Civil Litigation
-
December 22, 2025
Court denies higher contingency fee in case tied to Indian Day Schools settlement
In a case relating to the Indian Day Schools class action settlement, the Federal Court of Appeal has denied a law firm’s appeal for a five per cent contingency fee, noting class counsel involved in proceedings had a lower rate.
-
December 22, 2025
Court allows $611,845 deposit forfeiture, rules extension did not waive timeliness clause
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench has permitted a vendor to retain a $611,845 deposit in a $7.6-million land sale after the buyer failed to close on time, finding that agreed extensions did not constitute a waiver of the contract’s “time is of the essence” clause.
-
December 22, 2025
Alberta court strikes down law society oath of allegiance over religious rights
Alberta’s top court has ruled that the provincial law society’s requirements to swear allegiance to the monarch violated a Sikh man’s religious rights under the Charter.
-
December 22, 2025
Class action certified against RBC over Ponzi-type scheme
The Alberta Court of King’s Bench has certified a class action against the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) in a case concerning a real estate investment Ponzi scheme.
-
December 22, 2025
Patients relevant in pharmaceutical product trademark decision: Federal Court of Appeal
In Novartis AG v. Biogen Inc., 2024 FC 52, the plaintiff successfully sued for infringement of its registered trademark and passing off for a pharmaceutical preparation for ophthalmology and pharmaceutical preparations for prevention and treatment of ocular disorders and diseases.
-
December 22, 2025
Quebec intends to bolster consumer protection over subscription renewals and ticket resales
The Quebec government, after adopting the first consumer right-to-repair law in Canada and introducing new rules on pricing and tip calculations, has now set its sights on cracking down on hidden subscription renewals and ticket scalping following the tabling of a bill that would yet again bolster key sections of the province’s Consumer Protection Act.
-
December 22, 2025
INTERPRETATION - General principles - Context - Surrounding circumstances
Appeal by Tichopad from chambers judge’s order and application to admit fresh evidence. Tichopad signed a standard form contract for the purchase of a motorcycle from a vehicle dealership operated by One West Auto Ltd.
-
December 19, 2025
Duty to consult may be triggered by unproven cross-border Indigenous claims: Federal Court
The Federal Court has found that Canada’s duty to consult under s. 35 of the Constitution Act may be triggered for an Indigenous group located outside Canada based on an unproven claim that the group are Aboriginal people of Canada.
-
December 19, 2025
Prime minister announces Quebec Court of Appeal judge to be next deputy attorney general of Canada
In an unusual and surprising move, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that a federal puisne judge, Justice Marie-Josée Hogue of the Quebec Court of Appeal, will become deputy minister of justice and deputy attorney general of Canada “early in the new year.”
-
December 19, 2025
Woods adds litigators Aliya Behar and Basma El Farouk
Woods LLP has added Aliya Behar and Basma El Farouk to its litigation team in Montreal following their call to the Quebec bar, the firm announced.