Civil Procedure (Law 225) is designed to teach students how to work with the statutory rules and regulations that govern civil litigation in Ontario Superior Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal for Ontario. This is an intensely practical course. Aside from various rules, we will consider common law and equitable doctrines that become relevant in the context of procedural law. By the end of the course, it is expected that students will be able to have sufficient knowledge to structure litigation including interlocutory procedures, advise clients on process and risk, understand the financial consequences of litigation for winners and losers alike, and have the ability to draft some fundamentally important documents.
Classes: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00-11:30 a.m. (Law School Room 001)
Assessment: 100% Final Open-Book Examination
Course Materials: Please note that there is no casebook to purchase. The assigned readings are available to you online (through CanLII, Westlaw, or Quicklaw).
You should download the following:
The Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure
Consolidated Provincial Practice Direction for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Consolidated Divisional Court Practice Direction
Law Society of Ontario, Rules of Professional Conduct
We will refer to these materials often and you will need to have a copy for reference on the exam. If you wish, there are commercially published collections of annotated statutory materials available through the usual legal publishing houses (not recommended).
If you wish to purchase a textbook for reference, I recommend Morden & Perrell, The Law of Civil Procedure in Ontario, 4th Ed. (LexisNexis, 2020). It is a very nice text and is available in a student edition. There are also various reference works available in the library and through Westlaw and LexisNexis.
TOPICS & READINGS
Please note: the reading list may be revised during the term to reflect recent developments.
There is an online reference work, Civil Procedure and Practice in Ontario, 2nd Edition (CanLII). I’ve included the relevant chapters (and sometimes other materials) in the reading list as background reading to be skimmed or read in greater detail as is your preference.
January 12, 2023
Introduction to the Course. No Reading.
January 17, 2023
I. INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBJECT
Heather Hui-Litwin, General Matters, Rule 1 – Citation, Application, Interpretation, 2021 CanLIIDocs 1983
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(a) ‘Adversarial Justice’ and ‘Access to Justice’
Christie v. British Columbia (Attorney General), 2007 SCC 21 (S.C.C.)
Van Delst v. Hronowsky, 2022 ONCA 881 (Ont. C.A.)
(b) What are these Rules I keep Hearing About???
“Rule”, “Rules”, and “subrule” refers to the Ontario Rules of Civil Procedure, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194 under the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43.
Rules 1-2
(c) Professionalism
Law Society of Upper Canada, Rules of Professional Conduct
Standard Life Assurance Co. v Elliott, 2007 CanLII 18579 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Best v. Ranking, 2016 ONCA 492 (Ont. C.A.)
Lecture Notes (1) – Introduction
January 19, 2023
(d) The Filter – Introduction to the ‘Costs Rules’
Courts of Justice Act, Section 131
Barlow v Citadel General Assurance Co., 2008 CanLII 3215 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Davies v. Clarington (Municipality), 2009 ONCA 722 (Ont. C.A.)
Lecture Notes (2) – Introduction cont’d (costs)
II. JURISDICTION: Jurisidiction Simpliciter & Forum Non Conveniens
Angela Swan, “Freedom from the Conflict of Laws Is in Your Grasp” (2020), 51 Advoc. Q. 21
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Courts of Justice Act, Section 11(2)
Club Resorts Ltd. v. Van Breda, 2012 SCC 17 (S.C.C.)
Vale Canada Limited v. Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada, 2022 ONCA 862 (Ont. C.A.)
Lecture Notes (3) – Jurisdiction
January 26, 2023
III. PARTIES
Background / Reference Reading:
Angelique Moss, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Parties and Joinder, Rule 7 – Parties Under Disability
Thomas Slade, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Parties and Joinder, Rule 13 – Intervention
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Gronnerud (Litigation Guardians of) v. Gronnerud Estate, 2002 SCC 38 (S.C.C.)
Lochner v Callanan, 2016 ONSC 1705 (Ont. S.C.J.) [If you’re interested, the saga is recounted in Lochner v. Ontario Civilian Police Commission, 2020 ONCA 720 (Ont. C.A.)]
