SCC rules Ontario court lacks jurisdiction over Ont. man’s tort claims against Italian defendants
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Suzanne Côté said for the majority that if the fact that the Ontario plaintiff made a reservation through his credit card was enough to establish a connection with Ontario, ‘it would follow that any travel reservation made using a credit card travel service would provide a sufficient basis for Ontario to assume jurisdiction over foreign disputes based on torts.’
Thursday, July 31, 2025 @ 6:42 PM
In an important private international law judgment on the jurisdiction of Canadian courts over tort claims involving foreign defendants, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled 5-4 that an Ontario court does not have jurisdiction to determine tort claims launched against three Italian companies by an Ontario resident injured on a holiday in Venice.
On July 31, 2025, Justice Suzanne Côté, writing for the top court’s majority, dismissed the appeal of injured plaintiff Duncan Sinclair and his spouse, Michelle Sinclair, from a 2023 Ontario Court of Appeal decision that stayed the plaintiffs’ Ontario Superior Court damages claims, for lack of jurisdiction: Sinclair v. Venezia Turismo, 2025 SCC 27. ... [read more]
Court denies production of children’s aid society files ahead of class action certification
Thursday, July 31, 2025 @ 4:39 PM
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has denied a request for document production of files from children’s aid societies in a putative class action alleging that the defendants breached the standard of care owed to children in their care. ... [read more]
Court enforces contracts despite claims of non-reading, awards $405K in sale-proceeds dispute
Thursday, July 31, 2025 @ 3:42 PM
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has reinforced the importance of contract enforceability and limitation periods in a dispute involving the $20.75-million, 2012 sale of a Toronto commercial cleaning and food services company, awarding $405,199 to the plaintiff while rejecting claims that shareholder agreements were invalid due to a lack of understanding. ... [read more]
Toronto renoviction bylaw ‘very close to being unconstitutional,’ lawyer says
Thursday, July 31, 2025 @ 3:02 PM
Landlords in Toronto now require a licence before starting repairs or renovations that require a tenant to move out, but a lawyer is saying it may not be constitutionally compliant due to it conflicting with provincial legislation. ... [read more]
Court of Appeal affirms secondary picketing part of labour dispute, to hear CUPW injunction appeal
Wednesday, July 30, 2025 @ 5:17 PM
The Ontario Court of Appeal has held that secondary picketing is a labour dispute activity under the Courts of Justice Act (CJA) and has agreed to hear an appeal from orders restricting the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) from picketing Purolator facilities in their dispute with Canada Post. ... [read more]
