Stephanie Tassopoulos

The plaintiff father brought an action against the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa (CAS) for negligence, Charter breaches, and misfeasance in public office, alleging improper conduct during child protection and adoption proceedings that occurred while he was facing a murder charge for which he was ultimately acquitted.

The CAS moved to strike the action.

The court granted the motion, finding the action was an abuse of process as a collateral attack on valid Family Court orders.

The court also held that the claims disclosed no reasonable cause of action, as the CAS owes a duty of care only to the children, not the parents, and the Charter and misfeasance claims were bound to fail.

This is a costs endorsement following an appeal.

The Court of Appeal for Ontario ordered the appellant, Narwhal International Limited, to pay costs to the respondent, Teda International Realty Inc., in the amount of $7,500, inclusive of disbursements and all applicable taxes, after considering written submissions from both parties.

This appeal concerned a commercial lease renewal dispute where the appellant tenant challenged the application judge's findings regarding the true agreement to lease and whether the respondent landlord had negotiated the renewal rent in good faith.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, upholding the application judge's findings of fact, which were based on conflicting evidence and credibility assessments.

The court also declined to admit fresh evidence, finding it irrelevant or unlikely to affect the outcome, and reiterated the high standard of review for factual findings on appeal.