Submitted by Section Co-Chair, Mathew Good
Summary of Meetings
Number of Meetings Held: 4
January 13, 2015
Guest Speakers: Mathew Good, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, and Alexandra Cocks, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Meeting Title/Topic: Review of Marcotte / Discussion on BCSC Procedure for Class Actions
Synopsis: Review of the Supreme Court of Canada's recent trilogy in Marcotte v. BMO, Marcotte v. Caisses Desjardins, AMEX v. Adams, 2014 SCC 55, 56 and 57. Discussion regarding response from the Chief Justice of the B.C. Supreme Court, in reply to a letter from the Section outlining current challenges in BCSC practice and procedure for class proceedings.
February 12, 2015
Guest Speaker: Oleh Ilnyckyj and Chantelle Rajotte, Miller Thomson LLP
Meeting Title/Topic: Pre-Certification Summary Trials in Class Action Litigation: Player v. Janssen-Ortho Inc.
Synopsis: This joint Section meeting was held with the Products Liability Law Section. Case summary and discussion of the pre-certification dismissal on the merits in the Player class action.
April 14, 2015
Guest Speakers: Jill Yates, McCarthy Tétrault LLP, Rebecca Spigelman, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, and Chelsea Hermanson, Branch MacMaster LLP
Meeting Title/Topic: Year in review (2014)
Synopsis: Review of 2014's most important class action decisions.
June 9, 2015
Guest Speaker: Mathew Good, Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Meeting Title/Topic: Year - End Meeting and 2015/2016 Section Executive Elections
Synopsis: Year-end meetin (short). Discussion on Illeman/Marshall decisions recently released by the Court of Appeal.
Comments and Observations of the Co-Chair
The Section continues to remain a valuable forum for discussion by defence and plaintiff's bar. There is a high level of knowledge and participation by Section members, and we work to keep each other well informed about developments in our area of practice. The Section is a clearinghouse for discussion on improvements to the system as well as for engendering comraderie across party lines.