By Ethan Schiff and Pavan Pasha ( April 22, 2026, 10:39 AM EDT) -- Ontario appellate courts continue to hold that civil conspiracy claims cannot be used to circumvent corporate separateness. In Cervantes v. Pizza Nova Take Out Ltd., 2026 ONSC 713 (Cervantes), the Ontario Divisional Court reaffirmed that an agreement is the core element of a civil conspiracy claim. While a formal agreement need not be pleaded, material facts of mere compliance with a franchisor’s requirements are insufficient to establish a common design....