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In Class Actions

Canada: Mutual Fund Managers Liable For Failing To Prevent “Market Timing” Activity In Rare Class Action Common Issue Trial

by and 6 Mins Read

In a class action spanning nearly 20 years, Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice has found two mutual fund managers liable for negligence related to “market timing”. Justice Koehnen held in Fisher v. IG Investment that the mutual fund managers failed to take reasonable steps to prevent frequent, short-term trading in their funds that harmed long-term investors. The mutual fund managers did not, however, breach their fiduciary duties. This decision offers important takeaways concerning class proceedings,…

In Privacy

Ontario Court of Appeal halts “intrusion upon seclusion” claims against defendants whose databases are hacked by third-parties

by , and 3 Mins Read

Introduction On November 25, 2022 the Ontario Court of Appeal released three decisions clarifying the scope of the common law tort for invasion of privacy called “intrusion upon seclusion”. These cases are Owsianik v Equifax Canada Co., Obodo v Trans Union of Canada, Inc. and Winder v Marriott International, Inc. The issue before the Court was “whether a claim for intrusion upon seclusion can succeed against the collectors and custodians of private information (“Database…

In Class Actions

Alberta Court of Appeal contemplates enhanced gatekeeping in class action certification

by , , and 3 Mins Read

In Flesch v Apache Corporation, the Alberta Court of Appeal (“ABCA”) upheld the certification of an employee class action arising out of the cancellation of a long-term incentive compensation plan. This case is significant because the court discussed increasing its gatekeeping function in the certification of class actions, and it serves as a warning to employers who seek to amend or cancel incentive plans. Background In July 2017, the Apache Corporation (“Apache”), an American oil…

In Canada

Canadian Federal Court of Appeal Slams the Door on Buy-Side Conspiracy Claims

by , , and 4 Mins Read

Introduction In Mohr v National Hockey League, 2022 FCA 145, the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) dismissed an appeal from a motion to strike a proposed class action claim. The proposed representative plaintiff alleged an anti-competitive conspiracy among professional and major junior hockey leagues. This decision is significant because the FCA confirmed that prohibitions under section 45 of the Canadian Competition Act apply to “supply side” agreements only. They do not apply to “buy…

In Class Actions

Canadian Court Denies Certification in Absence of Evidence of Compensable Loss or a Plausible Methodology for Measuring Class-wide Damages

by 3 Mins Read

Justice Belobaba recently refused to certify a class action arising from the “diesel-gate” auto emissions scandal. In 2015, regulatory authorities announced that certain manufacturers had been installing “defeat devices” in their diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests and violate clean air laws. Unlike other class proceedings related to the scandal, this proposed class consisted of owners and lessees of vehicles who sold or returned their vehicles before the scandal was revealed (pre-disclosure owners). At…

In Asia Pacific

The Year Ahead: Developments in Global Litigation and Arbitration in 2021

by 1 Min Read

The Year Ahead – our publication looking at key developments in global litigation and arbitration for 2021 – is now available in English, Spanish and Mandarin. COVID-19 and its effects have triggered many disputes, with litigation volumes in some jurisdictions having already doubled, and our clients expect us to help them spot trends and plan for the future. Our report features economic analysis from The Economist Intelligence Unit, and legal analysis from our team of more than…

In Canada

Supreme Court of Canada Allows Class Action Alleging Investment Firm’s Systematic Failure to Inform All Clients

by 5 Mins Read

The Supreme Court of Canada has authorized a Quebec class action against an investment fund dealer and investment fund manager. The class members are customers who allege they were insufficiently informed about the risk profile of two investment products. See Desjardins Financial Services Firm Inc. v Asselin, 2020 SCC 30. The decision to authorize the class action does not confirm the merits of the allegations. The Supreme Court reaffirmed that “the threshold for authorizing a…

In Competition Litigation

Supreme Court of Canada Lowers Bar to Certifying Price-Fixing Class Actions

by , and 9 Mins Read

In Godfrey v Pioneer, 2019 SCC 42 (“Godfrey“), the Supreme Court of Canada has lowered the bar for certifying price-fixing class actions brought under the federal Competition Act, while also allowing new categories of claimants to participate as class members. The decision arose from a class action filed in British Columbia against a group of 42 foreign companies who manufactured optical disc drives and related products. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants conspired to fix…

In Canada

Supreme Court of Canada Lowers Bar to Certifying Price-Fixing Class Actions

by , and 9 Mins Read

CANADA – In Godfrey v Pioneer, 2019 SCC 42 (“Godfrey”), the Supreme Court of Canada has lowered the bar for certifying price-fixing class actions brought under the federal Competition Act, while also allowing new categories of claimants to participate as class members. The decision arose from a class action filed in British Columbia against a group of 42 foreign companies who manufactured optical disc drives and related products. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants conspired…

In Canada

Back in Class: Overtime Pay Class Action Brought Against Global Travel Retailer

by 6 Mins Read

Overtime class actions are in the headlines again. On February 22, 2019, a class action claim seeking damages of over $100 million was filed against Flight Centre, an Australia-based travel services provider with stores in Canada and internationally. The claim alleges that Flight Centre systematically failed to pay overtime to its retail sales employees, referred to as “travel consultants”, requiring them to consistently work more than their scheduled hours, and implemented policies that fail to…

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