Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP

A win for our clients. In Slatkovsky v Machado, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice awarded $150,318 after a century home's structural renovations turned out to be unpermitted and undisclosed, holding both the vendors and the dual-agent realtor liable.

Our lawyers David Morin and Peter Reinitzer acted for the successful plaintiffs. Read our case comment:

Slatkovsky v Machado: Unpermitted Renovations, Dual Agency An Ontario court held vendors and a double-ending realtor liable for an undisclosed unpermitted renovation and a misleading well report, awarding $150,318.

On March 3, 2026, associate Hudson Chalmers acted as a trial judge for the medical malpractice moot organized by Legate Injury Lawyers and Western Health Law Association. This was Hudson’s third year in a row participating as a trial judge for this competition.

Well done, Hudson!

Hudson Chalmers of Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP Participates as a Judge in the 2026 Legate Injury Lawyers’ Medical Malpractice Moot | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP On March 3, 2026, Hudson Chalmers, an associate at Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP, acted as a trial judge for the medical malpractice moot organized by Legate Injury Lawyers and Western Health Law Association. This was Hudson’s third year in a row participating as a trial judge for this competition....

In our latest blog post, partner Peter Reinitzer provides an analysis of the significant Ontario case, Austin v. MacFarlane, which addresses latent defects and vendor liability in residential real estate transactions.

The court ruled that the sellers were liable for not disclosing serious hidden defects, leading to damages exceeding $119,000 for the buyer. This decision underscores the legal risks vendors face when they misrepresent a property's condition or neglect to disclose known latent defects.

For further insights, you can read more about the case here:

Latent Defects and Vendor Liability: Lessons from Austin v. MacFarlane | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP In the recent decision of Austin v. MacFarlane, 2026 ONSC 463, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice addressed the ongoing tension between a vendor's silence and the active concealment of property defects. For litigation counsel and homeowners facing foundation issues, the case serves as a focused r...

In the landscape of Ontario real estate litigation, the principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) has long served as a formidable defense for vendors. However, as the recent decision in Oliva v Dickson, 2025 ONSC 6666 makes clear, this shield is not impenetrable. When a homeowner steps into the shoes of a builder or substantial renovator, they take on legal obligations that cannot be easily signed away in a standard form contract.

No Damages Beyond “Buyer Beware”: Residential Renovations, the Building Code, and Construction Negligence | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP In the landscape of Ontario real estate litigation, the principle of caveat emptor (buyer beware) has long served as a formidable defense for vendors. However, as the recent decision in Oliva v Dickson, 2025 ONSC 6666 makes clear, this shield is not impenetrable. When a homeowner steps into the shoe...

Shaw Estate v. Handler – Court of Appeal Dismisses ER Doctor’s Appeal of Judgment Against Him Relating to Death of 34-Year Old Mother of 4 | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP I was retained by Merton Thompson ("Merton") in 2016. His young wife Elisha Shaw ("Elisha"), mother to his 4 children, had died after being discharged from the emergency department. Merton came to me looking for answers and accountability. A Statement of Claim was issued in 2017 alleging negligence....

The staff and lawyers of Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP enjoyed our annual holiday lunch today in Toronto.

Wishing our friends, clients and colleagues all the best over the holiday season.

Thank-you Hudson Chalmers for lending your expertise this weekend by volunteer judging a medical malpractice mock trial for students at the University of Toronto. Well done to all the participants!

Hudson Chalmers of Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP Participates in Medical Malpractice Mock Trial at University of Toronto | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP On November 29, 2025, medical malpractice lawyer Hudson Chalmers, of Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP, volunteered as a trial judge at the 8th Annual University of Toronto Mock Trial Cup.The hypothetical case involved a 13-year-old boy who attended an emergency department with a history of headaches and...

A big congratulations to Chris Morrison and Margaret Klassen for securing a dismissal for their insurance client arising from a protracted and complex property damage dispute.

Read Margaret Klassen's detailed summary on the case and the decision below.

No Damages Awarded for “The Building that Blew Up”: $16 Million Damages Claim Dismissed After 13-Years of Litigation | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP On October 7, 2025, the Justice Schabas of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released the long-awaited decision in Avedian et al v Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., a case that spanned nearly 13 years and arose from a 2010 explosion in the laundry room of a high-rise apartment building.Although li...

Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP is proud to announce another year of recognition as a Best Law Firm across three practice areas: Insurance Law, Medical Negligence and Personal Injury Litigation.

These awards are earned by our talented lawyers and staff who dedicate themselves to achieving successful outcomes for our clients in challenging civil claims.

Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP Earns 2026 Best Law Firm Ranking for Excellence in Multiple Practice Areas | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP is proud to announce its repeated inclusion in the prestigious "Best Law Firms" rankings for 2026. The firm has once again achieved National and Regional Tier 1 rankings, underscoring its position as a leader in the Canadian legal landscape. This recognition highlights t...

Property loss claims from flooding can be a nightmare for property owners. Read Peter Reinitzer's latest article on this challenging area of insurance law.

Flooded Again? Why Your Insurance Denial Might Be a Clue to a Deeper Problem | Davidson Cahill Morrison LLP The news that a Toronto shelter was facing $250,000 in damages after heavy rain—and that their insurance provider would likely not cover the cost—is a nightmare scenario for any property owner. According to the recent CTV article, the denial appears to hinge on the fact that the water "came from...