Legal Blog

Project Manager’s Civil Fraud

1995636 Ontario Inc. v. 5010729 Ontario Inc. 2026 Ont SCJ (Div Ct)

Project manager provided development‑management services for a housing project and filed a $450,000 construction lien after the owner terminated the contract. The owner found that project manager was building a duplex rather than 13 units as represented. The trial judge rejected project manager’s evidence as not credible, found intentional deception, held that project manager was entitled to no more money than the owner had already paid, discharged the lien, and granted damages on the counterclaim. The Divisional Court upheld the result.

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