Product Liability 2010


Course Date: September 24, 2010

Welcome and Introduction

Michael D. Parrish — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Overview and Update on Product Liability Law in Canada

  • negligence vs. contractual claims
  • negligent design
  • negligent manufacture
  • duty and standard of care in design and manufacture cases

Michael D. Parrish — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Duty and Failure to Warn

  • duty to warn
  • elements of an appropriate warning
  • continuing obligation—post-sale duty to warn

Peter J. Pliszka — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Toronto

Networking Break

Warranties—Express and Implied

  • express warranties and limitations of liability
  • implied warranties under the Sale of Goods Act
  • other consumer protection legislation

Robert F. Hungerford — Hungerford Tomyn Lawrenson and Nichols, Vancouver
F. Mikis Manolis — Hungerford Tomyn Lawrenson and Nichols, Vancouver

Plaintiff’s Perspective

  • common claims
  • who to sue
  • strategies and tactics in prosecuting product liability claims
  • preservation, inspection, and testing of physical evidence
  • inspection and testing

Reidar M. Mogerman — Camp Fiorante Matthews, Vancouver

Lunch (on your own)

Defendant’s Perspective

  • common defences
  • strategies and tactics in defending product liability claims
  • foreign document assembly and other challenges
  • testing and exemplars
  • third party claims

Brent B. Olthuis Hunter Litigation Chambers, Vancouver

Class Actions

  • product liability claims in class actions—do they work?
  • issues in certification
  • recent developments in product liability class actions

Ward K. Branch — Branch MacMaster, Vancouver

Damages

  • compensatory damages
  • economic and pure economic loss
  • punitive damages
  • evidentiary issues

Vincent R.K. Orchard, QC — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Networking Break

Experts’ Reports

  • common types of reports in product liability matters
  • form of reports under the new Rules
  • managing and instructing experts
  • new science vs. junk science

Donald J. Smith — Guild Yule LLP, Vancouver 

Manufacturers’ and Insurers’ Panel

  • preventing and managing product liability claims
  • design changes and recalls
  • legacy product
  • liability for sub-manufacturers and suppliers
  • how the insurer manages large product liability claims internally
  • the challenges created by large retention amounts or low limits
  • how lawyers could make the product insurer's life easier

Stacey Boothman — Assistant Vice-President, Claims and Legal, Commonwealth Insurance Company, Vancouver
Jean-Francois Labbe — Senior Legal Counsel, Bombardier Aerospace, Montreal