In CSI Toronto Car Systems Installations Ltd. v Pittasoft Co., Ltd., 2021 ONSC 5117, Justice Mohan D. Sharma dismissed a motion by Pittasoft for a stay of CSI’s Ontario action in favour of arbitration on the grounds that: (1) under Article 8(1) of the Model Law, the arbitration agreement was “null and void, inoperative or incapable of being performed” because Pittasoft was estopped by its own conduct from relying upon it and also that Pittasoft had brought its stay motion too late; and (2) these findings constituted “strong cause” why the arbitration clause should not be enforced in accordance with the principles articulated by the Ontario Court of Appeal in Novatrax International Inc. v Hagele Landtechnik GmbH, 2016 ONCA 771 , that apply “when a litigant seeks to displace a forum selection clause agreed upon in a commercial contract”.
Continue reading “Ontario – Party’s conduct in suing in foreign jurisdiction constituted “strong cause” why arbitration clause should not be enforced under ONCA Novatrax principles – #519”Québec – case referred to arbitration despite some parties and some claims possibly not covered by the arbitration agreement – #517
In Césario v Régnoux, 2021 QCCS 3009, Justice Johanne Mainville granted Defendants’ application to the Court to decline jurisdiction and refer the parties to arbitration (declinatory exception). Justice Mainville held that the record did not allow her to rule on the Court’s jurisdiction because of unanswered questions regarding the relationship between the parties and their conduct prior to executing the arbitration agreement. The arbitrator must therefore first rule on its own jurisdiction, even though Justice Mainville noted that some parties and some claims were possibly not covered by the arbitration agreement.
Continue reading “Québec – case referred to arbitration despite some parties and some claims possibly not covered by the arbitration agreement – #517”