Faster Lawsuits – Changes to Lawsuit Rules

Ontario has changed some of its rules governing the way that lawsuits are conducted, to allow people to get to Court and have their Trial heard faster. Readers can find some background in our previous blog – March 11, 2009 blog.

Some of the changes regarding lawsuits in Ontario include:

• Ontario’s Small Claims Court can now deal with civil lawsuits up to $25,000 in value (formerly $10,000) per Reg 626/00 of the Courts of Justice Act;

Ontario’s Rules of Civil Procedure for civil lawsuits seeking more than $25,000 has been changed significantly, including
• “simple” lawsuits conducted under the Simplified Rules structure can now seek up to $100,000 in damages (formerly $50,000);
• Steps within the lawsuit, including production of documents relevant to the lawsuit, Examinations for Discovery of parties and Court motions to resolve disputes, are revised to make the lawsuit proceed faster;
• Attempts to end the lawsuit quickly – in the form of a Summary Judgment motion – are assisted with modified rules; and
• Preparing for Trial to avoid delays and to have the lawsuit proceed faster have also been implemented.
Gregory Chang
Toronto Insurance Litigation Lawyer