Halifax Class Action Lawyers
If you have been hurt — either physically or mentally — or have been otherwise wronged in some way because of a company or institution, you may not be alone. When many people come together to fight against a large company or government, they stand a greater chance of success. Class actions allow people to go up against a larger, more powerful entity.
Class actions in Canada come in all shapes and sizes. They can include lawsuits for defective products, environmental hazards, pharmaceutical malpractice, securities fraud, and institutional abuse, including physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect, and more. According to the Canadian Bar Association, there have been over 1,500 class action lawsuits filed in Canada since the early 1990s. This reflects the increasing use of this valuable legal tool by individuals seeking justice against corporate misconduct, governmental negligence, and more.
At Valent Legal, we have extensive experience with class-action lawsuits, and we assist you every step of the way.
If you think a class action lawsuit is your best option, or if you have been contacted about a class action that may involve you, we are here to help. For a free, no-risk case assessment, give us a call. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no fees until you get a settlement, or you win a judgment in court. In most cases, our service exceeds our clients’ expectations. Visit How We Work to learn more.
What Is a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class action, also known as a class action lawsuit, or class suit, is a type of lawsuit where one or more people work with a class action lawyer to bring justice to themselves and a larger group of people who have had similar experiences. This group is called a “class.”
These lawsuits are powerful and cost-effective because they allow people to band together and put forward a single claim. They give individuals access to justice, and the public sees them as a social service, because they hold large companies and governments accountable, helping to change their behaviour.
In Canada, class actions have played a significant role in addressing corporate wrongdoing and government liability, with notable cases sometimes resulting in multi-million dollar settlements benefitting thousands of individuals. In the last few decades, various class action suits have resulted in over $1 billion in total settlements across the country.
Each Canadian province and territory operates with its own court system. Most civil claims such as class action lawsuits can be filed in provincial or territorial superior courts. The Federal Court of Canada has jurisdiction in matters relating to specific federal statutes such as class-action lawsuits against the federal government, a federal ministry, or the Crown agency. The Federal Court can also hear cases against private parties for claims based on federal statute violations.
Western Canadian Shopping Centres v Dutton, [2001] 2 SCR 534, was a landmark case in which the Supreme Court of Canada provided a procedural blueprint authorizing class action proceedings in all Canadian jurisdictions. Prince Edward Island relies on Dutton for the structure of its class action proceedings. All other provinces have provincial class proceedings statutes, while Québec has enacted class action provisions in its Code of Civil Procedure.
What Is the Process for Filing a Class Action in Canada?
The initiation of a class action lawsuit differs depending on the location of the class.
A statement of claim can be filed in any other common law province or territory, all seeking class certification. A class action must be certified by the court, but Québec will grant authorization for an application.
Certification is a critical stage in any class action lawsuit, where the court determines whether a case can proceed as a class action based on specific criteria. For a case to be certified, the court must:
- Be satisfied that there is a suitable representative plaintiff
- That a viable cause of action common to all members of the class exists
- And that class proceedings are the most appropriate means of resolving the dispute
According to recent data from the Federal Court, there is a growing trend across Canada to allow for more pre-certification and certification motions when it comes to class action lawsuits.
While formal notice is required for proceedings against the Crown and in securities actions, it is not required prior to the commencement of other class actions unless required by statute.
Most class actions will have one or more plaintiffs identified as class representatives. An action typically needs to be commenced by a plaintiff who is a resident of the province in which the action is filed.
Class members will be notified of a proceeding once a class action lawsuit is certified. The rights and obligations of class members differ depending on the jurisdiction in which the class action was filed and the province in which they reside.
Most Canadian jurisdictions require people who wish to be excluded from a class to opt-out of the class action. In Nova Scotia, people have to take the active step of opting-out of a certified class action or they will be automatically included if they are members of the class. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador require resident class members to formally opt-out, and non-residents wanting to participate in a class-action lawsuit must opt-in.
Aside from Québec, plaintiffs in class action lawsuits only need to prove the existence of two or more members. There are no requirements as to the size of a class. The court determines if a class action lawsuit is the best way to resolve a matter.
If you are looking for a database of class action lawsuits and class action jurisdictions, you can find them on the Canadian Bar website.
How Does Compensation Work in a Class Action Lawsuit?
Court approval is necessary for class-action lawsuit settlements to determine whether a proposed settlement is fair and reasonable. A plaintiff has to prepare a plan of notice that is distributed to the class and describes the settlement. It also includes the date and location of the hearing to approve the settlement, the procedure and time for delivery of objections, and the right to attend the hearing in person.
