Civil Litigation, Advocacy
Navigating Common Disputes:
From Real Estate Deals to Insurance Claims
Throughout the process, we’ll report and reassess regularly to ensure that we’re meeting and exceeding your expectations. Whatever your situation, we have the experience and legal expertise to help you achieve your goals.
- Commercial
- Construction / Construction Liens
- Condominium disputes
- Contract disputes
- Defamation
- Directors' and officers' liability
- Environmental / toxic torts
- Employment
- Fraud
- Insurance
- Landlord / Tenant
- Mortgage enforcement
- Oppression
- Product liability
- Professional liability
- Property damage
- Real estate / land use disputes
- Shareholders' disputes
To learn more about how we can help you, please get in touch with Jason Rabin
Our Civil Litigation, Advocacy Lawyers
Frequently Asked Questions
At Gibson Tanner Rabin LLP, we understand that navigating legal matters can be complex and overwhelming. Our FAQs are designed to provide clear, concise answers to common questions, helping you gain a better understanding of our services and processes.
What remedies are available in our civil litigation system for the successful plaintiff?
Can I recover my legal costs if I am successful in court?
Ontario has a “loser pays” court system, which means that generally the loser must pay the winner’s legal costs. Typically, this is on a “partial indemnity” basis, which comes out to between 50%-65% of the party’s actual legal bill. In some circumstances the loser may have to pay the winner “substantial indemnity” costs, which is around 90% of the actual legal bill. In rare circumstances, a party may be able to recover 100% but this is the exception, not the rule.
How long does it take to take my case from start to finish through the court system?
Unfortunately, litigation can be time-consuming and depending on the value of the case and the level of court, it may take several months in the case of a simple Application to several years in the case of an Action. However, most cases in the civil litigation system will typically settle long before the case winds its way fully through court, often through mediation, which is generally mandatory for Actions in the Ottawa region. For some cases there may also be available faster remedies, such as through a motion for summary judgment, which may be heard in as little as a few months.
How much will my case cost me in legal fees?
The legal cost for arguing a case depends greatly on its complexity and on other factors such as the level of court, the seniority / hourly rate of the professional handling the case and how far the case gets into the litigation process before it resolves. At Gibson Tanner Rabin LLP, we always pursue early settlement if instructed by you and where appropriate. We also understand that a $10,000 lawsuit in Small Claims Court cannot be handled the same way as a $1,000,000 lawsuit in Superior Court, which is why we offer different staffing options, such as junior associate and paralegal representation for lower value cases to ensure that legal fees are proportionate with the amount in issue.
