W. v. 3584747 Canada Inc.
W. v. 3584747 Canada Inc.
Summary
This was an appeal to the Court of Appeal from a Divisional Court decision regarding a class action for wrongful dismissal. The representative plaintiff brought an action on behalf of former Kmart employees who were dismissed when stores were closed following Hudson's Bay Company's acquisition. The motion judge ordered that individual claims be determined by references to deputy judges of the Small Claims Court or Superior Court judges and masters. The Divisional Court struck these orders, finding they improperly exercised the power of the Chief Justice under s. 14(1) of the Courts of Justice Act. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, agreeing that a court should not appoint a judge to conduct a reference under the Class Proceedings Act without authorization from the Chief Justice.
Outcome
appeal dismissed
Key Factors
- courts of justice act
- class proceedings act
- appointment of referees
- powers of the chief justice
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This summary was written by AI from the published decision and its headnote. It is not an official version of the decision; read the full text on CanLII before relying on it. This is legal information, not legal advice. Ontario Severance is an educational tool. If you are facing a serious employment law matter, consult with a qualified employment lawyer in Ontario.