A final settlement in a class action binds all of the members of the class to the relief granted in the judgment. Once the gavel comes down, it will preclude the commencement of any further legal action over the issues in the class action. Settlement agreements usually require comprehensive releases similarly precluding further proceedings.
Settlement funds are typically distributed equally to all members of a class. Any leftover could be returned to the defendants. They could also be paid out by way of a cy-près (a French phrase meaning “as near as”) distribution to one or more organizations such as charities connected to the claim’s subject matter.
In practice, the distribution of settlement funds can be quite complex. This is especially true in large class actions that involve thousands of class members. Courts may appoint an independent claims administrator to oversee the distribution process. Data shows that class action settlements in Canada can result in payouts ranging from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars per member, depending on the severity and nature of the harm suffered.
Regarding contingency fees, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the territories follow the “loser pays” system under their Rules of Court. Québec also has a “loser pays” rule, but the tariff of costs payable in class actions can be significantly reduced to minimize adverse costs. British Columbia follows a “no costs” system under which neither party receives any costs.
Class Actions Valent Legal Has Handled
Valent Legal handles various kinds of class action lawsuits including these that are currently pending:
- PEI Disability Supports Class Action Lawsuit— Valent Legal is representing a class of Prince Edward Island residents disabled by mental illness owing to the Prince Edward Island government’s decision to exclude these individuals from accessing benefits or support under the province’s Disability Supports Program.
- Shediac Fire Class Action — Valent Legal represents a class of inmates at the Shediac jail over the harm they experienced following a result of a large fire at the Southeast Regional Correctional Centre in Shediac, New Brunswick. On October 25, 2017, prison officials instructed all inmates to remain in the yard while walls burned around them. Some inmates suffered burns while others are dealing with stress, anxiety, and possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Solitary Confinement Class Action — Valent Legal has commenced a class action against the Attorney General of Nova Scotia because of the systemic infliction of prolonged solitary confinement upon prisoners of the province’s correctional facilities. Inmates were confined to isolated cells for a minimum of 23 hours per day, possibly for weeks or months at a time, and breached various rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- Waterville Correctional Institution – Valent Legal is representing former youth residents of the Nova Scotia Youth Facility (“Waterville”) over allegations of sexual abuse by staff within the facility.
Past class action lawsuits handled by Valent Legal include:
- BMO Nesbitt Burns Overtime Class Action — Valent Legal is representing a class of current and former financial advisors employed by the investment firm BMO Nesbitt Burns for unpaid overtime in breach of Nova Scotia’s Labour Standards Code.
- East Coast Forensic Hospital Strip Search Class Action — Valent Legal is representing mentally ill patients of the East Coast Forensic Hospital who were subject to an unlawful and unconstitutional hospital-wide strip search on October 16, 2012. The hospital breached the rights of the patients who were subjected to an unreasonable search by the state guaranteed by section 8 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Our firm carefully investigates each potential class action to determine the full extent of harm caused and the number of individuals affected. By doing so, we ensure that any settlement reached or judgment awarded addresses the financial, emotional, and other damages experienced by our clients.
Other Famous Class Action Cases
There is a big number of different class actions on a national and global level that you might have heard of. Many of those include aggrieved consumers and global companies affected by their disputed products.
A famous one happened within the country, more precisely in Quebec, Canada, and it included Microsoft’s customers who bought almost any desktop computers operating system between December 23, 1998, and March 11, 2010.
Another huge case faced a video game consoles giant, Sony PlayStation with the potential of including 8.9 million affected customers. This case, however, wasn’t filed in anywhere in Canada, but in London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, facing Sony with a potential 5.9B dollars in damages.
The main issue here was over allegations of overcharging customers for games, in-game purchases and other related services, violating consumer rights.
A big portion of cases is in the vehicles & transportation industry, with some of the popular lawsuits including companies such as Air Transat, Air Canada, and Nissan vehicles.
Some of the most common and frequent lawsuits include minor warranty extension issues, data breach cases, and similar mass-market instances.
And in the end, financial institutions happened to play a major role in a price fixing practice, creating ineligible documents and similar scams.
Talk to Our Class Action Lawyers in Halifax Now
If you think that you are a potential plaintiff in a class action lawsuit, top-quality legal representation is a priority.
Valent Legal will provide experienced, compassionate assistance that can help you get the results you desire.
Our firm prides itself in delivering first-rate client service including helping you and your family pursue all of the compensation you are entitled to. Call us or contact us online today to set up a free consultation in our Halifax office. We currently represent class action clients in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
