L. Kowal

The complainant, a black woman, alleged that the respondents discriminated against her by refusing to rent her a house in the Orchard Park area of London, Ontario because of her race.

The Board of Inquiry found that the respondents' agent intentionally refused to show or rent available properties to the complainant after meeting her in person, despite having previously indicated over the telephone that the properties were available.

The Board held the corporate respondent, its president, and its agent jointly and severally liable for violating the Human Rights Code.

The complainant was awarded $200 in special damages and $2,500 in general damages for mental anguish.

The respondent negligently caused a traffic accident on a provincial highway, resulting in debris and a risk of explosion.

The Crown incurred $300 in clean-up costs and sued to recover this amount.

The Court of Appeal characterized the claim as one for pure economic loss and denied recovery.

The Supreme Court of Canada allowed the appeal, holding that the highway suffered direct physical damage and the Crown, as the property owner, was entitled to recover the costs of restoring the road to its prior condition.