Halpern v. Toronto (City) Clerk, 2000 CanLII 29029 (Ont. Div. Ct.)
Hollinger Inc. v. Ravelston Corp., 2008 ONCA 207 (Ont. C.A.)
Gligorevic v. McMaster, 2010 ONSC 3842 (Ont. S.C.J.)
January 31, 2023
IV. RES JUDICATA, ESTOPPEL, AND ABUSE OF PROCESS
Paul M. Perell, “Res Judicata and Abuse of Process” (2001), 24 Advocates’ Quarterly 189.
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Toronto (City) v. C.U.P.E., Local 79, 2003 SCC 63 (S.C.C.)
Danyluk v. Ainsworth Technologies Inc., 2001 SCC 44 (S.C.C.)
Penner v. Niagara (Regional Police Services Board), 2013 SCC 19 (S.C.C.)
Lecture Notes (5) – Estoppel and Res Judicata
Feb. 7, 2023
V. LIMITATIONS
Christina Poretta and Rahim Punjani, The Clock Strikes- A Review of the Limitations Act, 2002, a Decade Later (2015), 44 Advocates’ Quarterly 346
Katherine T Di Tomaso, Limitations Act Chapters, 1. Definitions/Basic Limitation Period, Sections 1 – 5 AND Ultimate Limitation Periods/No Limitation Periods/General Rules/Transition, Sections 15 – 24
Debbie Boswell, Yola S Ventresca, Limitations Act Chapters, 2. Incapable Persons/Appointment of Litigation Guardian, Sections 6 – 9
Debbie Boswell, Yola S Ventresca, Limitations Act Chapters, 3. Attempted Resolutions, Successors, Acknowledgments, and Notices of Possible Claim, Sections 11 – 14
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Limitations Act, 2002, S.O. 2002, c. 24
M.(K.) v. M.(H.), [1992] 3 SCR 6
McConnell v. Huxtable, 2014 ONCA 86
Collins v. Cortez, 2014 ONCA 685
Brown v. Baum, 2016 ONCA 325
Independence Plaza 1 Associates, L.L.C. v. Figliolini, 2017 ONCA 44 (Ont. C.A.)
Lecture Notes (6) – Limitations
Feb. 9, 2022
VI. PLEADINGS
Background / Reference Reading:
Andrew Monkhouse, Lexa Cutler, Enbal Singer, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Pleadings, Rule 25 – Pleadings in Action, 2nd ed, 2022 CanLIIDocs 1008
Marcela Aroca, Stephen Yoker, Sid Brejak, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Motions and Applications, Rule 38 – Applications – Jurisdiction and Procedure
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Examples of Pleadings:
(a) Terminology
See Rules 25-29
Proceeding
Originating Process
Action
Application
Claim
Counterclaim
Crossclaim
Third Party Claim
Defence
Reply
Issued
Served
Filed
Deliver
February 14, 2023
(b) Rule 25 Concepts: Material Facts and Particulars
Rule 25
Copland v. Commodore Business Machines Ltd., 1985 CanLII 2190 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Mudrick v. Mississauga Oakville Veterinary Emergency Professional Corp., 2008 CanLII 58422 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Whiten v. Pilot Insurance Co., 2002 SCC 18
(c) Substantive Inadequacy: Motion to Strike the Pleadings
Hunt v. Carey Canada Inc., [1990] 2 SCR 959
Holland v. Saskatchewan (Minister of Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization), 2008 SCC 42
(d) Amending the Pleadings
Rule 26
Miguna v. Ontario (Attorney General), 2005 CanLII 46385 (Ont. C.A.)
Stekel v. Toyota Canada Inc., 2011 ONSC 6507
(e) Service
Rules 16-18.
