Brahm D. Siegel

This family law trial addressed property equalization, specifically the treatment and payment of a Mahr (dowry) agreement, alleged spousal debts, and post-separation adjustments.

The court granted a divorce and ruled that the Mahr, a domestic contract for 356 Bahar Azadi gold coins, must be included in the Net Family Property (NFP) equalization and valued in Canadian dollars as of the separation date, not as specific performance of gold coins or at current value.

The court rejected one of the husband's alleged debts but accepted another, determined the value of the wife's car, and ordered shared liability for the husband's post-separation rent and the Okanagan property renovation costs.

The husband was also ordered to pay the wife 50% of the tenant's rent collected.

Ultimately, the wife was ordered to pay the husband a net sum of $3,800, and the husband was awarded $45,000 in costs due to the wife's unreasonable position on the Mahr issue.

The applicant, a maternal grandmother, brought a motion seeking interim access to her grandchildren, mandatory disclosure of their medical and educational information, and the appointment of the Office of the Children's Lawyer.

The children's parents (respondents) opposed the motion, characterizing the grandmother's past relationship with the children as toxic.

Applying the newly amended "best interests of the child" definition under section 24 of the Children's Law Reform Act, the court dismissed the applicant's motion.

The court found that forcing contact was not in the children's best interests at that time, citing the high level of conflict between the parties, the applicant's mixed motivations, the unified opposition from the extended family, allegations of family violence, and the children's expressed views.

The decision emphasized the deference owed to parental decisions regarding child contact unless overriding them is clearly required by the child's best interests.

The appellant appealed an arbitration award concerning spousal support, life insurance, and medical benefits.

The arbitrator had conducted a de novo review of the separation agreement's support provisions, leading to a step-down and eventual termination of spousal support.

The appellant argued the arbitrator erred in interpreting the scope of the review and in exercising discretion.

The court dismissed the appeal, finding the arbitrator correctly interpreted the separation agreement as allowing a de novo review and did not make palpable and overriding errors in her discretionary decisions regarding support and costs.

The appellant appealed a decision of the Superior Court refusing to grant a stay of proceedings.

The Court of Appeal determined that the order refusing the stay was interlocutory in nature and therefore not appealable as of right.

The court distinguished the case from Hopkins v. Kay, where the refusal of a stay had the effect of finally determining the court's jurisdiction.

The appeal was quashed with costs fixed at $10,000 inclusive of HST and disbursements.

The respondent mother brought a motion seeking temporary custody, permission to travel with children, temporary child and spousal support, orders regarding the matrimonial home (joint ownership, sale, exclusive possession), and interim disbursements.

The court granted temporary sole custody to the mother, with consultation on major decisions.

It allowed the mother to retain passports and travel with notice, finding the father's flight risk concerns speculative.

The court imputed an income of $225,000 per annum to the father for child support purposes, ordering $2,867 per month, commencing July 1, 2016, but declined retroactivity.

It ordered proportionate sharing of Toronto Montessori expenses for both children but denied other s.7 expenses (summer camp, drawing, piano lessons).

The parties were declared joint owners of the matrimonial home, but the conditional request for sale was withdrawn.

The mother was granted interim exclusive possession.

Spousal support was not ordered at this time, as the father's existing payments for the matrimonial home satisfied the mother's current need.

The father was ordered to pay $25,000 in interim disbursements and to retain a business valuator for his business interests and income, with a further $25,000 payment if he failed to comply.

The Applicant Husband, successful in a bifurcated trial upholding a marriage contract and denying further spousal support, sought costs of $95,000.

The Respondent Wife opposed, arguing Rule 18 did not apply and the costs were excessive, citing her financial position.

The court found the Husband's offers to settle did not meet Rule 18 criteria due to time limits and conditions, but considered them under Rule 24.

The Husband's position was deemed more reasonable, and the Wife's litigation conduct, including unreasonable settlement positions and unsupported claims, was discouraged.

The court awarded the Husband $80,000 in costs, inclusive of HST and disbursements, noting the importance of upholding private agreements and discouraging attempts to set aside valid contracts.

The parties brought competing family law motions arising from the breakdown of a short marriage and disputing the validity of a marriage contract executed shortly before the wedding.

Issues included interim spousal support, disclosure, interim disbursements, exclusive possession of properties in Ontario and Florida, and whether the validity of the marriage contract should be determined separately from the remaining claims.

The court held that solicitor-client privilege had been waived concerning negotiations of the marriage contract and ordered production of former counsel’s files.

Interim spousal support of $6,000 per month was ordered retroactive to November 1, 2013 in accordance with the marriage contract, pending trial.

The court further ordered limited financial disclosure and directed that the issues of the contract’s validity and the valuation date be bifurcated and tried first.

Following a scheduled review of custody and access arrangements in a high‑conflict family law matter, the court considered updated evidence including affidavits, a clinical investigator’s report from the Office of the Children’s Lawyer, and counselling records.

The court addressed preliminary issues including whether unpaid costs should bar a party from further participation and whether privileged interview notes obtained inadvertently should be returned and destroyed.

Assessing the best interests of the children, the court found significant evidence of parental alienation by the respondent affecting the youngest child’s perceptions of the applicant.

The court determined that maintaining the existing shared arrangement risked further damage to the child’s relationship with the applicant.

Custody was therefore confirmed with the applicant, with the youngest child ordered to primarily reside with the applicant and the respondent receiving alternate‑weekend access.

A high‑conflict custody dispute involving three children where the parents made mutual allegations of parental alienation and sexual abuse.

After extensive evidence, including testimony from police, child protection authorities, medical professionals, and an Office of the Children’s Lawyer clinical assist, the court found no deliberate sexual abuse and concluded the allegations were largely influenced by the responding parent.

The court determined that the views of the older children favouring residence with the applicant were independently formed, while the younger child’s views were likely influenced by the responding parent.

Applying the best interests test under the Children’s Law Reform Act, the court awarded the applicant sole custody of all three children.

Access for the responding parent to the older children was to occur according to their wishes, while a structured transitional schedule was ordered for the younger child, with counselling and a future judicial review.

In a high-conflict family dispute involving competing motions for temporary custody of three children, the court was faced with extensive, untested affidavit evidence containing serious and conflicting allegations between the parents.

Investigations by police and child protection authorities did not result in charges or protection findings.

Given the imminence of a scheduled trial and the incomplete evidentiary record, the court declined to determine the temporary custody issues on the motion.

The court held that credibility assessments and a full evidentiary record were required and therefore left the issues for determination by the trial judge.

In a high-conflict family dispute involving competing motions for temporary custody of three children, the court was faced with extensive, untested affidavit evidence containing serious and conflicting allegations between the parents.

Investigations by police and child protection authorities did not result in charges or protection findings.

Given the imminence of a scheduled trial and the incomplete evidentiary record, the court declined to determine the temporary custody issues on the motion.

The court held that credibility assessments and a full evidentiary record were required and therefore left the issues for determination by the trial judge.

A motion concerning the relocation of a child from Toronto to London, Ontario.

The respondent mother sought permission to relocate with the child to accept a lateral employment transfer.

The applicant father opposed the relocation, arguing it would negatively impact the child's relationship with him and his educational progress.

The court considered the best interests of the child under the Children's Law Reform Act and the principles established in Gordon v. Goertz, ultimately denying the relocation request and finding that the child's interests were better served by remaining in Toronto with continued access to both parents.