How do you go about serving extrajudicial documents on parties outside of Ontario? Are courts strict in their enforcing the rules governing service? Let’s start the conversation by saying that service of legal documents on parties outside Ontario is a laborious, arduous and involved task.
What test does the court apply when deciding if a person is under a disability that requires a litigation guardian? This question was addressed in 626381 Ontario Ltd. v. Kagan, Shastri, Barristers & Solicitors[“Kagan”]. Its importance stems from the fact that the definition of capacity is often situation and statute specific. It’s also important because it reminds us that the rationale and threshold for compelling someone to undergo a medical examination in the context of a substitute decisions matter is very different than in the context of a Rule 7 motion. Let’s start our discussion with the facts of the case.
What if the person you are suing dies before the lawsuit has been completed? The answer starts with Rules 11 and 9.01. We will be dealing with Rule 11 later in our series. For the purposes of this blog, it suffices to say that Rule 11 deals with the transfer of interest or liability to another party by virtue of assignment, bankruptcy, death or other means. When a party to a lawsuit dies, the proceeding is stayed. At that point, any interested person may file the material necessary for the registrar to issue an order to continue – reigniting the lawsuit.
Rule 7 of the Rules of Civil Procedure – R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194 was designed to protect vulnerable incapable persons involved in litigation. Under that rule, when a party is under a disability and thereby incapable of advocating for him/herself, someone shall step into the incapable person’s shoes and become their litigation guardian to make decisions on their behalf.
There is an interesting interplay between Rule 7.02(2) of the Rules of Civil Procedure and the Limitations Act, 2002. Historically, the legislature and courts suspended limitation periods for a plaintiff who was a minor until that minor reached the age of majority. But, section 9 of the Limitations Act 2002 allows a defendant to bring a motion to appoint a litigation guardian to represent a minor plaintiff and thereby trigger the start of the limitation period. The case of Siddiqui v. Saint Francis Xavier High School [Siddiqui] demonstrates how this situation can play out.
Rule 7.02(1.1)(b) of the RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE – R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 194 provides that unless a court orders otherwise an attorney for property shall act as litigation guardian for a person under disability. This is understood to be a presumptive, but not conclusive, entitlement. Our review of Berkelhammer v. Berkelhammer Estate focuses on what, in this case, the court considered in exercising its discretion to remove the attorney for property in favour of the Public Guardian and Trustee.
Does the law permit someone who is incapable to hire a lawyer and sue another person? It sounds like a question that should have a simple answer. But then what fun would it be to write a blog about it?
How do courts deal with the sometimes mutually exclusive goals of protecting the vulnerable and safeguarding the integrity of the justice system for all participants? Our conversation starts with Rule 7.
A civil action can be ended by the plaintiff by filing a notice of discontinuance. An applicant can end an application by filing a notice of abandonment. The steps can be taken by a plaintiff or applicant at any time. However, anyone who has been served with the claim or application, and who has responded to it, can ask the court to award them costs as compensation for the costs they incurred in responding to the proceeding.
The circumstances surrounding the tragic deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman remain a mystery; so too, do the heirs to their fortunes. This is because the estate trustees of Barry and Honey’s estates successfully applied to have their probate applications sealed, thus preventing the public from viewing their wills. In 2018, a reporter for the Toronto Star, Kevin Donovan, challenged the validity of the sealing order.