Category Archives: Commercial Litigation
Pandemic inspires Rules Changes in Ontario
The Government of Ontario has announced changes to The Rules of Civil Procedure, which will take effect 1 January 2021. The main purpose of the changes, passed as O. Reg 689/20, is to provide for electronic alternatives to existing paper-based … Continue reading
Canadian Government suspends implementation of Anti-Spam Provisions
The Government of Canada announced earlier this month that the implementation of provisions granting a private right of action to individuals would not come into force this July 1st as originally scheduled. Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) was an initiative of … Continue reading
The Importance of Costs: BitTorrent and The Cobbler
Readers who have a shared server with users of BitTorrent, or who use it themselves, may have received threatening emails forwarded by their ISP alleging Intellectual Property (IP) infringement through the downloading of movies, music, and the like. These are … Continue reading
Ontario Court of Appeal applies “Strong” test for contractual jurisdiction
The Ontario Court of Appeal recently confirmed that parties who enter into contractual arrangements that include a forum selection clause must show strong cause why they should not be enforced if suit is brought in Ontario contrary to the agreement. … Continue reading
Full Indemnity Costs for Frivolous Fraud Allegations
A June decision of Justice Turnbull was recently reported in which the Court sanctioned a plaintiff with rarely-seen “full indemnity costs” for making serious allegations of fraud and conspiracy, then dropping them on the eve of trial. The plaintiff had … Continue reading
Employment Obligations May Survive 3PL Contract
In a recent case we represented a forwarder who had been in a long term 3PL contract with a US shipper. The forwarder essentially handled all of the shipper’s Canadian warehousing and distribution needs. As is frequently the case, the … Continue reading
Common Courtesy – in the Client’s Interests!
We recently attended on an unnecessary motion in respect of documentary production. Of course, any attendance drives up costs and is contrary to the client interests if another resolution is available; where a motion is brought or heard unnecessarily, however, … Continue reading
The Best Offence…
More than 95% of cases settle; while a contested trial makes for good television, early and favourable settlements make for the best client outcomes. Continue reading
Directors may be liable for misrepresenting ability to pay
Regardless of size, managing accounts receivable is an important element in running a successful forwarding operation. Credit terms are usually set at the beginning of the customer relationship through a credit agreement that stipulates a credit limit, payment terms, and … Continue reading
Service Outside Hague Convention
This appeal considered the validity of service of a Statement of Claim in accordance with The Hague Convention on defendants located in a state that is not a party to that Convention. The Court confirmed that in such states service in accordance with the Ontario rules is sufficient, and that service under our rules does not conflict with the domestic sovereignty of the state in which the defendants are resident. Continue reading →