Court Of Appeal Summaries (January 24-28, 2022)

Published date01 February 2022
Subject MatterInsurance, Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Insurance Laws and Products, Trials & Appeals & Compensation
Law FirmBlaney McMurtry LLP
AuthorMr John Polyzogopoulos

Good evening.

Following are summaries of the civil decisions of the Ontario Court of Appeal for the week of January 24-28, 2022. There were 15 substantive civil decisions released this week.

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In the 85-page decision of Ontario (Attorney General) v. Ontario (Information and Privacy Commissioner), the majority of the Court determined the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario was correct in ordering the disclosure to CBC of letters sent by the Premier to cabinet ministers, as the letters did not fall under the exemption found at s. 12(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Lauwers J.A. penned a substantial dissent in which he concluded the letters were exempted from disclosure under s. 12(1).

In Levant v. Demelle, the Court dismissed two appeals arising from two separate successful Anti-SLAPP motions against the online media outlet, Rebel News. The Court also allowed the two cross-appeals on costs, increasing the scale of costs awarded from partial indemnity to the presumptive full indemnity provided by s. 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act.

In Laurentide Kitchens Inc. v. Homestars Inc., the Court held that the Administrative Judge of the Small Claims Court does not have jurisdiction to make an order under s. 137.1 of the Courts of Justice Act on the basis that the Administrative Judge lacks statutory authority - only Superior Court judges possess jurisdiction, and the s. 137.1 process is not consistent with the rules and procedures of Small Claims Court.

Other topics included liability under personal guarantees, an insurer's duty to defend a copyright infringement claim in the software/gaming industry, fraudulent conveyances, summary judgment, the duty to immediately disclose to the court and non-settling defendants a settlement agreement with a defendant (failing which a claim will be dismissed), a motion to amend a notice of appeal, loan defaults, breach of contract and extension of time to appeal.

Wishing everyone an enjoyable weekend.

John Polyzogopoulos
Blaney McMurtry LLP
416.593.2953 Email

Table of Contents

Civil Decisions

Laurentide Kitchens Inc. v. Homestars Inc., 2022 ONCA 59

Keywords: Torts, Defamation, Civil Procedure, Anti-SLAPP, Jurisdiction, Small Claims Court, Administrative Judges, Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, ss 22(3), 24, 42(2), 87.2, 137.1, and 327.1, Burden Reduction Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 2, Rules of the Small Claims Court, Rule 1.03(1), Bruyea v. Canada (Veteran Affairs), 2019 ONCA 599, 439 D.L.R. (4th) 193, 1704604 Ontario Ltd. v. Pointes Protection Association, 2020 SCC 22, 449 D.L.R. (4th) 1, Nanda v. McEwan, 2020 ONCA 431, Ontario College of Teachers v. Bouragba, 2021 ONCA 508

Bouji v. Poonai , 2022 ONCA 49

Keywords: Contracts, Debtor-Creditor, Promissory Note, Evidence, Credibility Findings, R. v. R.E.M., 2008 SCC 51

K.K. v. M.M., 2022 ONCA 72

Keywords: Family Law, Custody and Access, Best Interest of the Child, Evidence, Admissibility, Witnesses, Expert Reports, Divorce Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. 3 (2nd Supp.), Children's Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C. 12, Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991, S.O. 1991, c. 18, Welton v. United Lands Corporation Limited, 2020 ONCA 322, R.F. v. J.W., 2021 ONCA 528, N. v. F., 2021 ONCA 614, 62 R.F.L. (8th) 7, leave to appeal granted, [2021] S.C.C.A. No. 364, R. v. Sheppard, 2002 SCC 26, [2002] 1 S.C.R. 869, A.M. v. C.H., 2019 ONCA 764, Van de Perre v. Edwards, 2001 SCC 60, Rizzo & Rizzo Shoes Ltd. (Re), [1998] 1 S.C.R. 27, Bell ExpressVu Limited Partnership v. Rex, 2002 SCC 42, F. (M.) v. Sutherland (2000), 188 D.L.R. (4th) 296 (Ont. C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. refused, [2000] S.C.C.A. No. 531, Pouget v. Saint Elizabeth Health Care, 2012 ONCA 461, Ontario v. Lipsitz, 2011 ONCA 466, leave to appeal refused, [2011] S.C.C.A. No. 407, Armitage v. Brantford General Hospital (2004), 71 O.R. (3d) 44 (S.C.), Therrien (Re), 2001 SCC 35, ShaverKudell Manufacturing Inc. v. Knight Manufacturing Inc., 2021 ONCA 925

