Civil Litigation
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March 06, 2026
Exclusion of refugee claimants from subsidized childcare violates women’s Charter s. 15 rights: SCC
In a Charter s. 15(1) equality rights milestone, the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that Quebec’s exclusion of refugee claimants from eligibility for subsidized childcare in the province unconstitutionally discriminates against women based on their sex.
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March 06, 2026
When does spousal support end?
As retirement approaches, one of the most common refrains from elderly clients to their family law lawyers is “when does spousal support end?”
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March 06, 2026
Ontario court OKs $3.6B payment to settle treaty violation
An Ontario judge has ruled that a payment of more than $3 billion to several First Nations for violations of a historic treaty “falls within the range of honourable results” for the Crown.
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March 06, 2026
Ottawa councillor’s trial highlights need for better judicial resource management
On March 5, Ottawa councillor Matthew Luloff was found guilty of impaired driving, a verdict that closes one chapter of public accountability while raising a broader question about how Ontario’s courts allocate their most finite resource: time.
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March 05, 2026
Competition Tribunal rejects Google’s charter challenge over ‘hypothetical’ $91B penalty
The Competition Tribunal has dismissed Google’s bid to halt proceedings against it over its alleged anticompetitive conduct in the online advertising technology sector in Canada, rejecting arguments that potential multibillion-dollar penalties under the Competition Act amount to a true penal consequence and therefore trigger Charter protections.
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March 05, 2026
Court rules contingency fee agreement did not cover appeal, orders law firm to return $1.7M
The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld an order requiring a law firm to return more than $1.7 million from a damages award to its former client, ruling that the firm’s contingency fee agreement did not entitle it to share in a $3.52-million award secured on appeal after the client retained new counsel.
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March 05, 2026
Class action certified for foreign workers alleging systemic denial of EI, ‘racist’ contract terms
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has certified a class action for certain temporary workers challenging their contract terms including residence requirements, termination provisions, enforced seasonality and denial of employment insurance (EI) benefits despite paying into it. They argued the terms stemmed from motives to disadvantage racialized workers.
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March 05, 2026
BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS - Compensation - Contingency agreements - Fair and reasonable
Appeal by appellants from motion judge’s decision that contingency fee agreement (CFA) was not fair. The respondent, Leduc, suffered a hypoxic ischemic brain injury during his birth and, a year later, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
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March 04, 2026
Failure of ongoing duties results in lawyer being removed
The removal of a party’s counsel of choice during litigation is a remedy granted only in exceptional circumstances. In some cases, an order removing counsel is issued because of a conflict of interest that has arisen with their own client or another party in the litigation, or because the lawyer or another member of their firm will be a material witness at trial.
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March 04, 2026
Lavery welcomes Catherine Couture
Lavery has added Catherine Couture as a lawyer in its civil and commercial litigation group in Montreal.