Articles

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.

There were six substantive civil decisions released by the Court of Appeal for Ontario this week.

There were five substantive civil decisions released by the Court of Appeal for Ontario this week. In two of them, the Court continued to provide guidance on the “valid defence” analysis to be undertaken pursuant to the Anti-SLAPP provisions of section 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act.

Topics covered this week included the application of s.137.1 of the Court of Justice Act, the interaction between pre-incorporation contract provisions of the Ontario Business Corporations Act and the common law rules governing deposits in real estate transactions, the enforceability of restrictive covenants where the underlying contract has been frustrated, and secured creditors’ rights of entry to repossess equipment.

This week, the Court of Appeal once again addressed the new anti-SLAPP legislation in United Soils Management Ltd. v. Mohammed and clarified that the anti-SLAPP legislation does not provide for the award of punitive damages against a plaintiff when an action is dismissed under section 137.1. Other topics covered included the duty of care in a tragic personal injury context, damages for wrongful dismissal and legal non-conforming uses under the Planning Act.

Topics covered this week included wills and estates (capacity and undue influence), insurance coverage in the MVA context where there was a question of intentional acts as opposed to mere negligence, and the familiar issue of whether an order is final or interlocutory for appeal purposes.

Topics covered this week included the limitation period for enforcing foreign judgments (the later of the two years from the expiry of the appeal period from the foreign judgment and when the plaintiff knew or ought to have known that there were assets in Ontario against which the plaintiff could enforce its judgment), and striking pleadings as an abuse of process (attempt to re-litigate).

In Presley v Van Dusen, the Court of Appeal yet again dealt with discoverability. In McDowell v. Fortress Real Capital Inc., the Court of Appeal overturned in part a motion judge’s decision to strike out the claims of a proposed class proceeding for various allegations of misconduct. Other topics covered this week included contractual interpretation, conflict of laws and costs in the family law context.

This week’s summaries of the civil decisions of the Court of Appeal for Ontario touch on a variety of topics including commercial tenancies, residential tenancies, oppression in the condo law context, the expiry of a tolling agreement, restarting the limitation period clock, municipal law and health law.