Open Courts Principle Trumps Speculative Concerns Over Physical Harm
In the case of Donovan v. The Estate of Bernard Sherman et al., Ontario’s Court of Appeal held that the principle that court records must be accessible to the public trumped speculative concerns of physical harm to the trustees and beneficiaries of an estate if disclosure of the details of that estate was made. The Appellant, Kevin Donovan, is a reporter for the Toronto Star. He sought to set aside a sealing order of court files relating to the Estates of Bernard and Honey Sherman, who were prominent Toronto residents that were killed in their home on December 17, 2017. ... [more] Full article
Fake Discount Case Settled Against Hudson’s Bay Company
We previously wrote about an application brought by Canada’s Competition Bureau against Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), a department store retailer, for allegedly inflating the regular price of mattresses just so ... [more] Full article
Court orders release of consumer complaints about Bell’s marketing practices
The Federal Court of Canada has ordered the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS) to release consumer complaints about Bell’s alleged deceptive marketing practices to the Competition Bureau. The ... [more] Full article
Quebec engineering firm ordered to pay $4 million for bid-rigging
The Quebec Superior Court has ordered engineering firm Genivar (now WSP Canada) to pay a $4 million fine for its involvement between 2002 and 2011 in a bid-rigging scheme that ... [more] Full article
Developments Contributors
Michael Binetti
Michael Binetti, a partner of the firm, brings a proven litigation background plus extensive experience in arguing both trials and appeals. He has demonstrated his strategic legal capability and expertise in wide-ranging areas of litigation. Michael’s peers and clients have commented that Michael is an “excellent and creative lawyer,” “finds unique solutions to complex problems,” and that “Michael gets it and knows how to win.”
Kenneth A. Dekker
Kenneth Dekker, a partner of the firm, is a successful trial and appellate lawyer who is valued by his clients as a resourceful and practical litigation counsel. Over more than two decades, Ken has litigated noteworthy cases in a range of fields that include class action defence, securities and broker-dealer litigation and regulatory defence, corporate and shareholder disputes (including oppression and winding up cases), defamation, civil fraud litigation, disputes over contracts, injunctions, professional liability litigation, employment litigation and cross-border litigation issues. Ken has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada. Ken also represents and advises clients in regulatory matters before the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). Ken has been recognized for Corporate and Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers of Canada and has been given the highest available rating of AV, or pre-eminent, by his peers on Martindale-Hubbell.
Masiel A. Matus
Masiel has a broad commercial litigation practice and represents both national and international clients in a variety of complex matters. Masiel has experience litigating cases involving professional negligence, commercial leasing and real property disputes, insurance, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, employment matters and defamation claims.
- Alberta court declines to certify class action alleging negligent performance of investment advisory services
- Court of Appeal upholds stay of secondary market misrepresentation claim on jurisdictional grounds
- Simply creating a website for a business is not unregistered trading or “an act in furtherance of a trade”, court rules
Kyle J. Peterson*
Kyle's commercial litigation and advocacy practice offers particular expertise in securities, insurance, construction and employment disputes. A fierce advocate for clients, Kyle has a proven ability to approach client issues in a strategic manner, always balancing their business and commercial interests with their legal rights. Kyle's clients benefit from his experience in business and politics, and appreciate his common sense and results-driven style. * Presently on leave of absence from the Firm. Kyle Peterson was elected as a Member of the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament in the 2015 Canadian Federal Election.
Christopher Somerville
Chris Somerville has a record of diligent and resourceful advocacy in a wide range of cases. His experience and skills cover commercial and civil litigation in general, and securities litigation, administrative law, and employment disputes in particular.
Annie Tayyab
Annie Tayyab skillfully navigates a wide range of competition and commercial matters. Her experience includes multi-jurisdictional class actions, complex contractual disputes, competition law, shareholder disputes, regulatory proceedings, consumer protection, commercial leasing, condominium legislation, and professional negligence, including errors and omissions by brokers/dealers and lawyers.
David N. Vaillancourt
David's practice expertise focuses on all matters of Commercial and Civil Litigation, Competition and Administrative Law. David has acted for clients in a wide range of disputes, including shareholder and partnership disputes, securities litigation, class action defence, proceedings under the Competition Act, employment law disputes, contract disputes, breach of confidence/intellectual property disputes, fidelity bond claims, and professional negligence claims. David has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and has also appeared before the Competition Tribunal and the Federal Court of Appeal. David has appeared as lead counsel in numerous trials, hearings, and motions. David has been successful in numerous adversarial proceedings, and also has successfully negotiated the resolution of dozens of cases.
