Ontario Pension Surplus Litigation

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt is representing Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation (“CMHC”) in a $22 million class action commenced by former employees who allege they have been wrongly excluded from a surplus sharing plan developed by CMHC. William J. Sammon of Ottawa’s Barnes, Sammon is acting for the plaintiffs. The Osler team consists of litigators J. Brett Ledger, Lawrence Ritchie and John Craig and pensions specialist Ian McSweeney. Oslers’ has a similar retainer from Bowater Incorporated (formerly Avenor) respecting a class action in Thunder Bay commenced by a group of retirees who have had their benefits reduced. Brett Ledger leads Bowater’s defence, assisted by Stephen Lamont and Lynn Mitchell. Ledger is also defending a class action against General Motors commenced by a group of pensioners in London who have banded together and are claiming $20 million in termination benefits. Counsel for the plaintiffs in the Bowater litigation is Marc L. Bode of Bode & Associates. Counsel for the plaintiffs in the General Motors litigation are James Virtue and Nancy Courtney Granger of Siskind, Cromarty, Ivey & Dowler. The GM action was recently dismissed by Justice McDermott on a jurisdiction challenge and that decision is under appeal.

Lawyer(s)

Ian J.F. McSweeney William J. Sammon Nancy Courtney Granger J. Brett G. Ledger John D. R. Craig Lawrence E. Ritchie Lynn Mitchell Marc L. Bode Stephen Lamont

Firm(s)

Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP Barnes, Sammon LLP Marc. L. Bode Siskinds LLP