Legal Blog

Pierringer Agreement

Cadieux v. Cadieux 2025 Ont CA

Catastrophically injured children sued their father, another driver, and the City of Ottawa after an accident. The children entered into a Pierringer Agreement with Ottawa and sought court approval, also moving to amend their pleadings to limit claims against non-settling defendants to their joint and several liability. The non-settling defendants argued that the agreement prejudiced them because Ottawa had a deep pocket and other defendants, even with some insurance, did not. The court approved the agreement, finding that the mere possibility of a non-settling defendant being unable to obtain full contribution from another non-settling defendant was speculative and did not constitute sufficient prejudice.

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