Flight (Re), 2022 ONCA 77

Keywords: Bankruptcy and Insolvency, Civil Procedure, Appeals, Amending Notices of Appeal, Leave to Appeal, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. B‑3, ss. 193(b), 193(c), 193(e), 215, Rules of Civil Procedure, r. 39.01(4), Yar. v. Yar (2012), 24 R.F.L. (7th) 101, Business Development Bank of Canada v. Pine Tree Resorts Inc., 2013 ONCA 282

Ghasempoor v. ICapital Financial Services Corp., 2022 ONCA 60

Keywords: Contracts, Debtor-Creditor, Civil Procedure, Procedural and Natural Justice, Orders, Summary Judgment, Setting Aside, Fresh Evidence, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 59.06(2)

Homes of Distinction (2002) Inc. v. Adili , 2022 ONCA 64

Keywords: Breach of Contract, Construction, Expert Evidence, Housen v. Nikolaisen, 2002 SCC 33

Intercap Equity Inc. v. Bellman , 2022 ONCA 61

Keywords: Contracts, Interpretation, Debtor-Creditor, Guarantees, Sattva Capital Corp. v. Creston Moly Corp., 2014 SCC 53, King v. Operating Engineers Training Institute of Manitoba Inc., 2011 MBCA 80, Heritage Capital Corp. v. Equitable Trust Co., 2016 SCC 19, Royal Bank of Canada v Samson Management & Solutions Ltd., 2013 ONCA 313, Royal Bank v. Poisson (1977), 26 O.R. (2d) 717 (H.C.), Granata Family Trust (Trustee of) v. Royal Bank, [2000] O.J. No. 4239 (Ont. S.C.), Mantini v. Smith Lyons LLP (2003), 64 O.R. (3d) 505 (C.A.), Lawrence v. Toronto Humane Society (2006), 271 D.L.R. (4th) 329 (Ont. C.A.), Kitchener-Waterloo Real Estate Board Inc. v. Ontario Regional Assessment Commissioner, Region No. 21 (1986), 56 O.R. (2d) 94 (H.C.), Dhawan v. Shails et al., 2018 ONSC 7116 (Div. Ct.), Kevin McGuinness, The Law of Guarantee, 3rd ed. (Markham, Ontario: LexisNexis Canada Inc., 2013)

Tall Truck Centre Limited v. K.S.P. Holdings Inc., 2022 ONCA 66

Keywords: Contracts, Real Property, Rights of First Refusal, Civil Procedure, Settlements, Disclosure, Stay of Proceedings, Handley Estate v. DTE Industries Limited, 2018 ONCA 324, Aecon Buildings v. Stephenson Engineering Limited, 2010 ONCA 898, Laudon v. Roberts, 2009 ONCA 383

