Introduction We have written twice in the past about piercing the corporate veil. Despite the unambiguous language of the precedents referred to, these cases continue to pop up. In the case discussed below, it was clear the trial judge did not like the principal of the corporate defendant, who held the principal personally liable for […]
Category Archives: Complex Corporate Commercial Litigation
Considerations Regarding Partial Summary Judgments
Introduction Rule 20.01 of the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure sets out the procedure to follow when any party feels they have a good case for summary judgment. The Rule contemplates such motions being brought to resolve all, or only one part, of the claim or defence. The question that arises is when is the […]
The Importance of Putting Your Best Foot Forward
Introduction It sounds like trite advice to hear that a party must put their best foot forward on a motion for summary judgment. It is hard to believe this warning could ever be considered overused and consequently of little import, and therefore ignored. However, it continues to happen and most surprisingly by both plaintiffs and […]
Annulling An Assignment into Bankruptcy
Introduction: The life of a creditor in the commercial world is not always easy. Debtors will manufacture defences, avoid summary judgment etc. Debtors may sometimes turn to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) for relief. They make an assignment into bankruptcy to bring their financial problems to a resolution, usually in the hopes of paying […]
Incorrectly Named Defendants – Misdescription or Misnomer?
Introduction It is not uncommon for a plaintiff to be uncertain about a defendant’s correct legal name. Despite searches and inquiries, the ignorance may continue with the defendant being improperly named in the Statement of Claim. What happens then when the claim is served on the right person but has incorrectly spelled or identified the […]
Considerations When Deciding on Motions for Adjournment
Introduction: An adjournment is a postponement of a legal proceeding. The request is made by one of the parties to the litigation. The request can be met with agreement or opposition. Even with consent, an adjournment is not made as of right and must be judicially sanctioned. In order for a court to allow an […]
Piercing the Corporate Veil: A Case Study
Introduction: We have previously written about the circumstances under which our courts will pierce the corporate veil. The issue is always a tempting one. Stepping over the line, however, is not terribly easy. The temptation of collecting multiple millions for deserving plaintiffs is strong, as seen below, but carries with it considerable risk. In this […]
Do Courts Have the Discretion to Override Arbitration Clauses?
Contracting parties normally have their remedy for breaches through the court process. However, they may agree in advance to have any differences that arise resolved through mandatory and binding arbitration. Section 7(1) of the Ontario Arbitration Act (the “Act“) allows a party of such an agreement, if the other commences a lawsuit, to apply to […]
A Saga of Debt Avoidance
Both the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (“ONSC”) and the Court of Appeal for Ontario (“ONCA”) have each had a share of the ongoing debt collection saga between a judgement creditor and the debtor company in Lo Faso v. Ferracuti. The latest battle, discussed below, deals with the issue of whether, and when, amendments sought […]
Jurisdiction Matters
Introduction In April of 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed killing and injuring thousands of people there. Many of the victims were employed to make garments for Joe Fresh, a recognizable and popular brand of clothing for Loblaws, a Canadian business. A class proceeding was commenced in Ontario seeking to recover billions of […]