Legal Blog

Release Interpretation

Corner Brook (City) v. Bailey 2021 SCC

Releases are to be interpreted in the same manner as any other contract. The 1870 principle stating that releases are to be limited to occurrences in the contemplation of the parties at the time of the release is no longer good law. Accordingly, a release can cover an unknown claim with sufficient language and does not need to particularize with precision the exact claims that fall within its scope.

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