Section 44(10) of the Municipality Act mandates that for incidents that occur on municipal sidewalks or roadways, an injured party must provide notification of the incident to the municipality within ten business days, failing which they are disentitled from suing the municipality for their injuries. However, there is an exception to the 10-day notice period…
To the delight of business owners and consumers, provincial governments across Canada have been relaxing alcohol laws in an attempt to support hospitality industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Ontario, for example, we have seen the government allow restaurants to expand their patios and include alcohol in takeout and delivery orders.
Municipalities enjoy legal protections that other parties do not. Take the 10-day notice period as a prime example.
The Municipal Act, 2001 states that no legal action shall be brought for the recovery of damages unless the municipality is notified of the claim and injury within 10 days of its occurrence. When municipal property is in a state of disrepair or covered in ice and snow, with no reasonable attempts at maintenance, resulting injuries warrant recovery of damages from the responsible municipality.
The injured person has only 10 days to let the municipality know that they were injured on city property, or risk being unable to recover damages.
Last year in the case Seif v. Toronto, a Toronto judge ruled that a woman who tripped on a poorly maintained City sidewalk was prevented from even bringing her case before a judge because she had failed to provide written notice to the City within 10 days of the incident. In this case, the woman broke her wrist when she tripped and fell on a …
With one of the coldest months on record finally behind us, Ontarians are getting a knack for braving subzero temperatures this winter. Unfortunately, Ontarians will continue to feel the chilling effect of the Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways (“MMS”) long after the snow has gone. Recent news about a large chunk of concrete allegedly falling from the Gardiner Expressway Bridge and smashing into the …
Are municipalities getting nailed with lawsuits for kids and families tobogganing on city property? Absolutely not! Are they held responsible when they know someone will get hurt, but do nothing about it? Sometimes, but it is extremely rare. If there is a war by municipalities against tobogganing, don’t blame lawsuits. Believe it or not, tobogganing cases going to court against a city or town are …
