Charges Stayed After Crown Breaks Deal in Gas Conspiracy Case
Quebec gas retailer and convenience store operator Couche-Tard Inc. escaped price fixing charges after a Quebec Superior Court judge found that the Crown’s repudiation of a settlement agreement irreparably prejudiced the fairness of the proceeding. In 2008, Alimentation Couche-Tard was charged with fixing retail gasoline prices in Sherbrooke, Magog, Victoriaville, and Thetford Mines, Quebec. On January 14, 2010, lawyers for the company reached an agreement with prosecutors from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Alimentation Couche-Tard agreed to pay the government $3.25 million and accept a prohibition order prohibiting future violations of the Competition Act. In return, the companies in ... [more] Full article
More guilty pleas from Sewer Bid-Riggers
The Competition Bureau has garnered yet another guilty plea in its clean-up of the Montreal sewer bid-rigging conspiracy. Canalisation Nord Américaine Ltée pleaded guilty in the Quebec Superior Court last ... [more] Full article
Real estate consulting firm guilty of bid rigging
The Competition Bureau’s prosecution of the real estate advisory bid-rigging conspiracy for federal contracts continued with the announcement on July 30 that Corporate Research Group (CRG), pleaded guilty. CRG collaborated ... [more] Full article
Competition Bureau Cleans Up Montreal Sewer Conspiracy
The Competition Bureau's clean-up of the Montreal sewer bid-rigging conspiracy continued with the announcement that a second company and one of its executives pleaded guilty. [more] Full article
Conspiracy 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.
