The Litigator
The Litigator
AGM :: Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
THE LITIGATOR
Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP
365 Bay Street, Suite 200  ·  Toronto, Canada
416 360 2800  ·  info@agmlawyers.com  ·  www.thelitigator.ca

Anton Piller orders require “compelling evidence” to establish dishonesty and a real possibility that a party will destroy evidence

The rules governing examinations for discovery require litigants to disclose all documents relevant to a particular action to their opponent subject to considerations of solicitor-client privilege, litigation privilege, and settlement privilege.  These rules rely on the good faith of the parties not to conceal or destroy any relevant documents.  When, however, a party suspects that the other may destroy evidence, it can ask the court for what is called an Anton Piller order without prior notice to its opponent.  Such an order compels the party subject to the order to allow access to its premises to search and seize documents ... [more]

Parliamentary privilege trumps Competition Act, Tribunal rules

After a 10 year struggle, Robert Gauthier, proprietor of now defunct The National Capital News Canada tried unsuccessfully to renew his application to the Competition Tribunal to force the Speaker of the House of Commons to grant him access to the Parliamentary Press Gallery. [more]

Performance, and Labour and Materials Payment Bonds – Avoiding the Pitfalls of the Surety’s Defences to a Bond Claim

The comfort provided by a surety bond can be lost easily if one does not cross one’s T’s and dot one’s I’s. However, by being aware of the defences most often raised by sureties you can chart a course that reduces the likelihood that the surety bond ends up as nothing more than a souvenir of a construction project gone wrong. [more]

Dolby complaint silenced

Sono Pro loses bid to force supply of Dolby equipment at discount

Sono Pro Inc., a Montreal professional audio equipment reseller, has lost its attempt to force Sonotechnique P.J.L. Inc. to supply it with Dolby products. [more]

The letters rogatory that got away

Last fall, the Ontario Court of Appeal overturned an order enforcing a request for international judicial assistance (also known as letters rogatory) that sought to compel a former executive of a Talisman Energy Inc. subsidiary to be deposed in a U.S. action. [more]


Contributors

Michael Binetti

Michael Binetti

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Michael Binetti, a partner of the firm, brings a proven litigation background plus extensive experience in arguing both trials and appeals. He has demonstrated his strategic legal capability and expertise in wide-ranging areas of litigation. Michael’s peers and clients have commented that Michael is an “excellent and creative lawyer,” “finds unique solutions to complex problems,” and that “Michael gets it and knows how to win.”

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Jeremy Brodeur, Articling Student

Jeremy Brodeur, Articling Student

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Jeremy joins AGM from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law, where he was involved in the law student union and competitive mooting. During law school, Jeremy and his team reached the semi-final round of the Vis Moot, ranking near the top of 385 law schools in the global competition. Jeremy looks forward to putting his passion for advocacy into practice at AGM.

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Adam Casey

Adam Casey

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Adam’s litigation practice includes a range of matters involving civil and commercial litigation, shareholder disputes, administrative law, competition law, and insurance defence. Adam joined AGM having completed his articles at a leading international law firm and graduated from the McGill University Faculty of Law.

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Kenneth A. Dekker

Kenneth A. Dekker

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Kenneth Dekker, a partner of the firm, is a successful trial and appellate lawyer who is valued by his clients as a resourceful and practical litigation counsel. Over more than two decades, Ken has litigated noteworthy cases in a range of fields that include class action defence, securities and broker-dealer litigation and regulatory defence, corporate and shareholder disputes (including oppression and winding up cases), defamation, civil fraud litigation, disputes over contracts, injunctions, professional liability litigation, employment litigation and cross-border litigation issues. Ken has appeared before all levels of courts in Ontario, including the Ontario Court of Justice, the Superior Court of Justice, the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as before the Supreme Court of Canada. Ken also represents and advises clients in regulatory matters before the Investment Industry Organization of Canada (IIROC), the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA) and the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). Ken has been ranked as Repeatedly Recommended for Securities Litigation by Lexpert, for Corporate and Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers of Canada, and he has been given the highest available rating of AV, or pre-eminent, by his peers on Martindale-Hubbell.

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Meredith Hayward

Meredith Hayward

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Meredith has earned an impressive reputation for her skill and abilities in Commercial Litigation and Administrative Law, appearing at all levels of court in Ontario, before the British Columbia Court of Appeal, and before the Supreme Court of Canada.

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Masiel A. Matus

Masiel A. Matus

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Masiel has a broad commercial litigation practice and represents both national and international clients in a variety of complex matters. Masiel has experience litigating cases involving professional negligence, commercial leasing and real property disputes, insurance, contract disputes, shareholder disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of trust, employment matters and defamation claims.

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Ardita Sinojmeri

Ardita Sinojmeri

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

Ardita joins Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP as an Associate Lawyer after completing her articles with the firm. Her growing practice encompasses a broad range of litigation matters including securities litigation, insurance defence, employment disputes, and shareholder disputes. Ardita earned her Juris Doctor from Western University’s Faculty of Law. Prior to joining the firm, she participated in a number of initiatives aimed at helping individuals and businesses struggling through COVID-19. Ardita looks forward to putting her legal, business, and community engagement skills to use in all the firm’s practice areas.

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David N. Vaillancourt

David N. Vaillancourt

Affleck Greene McMurtry LLP

David's practice expertise focuses on all matters of Commercial and Civil Litigation, Competition and Administrative Law. David has acted for clients in a wide range of disputes, including shareholder and partnership disputes, securities litigation, class action defence, proceedings under the Competition Act, employment law disputes, contract disputes, breach of confidence/intellectual property disputes, fidelity bond claims, and professional negligence claims. David has appeared before all levels of court in Ontario, including the Court of Appeal for Ontario, and has also appeared before the Competition Tribunal and the Federal Court of Appeal. David has appeared as lead counsel in numerous trials, hearings, and motions. David has been successful in numerous adversarial proceedings, and also has successfully negotiated the resolution of dozens of cases.

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