CLE Online

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