(f) Computation of Time
Rule 3
Feb. 16, 2023
VII. DISCOVERY
Atrisha Lewis, Meghan Bridges, Sarah Murphy, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 29.1 – Discovery Plan
Cynthia Kuehl, Chris Dias, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 29.2 – Proportionality in Discovery
Joshua JA Henderson, Akari Sano, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 30.01-30.03 – Discovery of Documents
Vinidhra Vaitheeswaran, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 30.1 – Deemed Undertaking
Neil Wilson, Madison Santos, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 31 – Examination for Discovery
Vipal Jain, John Buhlman, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 32 – Inspection of Property
Selwyn A Pieters, Thoby King, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Discovery, Rule 33 – Medical Examination of Parties
Brian Sunohara et al, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Examination out of Court, Rule 34 – Procedure on Oral Examinations
Sapna Thakker, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Examination out of Court, Rule 35 – Procedure on Examination for Discovery by Written Questions
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Reading Week
Feb. 28, 2023
(a) Privilege
Rules 29.1-35
Airst v. Airst, 1998 CanLII 14647 (Ont. Sup. Ct.)
General Accident Assurance v. Chrusz, 1999 CanLII 7320
Pritchard v. Ontario (Human Rights Commission), 2004 SCC 31
Blank v. Canada (Minister of Justice), 2006 SCC 39
Kitchenham v. AXA Ins. Canada, 2008 ONCA 877
White v. 123627 Canada Inc., 2014 ONSC 2682
March 2, 2023
(c) Examination for Discovery
Ontario v. Rothmans Inc., 2011 ONSC 2504
Noble v. York University Foundation, 2010 ONSC 399
Ornstein (Litigation Guardian of) v. Starr, 2011 ONSC 4220
Lecture Notes (9) – Discovery (I)
March 7, 2023
(d) Documentary Discovery
Warman v. Wilkins-Fournier, 2011 ONSC 3023
Frangione v. Vandongen, 2010 ONSC 2823
(e) Discovery of Non-Parties
Ontario (Attorney General) v. Ballard Estate (1995), 26 O.R. (3d) 39; 1995 CanLII 3509 (Ont. C.A.)
Hopkins v. Robert Green Equipment Sales Ltd., 2018 ONSC 998
(f) Expert Evidence
Rules 4.1, 53.03
Bakalenikov v. Semkiw, 2010 ONSC 4928 (Ont. S.C.J., Master)
Singer v. LZW LLP, 2014 ONSC 4521 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Bruff-Murphy v. Gunawardena, 2017 ONCA 502
(g) Medical Examination
Courts of Justice Act, Section 105(2)
Lovegrove v Rosenthal (1997), 16 C.P.C. (4th) 160; [1997] O.J.No. 5408 (Ont. Gen. Div.)
Lecture Notes (10) – Discovery (II)
March 9, 2023
VIII. SIMPLE MOTIONS
Jonathan D Kulathungam, Theresa Cesareo, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Motions and Applications, Rule 37 – Motions – Jurisdiction and Procedure
Practice Directions re Toronto Region
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(a) Joinder and Consolidation
1014864 Ontario Ltd. v. 1721789 Ontario Inc., 2010 ONSC 3306
Tanner v. McIlveen Estate, 2012 ONSC 2983
Buhlman v. Peoples Ministries Inc., 2009 CanLII 26918 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Soilmec North America Inc. v. D’Elia, 2011 ONSC 5214
(b) Determining a Point of Law
Gowling Lafleur Henderson v. Springer, 2013 ONSC 923
(c) Dismissal for Delay
Prescott v. Barbon, 2018 ONCA 504 (Ont. C.A.)
Kamalie v. Khari, 2021 ONSC 7395 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Heslop v. Flynn, 2022 ONSC 3217
Lecture Notes (11) – Simple Motions
March 14, 2023
(d) Summary Judgment:
Honourable Coulter A. Osborne, Q.C., Summary of Finding and Recommendations of the Civil Justice Reform Project (November, 2007)
Robert A Centa, Tina H Lie, Sonia Patel, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Disposition without Trial, Rule 20 – Summary Judgment
Hryniak v. Mauldin, 2014 SCC 7
Maurice v. Alles, 2016 ONCA 287
Butera v. Chown, Cairns LLP, 2017 ONCA 783
Lecture Notes (12) – Summary Judgment
March 16, 2023
IX. EXTRA-ORDINARY MOTIONS
Background / Reference Reading:
Jeff Berryman, Kiri McDermott-Berryman, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Preservation of Rights in Pending Litigation, Rule 40 – Interlocutory Injunction or Mandatory Order
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Courts of Justice Act, ss. 96(1), 101
Rule 40
RJR-MacDonald Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 1994 CanLII 117 (S.C.C.)
