Articles 2023

This article summarizes Fehr v. Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada, 2024 ONCA 847, in which the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the dismissal of a motion to add a new common issue in a class action after certification. The court ruled the claim for "investment spread" increases was statute-barred because it was discoverable in 2016 when relevant documents were disclosed by the defendant, emphasizing that the knowledge of class counsel could be imputed to the entire class.

This article reviews Lochan v. Binance Holdings Limited, 2024 ONCA 784, in which the Court of Appeal upheld a motion judge’s decision to dismiss a defendant’s motion to stay a proposed class proceeding in favour of arbitration.

This article summarizes Longair v. Akumin Inc. et al., 2024 ONSC 3675 where the Ontario Superior Court of Justice grants a number of secondary market misrepresentation claims leave to proceed under Part XXIII.1 of the Securities Act and certifies a global class.

This article reviews the majority decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. Power, 2024 SCC 26, regarding the limited availability of Charter damages for unconstitutional legislation, a subject of interest to those litigating class actions against governments.

In Jacques v. Canada, 2024 FC 851, the Federal Court refused to certify a data breach class action because class members’ claims became limitations-barred after the proceeding was issued, but before the certification hearing. This decision reminds us that limitations are substantive rights and that class action limitations regimes vary across Canada.

On July 7, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Richard v. The Attorney General of Canada, 2024 ONSC 3800 certified a class proceeding on behalf of all persons who were detained for immigration purposes in a provincial or territorial correctional facility since May 16, 2016, including a subclass of individuals with a mental health condition. The claim asserts causes of action for Charter breaches and in negligence.

This article assesses Metro Taxi Ltd v City of Ottawa, 2024 ONSC 2725, a common issues trial decision holding a government liable for failing to enforce its laws and prosecute a competitor of the class members.

This article reviews Pass Herald v. Google LLC, 2024 FC 305, in which the Federal Court of Canada approved a litigation funding agreement in a proposed competition class action and refused to impose a cap on the combined recovery of class counsel and the funder, despite the defendants’ suggestions that it do so.

The recent decision Barbiero v. Pollack, 2024 ONSC 1548, offers guidance to class action practitioners as to when the Court will dismiss a certified class action for delay.

The Supreme Court of Canada's guidance about statutorily implied terms under the Sale of Goods Act has implications for product liability class proceedings. This article analyzes the breadth of exclusionary clauses applicable to such terms.