IT Haven Inc. v. Certain Underwriters at Lloyd's, London , 2022 ONCA 71

Keywords: Contracts, Insurance, Interpretation, Coverage, Duty to Defend, Rescission, Misrepresentation, Extrinsic Evidence, Progressive Homes Ltd. v. Lombard General Insurance Co. of Canada, 2010 SCC 33, Monenco Ltd. v. Commonwealth Insurance Co., 2001 SCC 49, Nichols v. American Home Assurance Co., [1990] 1 S.C.R. 801, Panasonic Eco Solutions Canada Inc. v. XL Specialty Insurance Company, 2021 ONCA 612, Non-Marine Underwriters, Lloyd's of London v. Scalera, [2000] 1 S.C.R. 551, Trafalgar Insurance Co. of Canada v. Imperial Oil Ltd. (2001), 57 O.R. (3d) 425 (C.A.), 1540039 Ontario Limited v. Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company (Lindsay), 2012 ONCA 210, Family and Children's Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville v. Co-operators General Insurance Company, 2021 ONCA 159, McLean (Litigation Guardian of) v. Jorgenson (2005), 78 O.R. (3d) 308 (C.A.), Halifax Insurance Co. of Canada v. Innopex Ltd. (2004), 72 O.R. (3d) 522, Longo v. Maciorowski (2000), 50 O.R. (3d) 595 (C.A.), Drane v. Optimum Frontier Insurance Co., 2004 NBCA 52, 272 N.B.R. (2d) 241, Gordon G. Hilliker, Liability Insurance Law in Canada, 7th ed. (Toronto: LexisNexis Canada, 2020), Mark G. Lichty & Marcus B. Snowden, Annotated Commercial General Liability Policy, loose-leaf (2021-Rel. 2) (Toronto: Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd., 2021), Craig Brown et al., Insurance Law in Canada, loose-leaf (2021-Rel. 8) (Toronto: Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd., 2021), Craig Brown & Julio Menezes, Insurance Law in Canada: A Treatise on the Principles of Indemnity Insurance as Applied in the Common Law Provinces of Canada, 2nd ed. (Toronto: Carswell, 1991)

Midland Resources Holding Limited v. Bokserman , 2022 ONCA 73

Keywords: Civil Procedure, Debtor-Creditor, Orders, Enforcement, Fraudulent Conveyances, Summary Judgment, Fresh Evidence, Substantial Indemnity Costs, Fraudulent Conveyances Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.29, s. 2, Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 24, Sch. B, s. 4, Real Property Limitations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L.15, s. 4,Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 137, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 4.03 and 20.04, Purcaru v. Seliverstova, 2016 ONCA 610, Outfront Media Canada LP v. Clarity Outdoor Media Inc., 2017 ONSC 2136, Anisman v. Drabinsky, 2020 ONSC 1197, aff'd 2021 ONCA 120, Grant Thornton v. New Brunswick, 2021 SCC 3, McNaughton Automotive Ltd. v. Co-operators General Insurance Co., 2008 ONCA 597

Dagenais v. Pellerin , 2022 ONCA 76

Keywords: Employment Law, Torts, MVA, Vicarious Liability, Respondeat Superior, Battistoni v. Thomas, [1932] S.C.R. 144, Smith v. Stages and another, [1989] 1 All E.R. 833 (H.L.), Bazley v. Curry, [1999] 2 S.C.R. 534, Sickel Estate v. Gordy, 2008 SKCA 100

Levant v. DeMelle , 2022 ONCA 79

Keywords: Torts, Defamation, Civil Procedure, Anti-SLAPP, Costs, Courts of Justice Act, ss. 131 and 137.1, Rules of Civil Procedure, Rules 1.03, 57.01 and 57.01(3), Bent v. Platnick, 2020 SCC 23, Grant v. Torstar Corp., 2009 SCC 61, 704604 Ontario Ltd. v. Pointes Protection Association, 2020 SCC 22, Barrick Gold Corp. v. Lopehandia (2004), 71 O.R. (3d) 416 (C.A.), Montour v. Beacon Publishing Inc., 2019 ONCA 246, Levant v. Day, 2019 ONCA 244, Lascaris v. B'nai Brith Canada, 2019 ONCA 163, WIC Radio Ltd. v. Simpson, 2008 SCC 40, Ross v. New Brunswick Teachers' Assn., 2001 NBCA 62, Blair v. Ford, 2021 ONCA 841, Lachaux v. Independent Print Ltd., [2017] EWCA Civ. 1334, Brad-Jay Investments Ltd. v. Szijjarto (2006), 218 O.A.C. 315, Platnick v. Bent, 2018 ONCA 687, Carter-Ruck on Libel and Slander, 5th ed. (London: Butterworths, 1997), The Law of Defamation in Canada (Scarborough: Carswell, 1994) (loose-leaf updated 2007, release 4), Brown on Defamation: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, United States (Toronto: Carswell, 1994) (loose-leaf updated 2020, release 5)

Oxygen Working Capital Corp. v. Mouzakitis...

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