By: Shadi Katirai and Michael Connolly Introduction Section 44(1) of Ontario’s Municipal Act[1] imposes a duty on municipalities to keep highways and bridges in a state of reasonable repair, while section 44(2) notes that municipalities that fail to do so are liable under the Negligence Act[2] for damages that people sustain because of that failure. … Continued
During the fall of 2020, when Ontarians were hunkering down for the second COVID-19 pandemic wave, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released its decision in Kik Interactive Inc. v. AIG Insurance Company of Canada[1]. The Court was tasked with interpreting whether the respondent insurer’s securities exclusion worked to preclude coverage for cryptocurrency sales to … Continued
The Court of Appeal’s latest word on tort immunity is a good reminder of the importance of proper contractual interpretation, particularly where covenants to insure and indemnity obligations conflict with each other. Tort immunity refers to both covenants to insure and waivers of subrogation that prevent one party (or its insurer through a subrogated action) … Continued
In January 2021, the Ontario Court of Appeal released Louis v Poitras,[1] the now definitive case on striking civil jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic. Poitras was the culmination of the onslaught of motions to strike civil juries due to prejudice arising from pandemic-related delay. In a concise and strong decision, the Ontario Court of … Continued
COVID-19 and the public health response to the global pandemic has had a significant impact on the conduct of civil litigation in Ontario and elsewhere. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has encouraged all regions to adopt virtual proceedings wherever possible. It has requested that counsel and parties accommodate requests made by opposing counsel or … Continued
In Hemlow Estate v. Co-operators General Insurance Co, 2021 ONCA 908, the Ontario Court of Appeal held that the insurer had a duty to defend a claim relating to the negligence of the insured, which resulted in the insured’s own death and property damage at the location where he was working. The court affirmed that … Continued
In the recent decision, Trial Lawyers Association of British Columbia v Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada, the Supreme Court of Canada considered the application of promissory estoppel in the insurance context. Specifically, the Court considered whether an insurer was estopped from denying coverage because it had already provided a defence, before it … Continued
In the recent decision of Jacobs v. MyHealth Centre, 2021 HRTO 1009, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (“HRTO”) concluded that the denial of services to a patient who was presumptively positive with COVID-19 did not amount to discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code (“the Code”) Background Facts The Applicant, Steven Jacobs, attended the … Continued
