Class Action Litigation

We defend clients in complex class actions with strategic, practical solutions that minimize risk, protect reputation, and achieve results aligned with business goals.
Key Contacts
Dionne Bourassa PascaleEizenga MichaelDavis EmrysWoodin Cheryl
People walking

Overview

Our Class Action Litigation Group helps companies resolve potentially high-stakes class action disputes so that they can get back to the business at hand. From product liability and price fixing to securities and corporate governance issues, we understand the financial, regulatory, reputational and other business impacts and uncertainties associated with these typically complex disputes.

Our clients rely on our unsurpassed depth and breadth of practical experience and litigation expertise, coupled with our unparalleled knowledge of procedure, to inform every aspect of the defence of a class action. Our team employs a pragmatic yet highly creative approach to narrowing (if not eliminating) the claim prior to certification. We then proceed to trial (or resolution, as appropriate) based on the broader business context of the dispute. In doing so, we help our clients achieve meaningful results that align with their business objectives.

,,The team is fantastic: they're smart, kind, responsive and accommodating. The lawyers are always ahead of the game.,,

What Clients Say

Explore Our Services

Product Liability

Product Liability

We defend manufacturers in high-stakes product liability matters, helping manage litigation, recalls, and regulatory risks with strategies that protect both business and reputation.
Pascale Dionne-BourassaMichael A. Eizenga L.S.M.Cheryl M. Woodin
Pascale Dionne-Bourassa, Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M. & Cheryl M. Woodin
Product Regulation

Product Regulation

We help businesses bring products to market in Canada by navigating complex regulatory requirements, managing risk, and ensuring compliance across the full product lifecycle.
Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M.Dominique T. HusseyAdam KalbfleischCheryl M. Woodin
Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M., Dominique T. Hussey, Adam Kalbfleisch & Cheryl M. Woodin

