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1688782 Ontario Inc. v. Maple Leaf Foods Inc.: Implications for product liability and franchise law (Webinar)

Author(s): Christine Jackson, Craig Lockwood, Lindsay Rauccio

Dec 15, 2020

On November 5, 2020, the Supreme Court released its long-anticipated decision in 1688782 Ontario Inc. v. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. In a split decision, the majority held that a manufacturer does not owe a duty of care to franchisees of a supply chain purchaser for economic losses arising from a product recall, even where the franchisees’ losses were reasonably foreseeable.

In this webinar, Craig Lockwood, a partner in Osler’s Litigation Group, and Christine Jackson, an associate in Osler’s Commercial Group, summarize the Supreme Court’s decision as it pertains to the duty of care in tort law. The webinar is moderated by Lindsay Rauccio, an associate in Osler’s Litigation Group, and provides key insights on the decision’s product liability and franchise law implications.

Topics covered include the following:

  • the background and procedural history of the case
  • an overview of the majority and dissenting judgments
  • practical considerations in the product liability context
  • implications in the franchise law context
  • question and answer period

Watch the Webinar on Demand

Additional resources

Decisions

SCC: 1688782 Ontario Inc. v. Maple Leaf Foods Inc. - SCC Cases (Lexum)

ONCA: 1688782 Ontario Inc. v. Maple Leaf Foods Inc., 2018 ONCA 407 (ontariocourts.ca)

SCJ: Not available online

Case summaries

SCC decision: Franchisees cannot beef with manufacturer over contaminated meat (osler.com)

Court of Appeal decision: Tainted duty of care analysis infected listeria class action, Court of Appeal finds (osler.com)

Livent decision: Auditor liability in Canada: Guidance on the scope of responsibility (osler.com)