L.B. Roberts J.A.

The appellants advanced $600,000 to the respondents during negotiations to purchase a 25 per cent interest in the respondents' business.

When the transaction failed, the appellants sued to recover the funds, arguing they were a refundable deposit or loan, while the respondents claimed they were a non-refundable down payment.

The trial judge dismissed the action in very brief reasons.

The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and ordered a new trial, finding that the trial judge mischaracterized the central issue and failed to provide sufficient reasons to permit meaningful appellate review.

The plaintiff brought a proposed class action against the Toronto Police Services Board for mass detentions and arrests during the 2010 G20 summit.

After the motion judge dismissed the certification motion, the plaintiff narrowed her claims on appeal.

The Divisional Court allowed the appeal and certified two separate class actions.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the defendant's appeal, upholding the certification of the location-based subclasses and the detention centre class, finding that the narrowed claims met the certification criteria under the Class Proceedings Act.

The Court of Appeal allowed the plaintiff's cross-appeal on costs, increasing the costs award for the certification motion to $315,000 to reflect the legislative goal of access to justice.