Overview of the course:

This course considers foundational issues in the law of trusts such as the nature of a trust; formal requirements of trusts; constitution of trusts; secret trusts; trusts, powers and purposes; certainties; property-holding by unincorporated associations; charitable trusts and cy-près; resulting trusts; some aspects of trustees’ powers and duties; variation of trusts; the principles of constructive trusts; remedies, including some aspects of tracing; the intersection of trusts doctrine and the law of unjust enrichment. The course does not extend to tax treatment of trusts.

Assessment: 100% Open-book  Final Examination.

Casebook: Oosterhoff on Trusts: Text, Commentary and Materials, 9th edition (2019)

Classes:   Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30-10:00am,  Room 201


TOPICS, LECTURE SCHEDULE, & READING LIST

Page numbers refer to Oosterhoff on Trusts, 9th Edition

Please note: The schedule of readings will probably change for two factors: the natural speed at which we go through the materials, and, the use of some classes to tackle problem questions. It may also be some classes may be cancelled for health or other reasons.


September 5, 2023

Overview. No reading.

[you may wish to read the following as background after class:

Historical background: 3-13

Definitions: 17-22

Classification of Trusts:  22-28]


September 7, 2023

I.  INTRODUCTION AND THE TRUST AS AN INSTITUTION

The Fiduciary Principle: 128-134

Galambos v Perez, 2009 SCC 48

Alberta v Elder Advocates of Alberta Society, 2011 SCC  24

Lectures Notes (1) – The Fiduciary Principle


September 12, 2023

Trust and Agency: 73-77

Trust and Contract: 77-83

Trust and Debt: 83-89

Trust and Bailment: 91-93

Estate Trusts: 94-99

Trusts and Gifts: 103-107

Lectures Notes (2) – Trust and Other Characterizations


September 14, 2023

II.  POWERS OF APPOINTMENT

Powers: 145-156


September 21, 2023

III.  FORMALITIES OF EXPRESS AND SECRET  TRUSTS

Formalities: 277-286

Secret Trusts: 830-848

Lectures Notes (3) – Powers; Formalities

IV.   ‘THE THREE CERTAINTIES’

Introduction: 175-178

Certainty of Intention: 178-185

Lectures Notes (4) – The Three Certainities (I)


September 26, 2023

Certainty of Subject-Matter: 185-202

Certainty of Objects: 158-169, 202-227

Constitution: 229-236, 238-266


September 28, 2023

V.  THE BENEFICIARY PRINCIPLE AND PURPOSE TRUSTS; GIFTS TO UNINCORPORATED ASSOCIATIONS

Trusts for Persons: 533-536

Angus v The Corporation of the Municipality of Port Hope, 2016 ONSC 4343 (Ont. S.C.J.)

Gifts To  Unincorporated Associations: 536-548

Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church of Canada St. Mary Cathedral v. Aga, 2021 SCC 22


October 3, 2023

VI.  VARIATION OF TRUSTS

Variation of Trusts: 328-361


October 5, 2023

VII.  CHARITABLE TRUSTS

The Advantages of Charity: 366-372

Meaning  of ‘Charity’:  372-383 Public Benefit: 383-392

The Heads of Charity: 393-440


October 10, 2023

Public Appeals: 530-532

Cy-Pres: 451-484


October 12, 2023

VIII.  RESULTING TRUSTS; QUISTCLOSE  TRUSTS

The Resulting Trust:  553-561

Failure of the Express Trust:  562-589

Apparent Gifts: 589-666

Kent v. Kent, 2020 ONCA 390  (Ont. C.A.)


October 17, 2023

Quistclose Trusts: 521-528


October 19-24, 2023

IX.  TRUSTEESHIP AND THE ADMINISTRATION OF  TRUSTS

Trustee Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. T.23 (Really. Please read the statute.)

The Nature of the Court’s Jurisdiction: Carroll v. Toronto-Dominion Bank, 2021 ONCA 38 (Ont. C.A.)

Appointment: 874-885

Retirement: 885-890

Removal / Passing Over: 890-900

Gonder v. Gonder Estate, 2010 ONCA 172

Powers/Duties of the Trustee: 901-943

Walters v. Walters, 2022 ONCA 38 (Ont. C.A.)


October 26, 2023

X.  INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTIVE TRUSTS GENERALLY AND UNJUST ENRICHMENT

Introduction and History: 674-700

Nature of the Constructive Trust:  700-704

Constructive Trusts and the Evolving Jurisdiction in Unjust Enrichment: 705-721

Garland v. Consumers’ Gas Co., 2004 SCC  25

Kerr v. Baranow, 2011 SCC 10

Moore v. Sweet, 2018 SCC 52


October 26, 2023

XI.  CONSTRUCTIVE TRUST AND EQUITABLE WRONGS

Breach of Confidence: 729-781


November 2, 2023

Breach of Fiduciary Duty: 752-802


November 7 and 9, 2023

No classes.


November 14, 2023

XII.  TRUSTEE LIABILITY, CONSTRUCTIVE TRUSTS, AND REMEDIES FOR WRONGDOING

Liability and Remedies: 1003-1048


November 16, 2023

XII.  TRUSTEE LIABILITY, CONSTRUCTIVE TRUSTS, AND REMEDIES FOR WRONGDOING

Liability and Remedies: 1003-1048


November 21, 2023

Defences: 1048-1075

Exculpation:  1076-1087

Third Parties: 1097-1153