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Successfully defended an RESP company in a class proceeding arising out of a privacy breach at an Ontario hospital.
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Successfully defended CHC Casinos Canada Limited and the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in class actions arising out of a cyber-attack against Casino Rama.
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A number of leading multinational pharmaceutical and medical device companies in multi-provincial class proceedings, alleging product liability (negligence in design, manufacture or warnings) and claiming hundreds of millions of dollars for personal injuries and medical monitoring and disgorgement remedies. Active class actions that Blakes is currently handling relate to pelvic repair systems with transvaginal mesh, hip replacement products, medications for severe acne, pain medications, antipsychotics, and other medicines and medical devices.
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A number of multinational companies in leading antitrust class actions, including air cargo, numerous auto parts, beer, capacitors, car carrier services, chemicals, chocolate, computer operating systems and applications, credit cards, CRTs, DRAM, hydrogen peroxide, LCDs, lithium ion batteries, polyurethane foam, rubber and vitamins.
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A number of institutions and individuals in securities class actions, including allegations of primary and secondary-market misrepresentation, misappropriation of funds and securities fraud.
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One of the world’s leading manufacturers of lifesaving cardiac devices in the first medical products class action/common issues trial tried to a defence verdict in Canada. The case was awarded “Canadian Product Liability Impact Case of the Year” in 2013 by LMG Life Sciences: The Definitive Guide to the Leading Life Sciences Firms and Attorneys in North America.
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Celestica Inc. and two of its former officers in the successful defence of a secondary-market securities class action in Ontario.
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Coca-Cola Ltd. in successfully opposing certification of class actions concerning alleged misleading advertising and labelling of vitaminwater® in British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.
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Amway Canada Corporation in its successful defence of a class action seeking certification of a national class of Amway distributors, based on alleged misrepresentations regarding the level of income they could achieve under the Amway plan and that it operated a pyramid scheme, in violation of the Competition Act.
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One of the world’s leading manufacturers of fire protection systems, successfully defending some 20 claims and cross-claims resulting from a large factory fire, including a product liability/environmental class action claiming C$80-million in damages.
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A plan sponsor in successfully defending a class action challenging the addition of employees from two of the company’s wholly owned subsidiaries to an existing plan that enjoyed a significant surplus. It was the first pension-related class action in Canada to proceed to a common issues trial.
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Nestlé Canada Inc., at summary trial, trial and appeal, in a proposed class action that was dismissed after each stage, including leave to appeal being refused by the Supreme Court of Canada.
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A major federally chartered bank, at trial and appeal, in a landmark class action brought against nine federally chartered banks alleging that the banks had breached the Quebec Consumer Protection Act in relation to foreign exchange conversion fees on credit card transactions.
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A multinational manufacturer of consumer products in successfully opposing certification of class actions in Quebec and British Columbia, alleging false and misleading representations regarding children's cough and cold medicines.
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The Province of British Columbia in successfully opposing certification of a class action, alleging that the Province’s regulation of fish farms had harmed the aboriginal fishery.
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A major consumer appliance manufacturer, as co-counsel, in successfully opposing certification of a national class action in Ontario, alleging a design defect in front-loading washing machines.
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CIBC Trust Corporation in successfully opposing certification of a class action brought by residents of the Piikani Nation, alleging breach of trust arising from the administration of the C$65-million trust for the Piikani Nation.
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A corporation in a class action related to the loss of data tapes containing the personal and financial information of its customers.
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A multinational automotive parts manufacturer in class actions alleging a price-fixing conspiracy in relation to fuel injection systems.
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Union Tank Car Company, a lessor of rail tank cars, in the defence and settlement of a proposed class action brought against more than 40 defendants following the train derailment in Lac-Mégantic in June 2013 that killed 47 people and destroyed most of downtown Lac-Mégantic.
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PRL Financial (Alta.) Ltd. and Payroll Loans (Alberta) Ltd. in a class action brought on behalf of borrowers alleging that fees and interest charges exceeded the amount allowed by the Canadian Criminal Code provisions.
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Microsoft Corporation and Microsoft Canada in class actions that claim Microsoft breached various competition laws in the sale of software products throughout Canada.
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Concentra Trust in connection with a class action in which more than 9,000 class members sought C$250-million in damages based on allegations of misappropriation of funds and securities fraud.
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Appleby Services (Bermuda) Limited, one of many defendants and third parties, in a class action seeking the return of a substantial amount contributed by the class and various Canadian charities.
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A multinational credit card provider in seven multimillion-dollar class actions involving conspiracy claims with respect to the setting of merchant discount fees.
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Crelogix and other defendants in an Alberta class action relating to promissory notes purchased by Crelogix from a timeshare company that subsequently went bankrupt.
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A leading trust company, one of two defendants named in a proposed class action, in which the plaintiff seeks damages in connection with the defendants’ role as trustee of a fund established to pay health and welfare benefits for employees.
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A former officer of The Cash Store Financial Services Inc. in a national securities class action alleging improper disclosure in Cash Store’s public findings.