Town liable for negligence re developer's storm sewer
Property owners often suffered damage when storm and sanitary sewers malfunction. Canadian municipalities are generally exempt from civil suits in nuisance relating to their sewers, due to special statutes adopted across the country. However, they can be successfully sued in negligence. Such…
View the post titled Town liable for negligence re developer's storm sewerAn introduction to the law of noise pollution
Dianne gave a well received introduction to the law of noise pollution at the Ontario Bar Association’s Halloween breakfast. Topics included what is noise, who regulates it, how the Environmental Protection Act applies, enforcement under the EPA, bylaws and the OMB, and civil suits fo…
View the post titled An introduction to the law of noise pollutionKivalina loses its climate change nuisance case again
The City and Village of Kivalina, population about 400, sits on the tip of a six-mile barrier reef on the northwest coast of Alaska. The residents depend on the sea ice that forms along the coast to shield them from violent storms. Sea ice has consistently declined in recent years – i…
View the post titled Kivalina loses its climate change nuisance case againContaminated site lawsuit: How not to win
Owners of a contaminated site are often too optimistic about their “rights” to compensation. Sometimes, chasing compensation for contamination just throws good money after bad. For example, Terrim Properties Ltd. wanted to build a gaming centre in Castlegar, B.C. Their loan fell…
View the post titled Contaminated site lawsuit: How not to winSmith v. Inco: leave to appeal refused
The Supreme Court of Canada has refused Ellen Smith leave to appeal from the crushing dismissal of her class action against Inco. No reasons were given. Her lawyers now face a difficult hearing to determine how large a cheque they will have to write to Inco to pay for its legal costs, at tri…
View the post titled Smith v. Inco: leave to appeal refusedSydney Tar Ponds class action certified
After eight years of legal wrangling, the Sydney Tar Ponds class action has finally been certified. However, the plaintiffs’ chances of ultimate success will be significantly reduced if the Smith v. Inco decision stands.
View the post titled Sydney Tar Ponds class action certifiedWill the SCC grant leave in Smith v Inco?
Will the Supreme Court of Canada grant leave to Ellen Smith to appeal the decision of the Ontario Court of Appeal rejecting her class action against Inco for the historic nickel contamination of soil in Port Colborne?
View the post titled Will the SCC grant leave in Smith v Inco?Smith v Inco appeal application
Kirk Baert has kindly permitted us to post his Application to the Supreme Court of Canada for leave to appeal the Ontario Court of Appeal’s decision in Smith v. Inco. This was the first environmental contamination class action in Canada tried on its merits. The Appeal Court’s dec…
View the post titled Smith v Inco appeal applicationMichaud v Sun Corp
Michaud v. Sun Corp. is a civil action that has been commenced in the Ontario Superior Court by a neighbour of the Kent Breeze Wind Farm. Unlike the Hanna and Erickson cases, which unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the permitting of wind projects, the Michaud case seeks damages and an inju…
View the post titled Michaud v Sun CorpMore thinking about Smith v Inco
We continue to mull over Smith v. Inco, and the major implications that has for virtually all cases involving Rylands v. Fletcher, and for a significant number of nuisance cases. Watch our video on the case, made in cooperation with Nimonik. Then please let us know what you think.
View the post titled More thinking about Smith v IncoReceive Blog Posts
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