CLE Online

Welcome

Professor Lynda M. Collins — Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Professor Heather McLeod-Kilmurray — Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability (CELGS), Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Professor Craig E. Jones, QC — Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops

The Science of Toxic Torts

• scientific uncertainty in toxic torts
• overview of the relevant scientific disciplines (epidemiology, toxicology, and others)
• scientific vs. legal standards of proof
• communicating with your scientific expert witnesses multiple forums
• translating scientific evidence for the courts

Professor Lynda M. Collins — Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Networking Break

The Property Torts: Trends in Toxic Nuisance, Trespass, and Strict Liability

• the directness dilemma in toxic trespass
• proving material physical damage in toxic nuisance
• the future of Rylands v. Fletcher in Canadian toxic tort law
• property torts in the Aboriginal law context (Thomas v. Rio Tinto)
• the special injury rule in public nuisance 

Professor Heather McLeod-Kilmurray — Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability (CELGS), Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Problem-Based Learning Exercise  

Professor Lynda M. Collins — Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
Professor Heather McLeod-Kilmurray — Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability (CELGS), Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Networking Lunch

Toxic Tort Claims Involving Government Parties

• duty of care in toxic negligence claims against government: proximity
• duty of care in toxic negligence claims against government: policy vs. operation
• the standard of care in historical contamination cases (eg, Berendsen)
• toxic tort claims by government plaintiffs—the tobacco model

Professor Heather McLeod-Kilmurray — Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability (CELGS), Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Class Actions in Toxic Tort

• commonality
• environmental vs. toxic product class actions
• climate change class actions
• the BC Tobacco case study

Professor Craig E. Jones, QC — Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops
Professor Heather McLeod-Kilmurray — Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability (CELGS), Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa

Networking Break

Solving the Causation Problem in Toxic Torts

• aggregating causation in mass tort claims
• avoiding the injury requirement: toxic battery
• disgorgement remedies: waiver of tort
• claims based on regulatory pollution standards: the MTBE example
• causation reform in indeterminate plaintiff cases

Professor Lynda M. Collins — Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
Professor Craig E. Jones, QC — Faculty of Law, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops

Concluding Remarks

Professor Lynda M. Collins — Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa
Professor Heather McLeod-Kilmurray — Centre for Environmental Law and Global Sustainability (CELGS), Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa