chief Justice Hoy, who was joined by Justice Doherty and Associate Chief Justice Marrocco (adRead More
Alon Barda Discusses Limitation Periods at the LAT
Alon Barda was recently featured in a two-part series in The Lawyer’s Daily called “Uncertainty surrounding extension of limitation periods at LAT”. Part 1 Part 2Read More