(a) Anton Piller Order:
Celanese Canada Inc. v. Murray Demolition Corp., 2006 SCC 36 (S.C.C.)
Draft Order (Ont. S.C.J. Commercial List, Toronto)
(b) Norwich Order:
Isofoton S.A. v. Toronto Dominion Bank, 2007 CanLII 14626 (Ont. S.C.J.)
c) Mareva Injunction
Sibley & Associates LP v. Ross, 2011 ONSC 2951 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Shaw Communications Inc. v. Young, 2021 ONSC 7918 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Draft Order (Ont. S.C.J. Commercial List, Toronto)
Lecture Notes (13) – Extra-Ordinary Motions
March 21, 2023
X. COSTS
Robert J Drake, Robert D Malen, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Costs, Rule 57 – Costs of Proceedings
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(a) Costs, Rule 49 and non-Rule 49 Offers
Courts of Justice Act, Section 131
(b) Offer, Acceptance, Approval, Enforcement
Clark Agri Service Inc. v. 705680 Ontario Ltd., (1996), 2 C.P.C. (4th) 78 (Ont. Gen. Div.)
Centorame v. Centorame, 2012 ONSC 6405
Wu Estate v. Zurich Insurance Co., (2006), 268 D.L.R. (4th) 670; 2006 CanLII 16344 (Ont. C.A.)
(c) Champerty, Maintenance, and Mary Carter Agreements
Pettey v. Avis Car Inc. (1993), 13 O.R. (3d) 725; 1993 CanLII 8669
Poirier v. Logan, 2022 ONCA 350
Tallman Truck Centre Limited v. K.S.P. Holdings Inc., 2022 ONCA 66
Waxman v. Waxman, 2022 ONCA 311
Crestwood Preparatory College Inc. v. Smith, 2022 ONCA 743
Lecture Notes (14) – Settlement & Costs
March 23, 2023
XI. TRIAL AND APPEAL
Cynthia Kuehl, Christopher Dias, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Trials, Rule 52 – Trial Procedure
Paul-Erik Veel, Jessica Roher, Adil Abdulla, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Trials, Rule 53 – Evidence at Trial
The Advocates Society – Best Practices for Civil Trials – June 2015
Andrew C. Murray, “It’s the First Day of Trial: What do I Do?”
Paul Perrell, “An Evidence Cheat Sheet”
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(a) Juries & Jury Notices
Juries Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. J.3
Cowles v. Balac, 2006 CanLII 34916 (Ont. C.A.)
McLean v. Knox, 2013 ONCA 357 (Ont.C.A.)
(b) Mistrial:
Spittal v. Thomas, 2006 CanLII 12731 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Abdallah v. Snopek, 2008 CanLII 6983 (Ont. Div. Ct.)
Leader Media Productions Ltd. v. Sentinel Hill Alliance Atlantis, 2008 ONCA 463
(c) Use of Expert & Demonstrative Evidence:
Greer v. Kurtz, 2008 CanLII 37056 (Ont. S.C.J.)
Moore v. Getahun, 2015 ONCA 55
(d) Appellate Jurisdiction
Background / Reference Reading:
Brooke MacKenzie, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Appeals, Rule 61 – Appeals to an Appellate Court
Brooke MacKenzie, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Appeals, Rule 62 – Appeals from Interlocutory Orders and Other Appeals to a Judge
Shantona Chaudhury, Cristina Senese, Brodie Noga, Rules of Civil Procedure Chapters, Appeals, Rule 63 – Stay Pending Appeal
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Courts of Justice Act, ss.132-134
Capital Gains Income Streams Corp. v. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., 2007 ONCA 497
e) Standard of Review
Housen v. Nikolaisen, 2002 SCC 33
Lazare v. Harvey, 2008 ONCA 171
Gligorevic v. McMaster, 2012 ONCA 115