Sloan Hilliard Mandel

The appellants (defendant doctors) appealed a trial judgment finding them liable for failing to obtain informed consent for a multi-step medical treatment plan that resulted in catastrophic brain injury to the plaintiff.

The appeal addressed the nature and extent of a physician's duty to obtain informed consent, on which physicians this duty rests, sufficiency of reasons, evidentiary issues (including expert witness exclusion), and costs.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, upholding the trial judge's findings that all three appellant doctors failed to provide adequate disclosure regarding the cumulative risks of the treatment plan, and that the plaintiff would not have proceeded had he been properly informed.

Leave to appeal costs was refused.

The plaintiffs sought costs following a successful 25-day medical malpractice trial where they "beat" a Rule 49 offer.

The defendants proposed a lower costs amount.

The court awarded the plaintiffs $3 million in costs, finding their request consistent with similar complex medical malpractice cases and justified by the defendants' conduct, which unnecessarily lengthened the proceeding and increased the plaintiffs' legal work.

The court considered factors under Rule 57.01, including the complexity of the case, the plaintiffs' complete success, and the defendants' late disclosure and attempts to introduce contradictory evidence.

The defendants in a motor vehicle accident action brought a motion under Rules 30.10 and 31.10 for production of documents and examination for discovery from certain non-party corporations and individuals.

The information sought related to the deceased plaintiff's past and future dependency loss claims, which exceeded $5,000,000.

The court granted the request for production of specific financial and corporate documents from the non-party entities, finding it necessary to avoid trial unfairness given the plaintiffs' reliance on this information for their expert report.

However, the motion for leave to examine the non-party individuals was dismissed as premature, with leave to renew if the produced documents proved insufficient.

This decision addresses the quantum of costs payable to the plaintiffs following the settlement of a motor vehicle accident action.

The court considered the principles of fair and reasonable costs under Rule 57.01(1) of the Rules of Civil Procedure, emphasizing proportionality and the defendants' failure to engage in mandatory mediation under the Insurance Act.

Despite the plaintiffs abandoning claims for substantial or augmented costs, the court found the partial indemnity costs sought by the plaintiffs to be fair, reasonable, and proportionate, considering the complexity and length of the litigation, and the defendants' conduct in prolonging the process.

The appellant, Randolph Burns, appealed a motion judge's order striking out his statement of claim against two corporate employees (Lauren McLean and Anna Oslizlok) without leave to amend, and granting RBC Life's request for a discovery order.

The appeal concerned the adequacy of claims pleaded against corporate employees for torts allegedly committed in the course of their employment.

The Court of Appeal found that the motion judge correctly determined that the statement of claim failed to plead specific material facts to support individualized claims against the employees, but erred in denying leave to amend.

The appeal was allowed in part, granting Mr. Burns leave to amend his statement of claim.