Copycat class actions criticized
Courts have begun to criticize plaintiff lawyers who file multiple overlapping class actions across the country. In Ontario, Perell J. refused to approve an agreement by two BC firms to share their fee with a Saskatchewan-based firm, Merchant Law Group (“MLG”) in Bancroft-Snell v. Visa Canada Corporation. More than one year after the BC firms had filed class actions in Ontario and BC alleging conspiracies in relation to credit card interchange fees, MLG started copycat actions in Alberta and Saskatchewan. The BC firms agreed to pay a share of their fee to MLG in return for MLG agreeing to stay ... [more] Full article
Is the Competition Act a “Complete Code”?
Courts debate whether breaches of the Competition Act can support common law claims Recently, Canadian courts have been debating whether the Competition Act is a “complete code” that forecloses the ... [more] Full article
Class action plaintiffs can obtain wiretap evidence
Class action plaintiffs can obtain court-ordered disclosure of wiretap evidence obtained by the Competition Bureau, Canada’s Supreme Court held today in Imperial Oil v Jacques. This decision will make it ... [more] Full article
DRAM class action settlements
DRAM, which stands for dynamic random access memory, is a type of memory chip used in computers and other electronics. The plaintiffs claim that certain manufacturers and distributors of DRAM ... [more] Full article
Class Actions and Other Private Actions Contributors
Michael Binetti
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.”
Kenneth A. Dekker
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.
Masiel A. Matus
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.
David N. Vaillancourt
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.
