Canadian Appeals Monitor Information and Commentary on Upcoming and Recent Appeal Court Decisions

Monthly Archives: October 2012

Do Equitable Ends Justify Expanding “Unlawful Means”? The Supreme Court of Canada Grants Leave in A.I. Enterprises Ltd. v. Bram Enterprises Ltd.

By Ronald Podolny on Posted in Case Comments, Class Actions, Competition, Contracts, Insurance, Procedure, Torts

Introduction The Supreme Court has granted to leave to appeal in a case that has the potential to elucidate an area of tort law where confusion has reigned for far too long. In the words of the House of Lords, “the law in this area is a mess.” The subject that has engendered this confusion is the… → Read More

A Doctrine of Mitigation in the Supreme Court of Canada: A Triumph of Theory Over Commercial Reality

By Geoff R. Hall on Posted in Case Comments, Contracts

A troubling decision It is troubling when contract law fails to accord with commercial reality. It is troubling when a commercial case ignores the underlying economic context. In Southcott Estates Inc. v. Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Supreme Court of Canada applied theoretically pure models of contract and corporate law to conclude that the… → Read More

SCC to Hear Appeal in Castonguay Blasting

By Brandon Kain on Posted in Case Previews, Criminal, Environmental, Regulatory

The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to appeal in a case that could significantly expand the jurisdiction of environmental regulators, and increase the costs of compliance for the private sector. Castonguay Blasting will require the Court to determine whether the discharge of contaminants into the natural environment must be reported even if it does… → Read More

What’s in a Name? Ontario Pharmacies Fight to Substitute Brand-Name Drugs with Private-Label Equivalents

By Larissa Moscu on Posted in Administrative, Case Previews

The Supreme Court of Canada has granted leave to appeal in a case that pits retail pharmacy chains in Ontario against the provincial government in a battle over generic drug reform. At the heart of this appeal is whether Ontario can lawfully prohibit pharmacies from selling private–label generic drugs by regulation, rather than by statute…. → Read More

The Penalty Doctrine: Focus on Substance Not Form Says The High Court of Australia

By Carole Piovesan on Posted in Case Comments, Class Actions, Contracts, Corporate Law, Financial Services

When is a contractual term a penalty? Traditionally, a penalty has been characterized as a provision that results in unconscionable and disproportionate compensation for breach of contract. The recent decision of Australia’s High Court in Andrews v. Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (“Andrews”) has widened the scope of the common law penalty doctrine… → Read More