Looking Back on 10 Decisions of 2018

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com Below is a brief look back at some of the most talked about cases in 2018: Metropolitan Toronto Condominium Corp. No. 932 v. Lahrkamp, [2018] O.J. No. 311 A unit owner had commenced many legal proceedings against the condominium corporation for approximately 10 years relating to the production of documents – many of these proceedings were dismissed.  The condominium corporation successfully applied to the Court to have an order prohibiting the owner from commencing legal proceedings against the condominium corporation and its past, present, and future directors, property managers, and service providers without leave of the Court.  Note that the unit owner was not prohibited from bringing legal proceedings before the Condominium Authority Tribunal (“CAT”) and did so later in 2018…the owners application before the CAT was dismissed. Jones v. 2341464 Ontario Inc., 2018 ONSC 717 A developer/vendor attempted to unilaterally terminate an agreement of purchase and sale for a pre-construction condominium unit due to delays in construction.  The Court found that the provisions in the agreement of purchase and sale that allowed the developer/vendor to unilaterally terminate the agreement of purchase and sale had been removed by a valid amendment and that the developer/vendor was required to perform its obligations set out in the agreement of purchase and sale. Simcoe Standard Condominium Corp. No. 431 v. Atkins, [2018] O.J. No. 2986 Two condominium corporations were ordered to call requisitioned meetings of owners because of a special assessment levied by the condominium corporations. The condominium corporations had refused to call the meetings of owners because they alleged the requisitioning owners had obtained the necessary signatures to requisition a meeting of owners by disseminating misleading information.  The Court was not persuaded by the evidence presented to support such an allegation and found no reason for the condominium corporations to refuse to call meetings of owners in accordance with section 46 of the Condominium Act, 1998.  Further, the condominium corporations asked the Court to prohibit the use of proxies during the requisitioned meetings of owners as a result of the dissemination of misleading information. The Court refused to do so finding that the communications were not misleading but rather expressed an opposing view. The Court also questioned if it had authority to "deny owners the statutory right to vote by proxy." Janet Cangiano v Metropolitan Toronto Condominium Corporation No. 962, 2018 ONCAT 7 A unit owner had requested to audit the proxies recently used to elect directors to the board of directors without redaction. The CAT refused the request of the unit owner as clause 55(4)(d) of the Condominium Act, 1998 provides that the ability of an owner to examine the records of the condominium corporation does not apply to “any portion of a ballot or proxy form that identifies specific units in a corporation or owners in a corporation unless a by-law of the corporation provides otherwise”. Peel Standard Condominium Corporation No. 984 v. 8645361 Canada Limited, 2018 ONSC 4339 After obtaining an order prohibiting a commercial unit owner from harassing the condominium corporation’s board members, employees and managers and multiple orders from the Court, the condominium corporation successfully obtained an order requiring the owner to vacate and sell the commercial unit for any reasonable offer.  The Court also granted the condominium corporation the ability to apply for possession of the commercial unit if the owner did not comply with the conditions of the Court’s order. Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation No. 2256 v. Paluszkiewicz, 2018 ONSC 2329 A condominium corporation asked the Court to set aside the decision of an arbitrator with respect to the validity of improvements made to a unit authorized by a section 98 agreement. The section 98 agreement was authorized by the declarant appointed board and called for the production of detailed drawings and further approval of the board prior to renovations commencing.  The owner argued the required plans were submitted to the declarant appointed board provided and the evidence of the condominium corporation was not sufficient to persuade the Court to set aside the decision of the arbitrator. Patterson v. York Condominium Corporation No. 70, 2018 ONSC 3735 The Court dismissed an owner’s effort to force the condominium corporation to raise the common expenses, among other requests.  The Court found that the decision process of the board of directors met the standard of care required under section 37 of the Act and that the Court should not substitute its own reasoning for that of the board of directors. Noguera v. Muskoka Condominium Corporation No. 22, 2018 ONSC 7278 An owner had commenced construction to remove a demising wall between units with the board or director’s permission.  A subsequent board of directors asked for the owner to enter into a section 98 agreement and wanted to review/alter the decision and decision making process of the previous board of directors.  The owner brought an oppression and was permitted to complete construction but was required to enter into a section 98 agreement. Terence Arrowsmith v Peel Condominium Corporation No. 94 2018 ONCAT 10 An owner made a request for records relating to the removal of mould from the sauna and mailroom.  The condominium corporation did not provide the requested records despite conceding the owner was entitled to such records on the basis that the owner had not properly completed the mandatory request for records form.  The CAT ordered the documents to be provided and award costs (which included an award for the owner's time spent participating in the process) to the owner. The CAT also went on to impose a monetary penalty on the condominium corporation as a result of its failure to provide records without reasonable excuse.