Legal Blog

Damages – Punitive

Craig v. Dubin 2016 Ont SCJ

Son-in-law defrauded the father-in-law’s accounting practice by setting up a dummy name and style almost identical to father-in-law’s name and style and diverting clients’ cheques into a dummy bank account. Father-in-law was alerted when a client had a problem with an account. The judge awarded the full amount taken plus an additional $50,000 in punitive costs plus full indemnity costs, subject to offers to settle. The judge noted that if son-in-law were charged criminally, he could apply to seek relief from the $50,000 punitive costs award.

Written by Jonathan Speigel Jonathan Speigel, the founding partner of Speigel Nichols Fox LLP, leads the litigation and construction practices.