Client Work

A consortium of six provincial and three territorial governments in a C$32.5-billion resolution with the tobacco industry to recover the healthcare costs associated with smoking
American Airlines
in its successful defence of a class action alleging conspiracy to limit capacity and fix prices, in contravention of the Competition Act
Bard
in the defence of multiple class actions and 200+ individual mass tort product liability actions relating to design and/or manufacturing defects that make various hernia mesh products unsuitable for implantation
BetterHelp
in two proposed class actions in Ontario and British Columbia concerning its alleged disclosure of its clients' personal and health information to third-party advertisers
Bridgestone
in connection with Canadian class proceedings (filed in Quebec and BC)
Canadian Hockey League
in a proposed class action alleging abuse and hazing of players since the inception of the leagues in 1975, brought on behalf of former and current major junior hockey players
Coinbase
in a novel claim concerning the application of Canadian securities law to crypto-currencies and other crypto-assets
Ford Motor Company
in a nationwide, cross-border class action relating to alleged water pump defects resulting in sudden engine failure
JP Morgan Chase
in several class actions in Ontario and Quebec related to alleged misconduct involving precious metals
Lamb Weston Holdings
in the defence of class actions filed in Quebec and British Columbia alleging product price-fixing
Namaste
in its defence of proposed class proceedings in British Columbia and Québec alleging that chemical hair straightening products cause or increase the risk of uterine, ovarian and breast cancer
Pharmascience
in the sprawling generic pharmaceuticals price-fixing conspiracy class action
RealPage
in defending it in a Canadian class action alleging damages to renters from landlords’ use of RealPage’s RMS
Travelers Insurance Company
in the defence of class actions and individual proceedings concerning denial of business interruption insurance claims arising from COVID-19 shutdowns
Vancouver Whitecaps
in the defence of a consumer protection and Competition Act class action arising from a scheduled match between the Whitecaps and Inter Miami CF
Volkswagen
in the defence of multiple class actions in Canada arising from product and product component issues
Dye & Durham
in defending a claim that alleges that Dye & Durham's 2020 acquisition of DoProcess was anti-competitive
A cannabinoid medical products investing firm against the claim of a minority shareholder who asserts an entitlement to have his shares purchased at a significant premium to fair value
Hyundai Auto Canada
in a putative national class action that alleges that airbag inflators manufactured by ARC Automotive that are installed within the airbag systems of various types of vehicles are defective
Victoria Gold
in its settlement of a securities class action alleging shareholders were misled by the company's disclosure documents regarding mine operations
GFA Canada
in a class action lawsuit raised against them by a former donor alleging that company made negligent misrepresentations
CannTrust
in defence of a multi-jurisdictional class action alleging that CannTrust and its officers and directors made misrepresentations
JBS entities
in defence of price-fixing class actions related to beef
Otto Fuchs Beteiligungen
in its defence of  a price-fixing class action related to forged aluminum product
Katanga Mining
in defence of a proposed representative action on behalf of minority shareholders for alleged oppression in relation to Katanga's $7.6-billion rights offering and go-private transaction
Canadian Pacific Railway Company
in a class action relating to the tragic wildfire that destroyed the Village of Lytton, British Columbia, on June 30, 2021
International Financial Group
in its defence of an employment class action alleging unpaid overtime as a result of misclassification of independent contractors
Tetra Tech
in defence of a securities class action claim alleging misrepresentation relating to mineral resource and reserve estimates at a mine and processing facility in Mexico
A leading cryptocurrency exchange, in its defence of a novel class action alleging violations of the Ontario Securities Act in relation to cryptocurrency products
Atlantic Lottery Corporation
in a class action in Newfoundland seeking disgorgement of profits through waiver of tort and restitutionary claims
ZF Friedrichshafen AG
in class actions commenced in Alberta and Ontario alleging the manufacture of defective gear shifts in selected automobiles
Bureau Veritas
in a successful defence of the $1.85-billion class action commenced against it and Loblaw
American Medical Systems
in class proceedings commenced in Ontario, which sought damages allegedly arising from the use of a silicone-coated sling/mesh with InhibiZone device
Exxon Mobil Chemical Company
in class proceedings commenced in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, which alleged that the defendants engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy
Manulife Securities International
in a class action commenced by certain investors in Portus Alternative Asset Management
Primerica Financial Services
in class proceedings commenced in Ontario by former trainees of Primerica for wages that allegedly should have been paid during a pre-employment training period
Sun-Times Media Group
in the class actions brought in Illinois, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec alleging misstatements and misrepresentations by Hollinger in their public filings and disclosures
Association of International Automobile Manufacturers of Canada
in the class action, Cathy-Ann Accomando et al. v. Nissan Canada et al., which was commenced in US courts
Great Atlantic & Pacific Company of Canada
in class proceedings commenced in Ontario challenging A&P's pricing practices under the franchise agreements
Ontario Medical Association
in a class action commenced in Ontario relating to professional and technical fees paid to radiologists
TVI Pacific
in a class action commenced in Ontario and Quebec alleging misrepresentation in the Company's public financial statements issued in 2005
Unicash Franchisees
in class proceedings commenced against the franchisor and multiple franchisees by consumers alleging they had been charged usurious interest rates
Warrantholders of Aurelian Resources
in securities class action claims in Ontario and Alberta in relation to the public mining company's failure to secure an extension of warrants granted to subscribers of a 2003 private-placement financing
Virgin Atlantic Airways
in class proceedings commenced in BC, Ontario and Quebec, which alleged that the defendants conspired to fix the price of air cargo services
Sumitomo Corporation
in an Ontario class action alleging a world-wide price-fixing conspiracy in the copper market

Recognitions

Chambers Canada
Ranked, Dispute Resolution: Class Action (Defence)


Chambers Canada Awards

Named Class Action Law Firm of the Year


The Legal 500 Canada
Tier 1 Dispute Resolution: Alberta
Ranked Dispute Resolution: Ontario
Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory
Most Frequently Recommended, Class Actions (Toronto)
Consistently Recommended, Class Actions (Calgary)
Benchmark Litigation Awards
Class Action Litigator of the Year, Mike Eizenga
Impact Case Award, Hughes et al v Liquor Control Board of Ontario et al (Bennett Jones et al)
Dionne Bourassa Pascale

Pascale Dionne-Bourassa

Montréal Managing Partner

Eizenga Michael

Michael A. Eizenga L.S.M.

Partner   •   Co-Head of Class Actions Practice

Davis Emrys

Emrys Davis

Partner  •   Co-Head of Class Actions Practice

Woodin Cheryl

Cheryl M. Woodin

Partner  •   Co-Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department

Related Services

At the centre of market-shaping deals and high-stakes disputes, Bennett Jones delivers clarity, strategy and results. Our cross-border teams turn complexity into progress, always focused on what drives your success.

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