By: Thomas Russell Introduction In November of the past year, the Ontario Court of Appeal (the court of appeal) released a trio of decisions that marked an important development in Ontario privacy law: Owsianik v Equifax; Obodo v Trans Union of Canada, Inc; and Winder v Marriot International, Inc.[1] In these three decisions, the court … Continued

Introduction In recent years, single-photon emission computerized tomography scans (otherwise known as “SPECT” scans) have been the subject of debate in Ontario’s court rooms when evaluating brain injury claims. Whether the conclusions resulting from such scans can be admitted into evidence and for what purpose are increasingly becoming important questions in personal injury law. What … Continued

In Amelin Engineering Ltd. v Blower Engineering Inc.[1], the Ontario Court of Appeal clarified that although ameliorative efforts may toll a limitation period, the “modified objective test” under section 5(1)(b) of the Limitations Act, 2002[2] (the “Limitations Act”) continues to apply. Thus, even where a potential defendant is attempting to remedy a situation, discoverability remains … Continued

Introduction The Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Poirier v. Logan[1] serves as a stark reminder of the detrimental consequences that result from failing to immediately disclose settlement agreements to non-settling parties. Background The respondents, Jeremy Logan and Morey Chaplick, owned the respondent M.C. Capital Corp. (“M.C. Capital”). M.C. Capital ran a wholesale and retail … Continued

The Ontario Court of Appeal decided in a 3-0 decision that the newly enacted s.129.1 of the Insurance Act[1] does not apply retroactively to cover claims that were brought before the legislation came into force. s.129.1 of the Insurance Act On April 30, 2018, s.129.1 of the Insurance Act came into force, providing that: 129.1 … Continued

The Ontario Court of Appeal in Intact Insurance Company v Zurich Insurance Company Ltd.[1] considered whether Intact Insurance (“Intact”) could recoup money it paid beyond its policy limits from parties other than its own insured, by direct action, for the clean up of a chemical spill. This case highlights that insurers, when viewed independently of … Continued

Overview Liability insurance policies can protect insureds against claims resulting from injuries and damage to other people or property.[1] In addition to indemnifying insureds, many liability insurance policies contain provisions requiring the insurer to defend certain types of lawsuits brought against the insured – otherwise known as the duty to defend.[2] This paper will (1) … Continued

It goes without saying that a traumatic or distressing event can cause somebody great stress and anxiety, even if it did not cause them physical injury.  Such an injury is described in the case law as “nervous shock”.  Nervous shock claims result from mental or psychiatric injuries which are sustained by a plaintiff as a … Continued

Commercial operations by nature often involve contracts, whether written or verbal. The commercial general liability (“CGL”) policy’s standard form wording contains a contractual liability exclusion. The exclusion is, on the one hand, often broadly worded. However, on the other hand, it contains exceptions which carve back the exclusion in scope. In particular, the clause often … Continued