Mario Gabriel John Forte

The court granted a bankruptcy order against Thomas Dylan Suitor, finding that the applicant, The Fuller Landau Group Inc. (as Receiver of The Lion’s Share Group Inc.), established the necessary statutory requirements under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

The court found that Mr. Suitor was personally liable under promissory notes as both borrower and guarantor, that he owed debts exceeding $1,000, and that he had ceased to meet his liabilities generally as they became due.

The court also found the existence of multiple creditors and/or special circumstances justifying the order, and declined to exercise its discretion to refuse the order.

This endorsement grants the Court-appointed Monitor’s motion for approval of a credit bid process and orderly liquidation plan in the CCAA proceedings of Balboa Inc. and related applicants.

The Court approves the sale agreements, a secondary credit bid process for remaining properties, and an orderly liquidation plan, as well as the Monitor’s reports, activities, and fees.

The stay of proceedings is extended to May 31, 2025.

The decision details the mechanics of the credit bid process, the rationale for the relief, and the Court’s satisfaction that the process is appropriate and fair in the circumstances.

The decision grants an initial order under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) to Joriki Topco Inc. and Joriki Inc., converting their ongoing NOI proceeding under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to a CCAA proceeding.

The court approves the appointment of Alvarez & Marsal as Monitor, a stay of proceedings, a key employee retention plan, DIP financing, and various charges over the applicants’ assets.

The order is supported by the secured lenders and the proposed monitor, and is unopposed.

The court finds the statutory and case law requirements for CCAA relief are met, including the need for continued restructuring efforts and the appropriateness of the proposed charges and stay extension.

The Monitor in a CCAA proceeding sought an order to reject an amended claim filed by Wellesley Residences (2014) Corp., KJ Equity Inc., and Yonge-Abell Partnership.

The court applied the Blue Range test for accepting late or amended claims, which considers inadvertence, good faith, and prejudice.

The court found that the claimants failed to demonstrate inadvertence or good faith, noting that the amended claim was a new claim, not a particularization of the original placeholder, and that the claimants' principals were involved in the transactions triggering the claim but failed to disclose them for years.

The court also found relevant prejudice due to the delay impacting negotiated interim distributions.

The motion was granted, and the amended claim was rejected.

The applicant, Gregory Zentner, sought certification of a class action against GFA World and related entities, alleging fraud and misappropriation of charitable donations.

The defendants brought a cross-motion for summary judgment to dismiss the claim on limitation grounds.

The court dismissed Zentner's motion for certification, finding that the pleadings did not disclose a cause of action because the donations were unencumbered gifts, meaning donors did not suffer a compensable loss recoverable through civil action.

The court also found insufficient factual basis for common issues, particularly regarding reliance and causation.

However, the defendants' summary judgment motion was also dismissed, as there remained a genuine issue requiring a trial concerning when Zentner discovered, or reasonably ought to have discovered, the material facts of his claim for limitation purposes.