Articles 2023

Following are the summaries for this past week’s civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario.

In this global marketplace, where business across borders has become commonplace, in litigation it is to be expected that some parties or key witnesses may reside outside Ontario. In this article the author describes the tools available to obtain evidence outside Ontario, and the criteria that apply to each of them.

Topics covered for this week’s civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario included annulling a bankruptcy where the bankrupt was not really insolvent and appeared only to try to avoid paying on a judgment, damages for breach of an agreement of purchase and sale of land, discoverability of a claim for negligent tax advice (“appropriate means”), and amending pleadings.

Here are this week’s summaries of the civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. In Donovan v. Sherman Estate, the Court briefly reviewed the test for granting a sealing order. The Court observed that although the desire for privacy in this case was understandable, by itself, the desire for privacy without a public interest component is insufficient to justify the granting of a sealing order.

In Merino v ING Insurance Company of Canada, 2019 ONCA 326, the Court concluded that automobile insurers in Ontario do not have the option of unilaterally rescinding a contract of insurance ab initio under the common law as a result of an insured’s misrepresentation... 

Matters covered this week included the dismissal of a proposed class action against the LCBO regarding the sale of beer in Ontario, the viability of claims by police officers against Crown attorneys for negligence and misfeasance in public office, summary judgment motions in child protection proceedings under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, motions to change spousal support orders, and a residential tenancy dispute involving a missing cat.

Summaries of this week's Court of Appeal cases.

In College of Optometrists of Ontario v. Essilor Group Inc, the Court addressed the scope of provincial legislative authority in respect of regulating out-of-province eyewear retailers. Other topics covered this week included summary judgment in a breach of contract case, assessments of solicitors’ accounts, and willful blindness in the context of a fraud claim.

There were only four substantive civil decisions released. In two of them, the Court continued to provide guidance on the Anti-SLAPP provisions of section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act.Other topics covered this week include contractual interpretation and costs.

Following are this week’s summaries of the civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Topics included self-represented litigants costs, punitive damages, standard of care of a medical professional, extension of time to bring or perfect an appeal and appellate jurisdiction.