March 5, 2012

Class Actions Update: Ontario Court Dismisses Competition Act Claims in Tim Hortons’ Case

Our friend and colleague Marius Adomnica (Gratl & Company) has written this good case note on the recent Tim Hortons class action case in Ontario: The Ontario Superior Court of Justice recently released its reasons striking the Plaintiffs’ claim in Fairview Donut Inc. v. The … Read the rest of this entry »

March 3, 2012

Advertising & Fraud Update: U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Top 10 Consumer Complaints – Includes Contests, Loan Products & Identity Theft

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) has published a very interesting list of top 10 consumer complaints: 1. Identity theft: Fighting back against identify theft 2. Debt collection complaints: Dealing with debt 3. Prizes, sweepstakes & lotteries: Sweepstakes and lotteries scams 4. Shop-at-home and catalog … Read the rest of this entry »

March 3, 2012

New Books: Advertising, Competition, Cartel, Trade and Class Action Law From Oxford University Press – 2012

New (2012) advertising, competition, cartel, trade and class action law books from Oxford University Press: The Class Action Playbook – Brian Anderson and Andrew Trask From OUP: “The Class Action Playbook is a unique and strategic “how to” guide for practitioners seeking to bring or … Read the rest of this entry »

March 2, 2012

Conferences: Introduction to the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards & Consumer Complaints Procedure

MARCH 27 2012 Advertising Standards Canada (ASC) will be holding an introductory session to the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards in Toronto on March 27, 2012 entitled Introduction to the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards & Consumer Complaints Procedure. From the ASC: “Consumers are scrutinizing … Read the rest of this entry »

March 2, 2012

Advertising Update: $9 Million Penalty and Restitution Obtained in Deceptive Marketing Scheme

The Competition Bureau announced earlier today that five companies and three individuals were found by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to have violated the Competition Act in relation to a deceptive marketing operation (see: Competition Bureau Secures Over $9 Million and Money Back to … Read the rest of this entry »

March 2, 2012

Worthy Quotes: caveat emptor v. caveat venditor

“The measures [under the Quebec Consumer Protection Act] to protect consumers from fraudulent advertising practices are one expression of a legislative intent to move away from the maxim caveat emptor, or “let the buyer beware”.  As a result of these measures, merchants, manufacturers and advertisers are … Read the rest of this entry »

March 1, 2012

Advertising Update: Supreme Court Awards Compensatory and Punitive Damages in Misleading Contest Case

CANADIAN CONTEST RULES/PRECEDENTS Do you need contest rules and forms for a Canadian contest/sweepstakes? I offer a selection of Canadian contest rules and forms for random draw, skill and other common types of Canadian contests (i.e., contest precedents and forms). For more information see Canadian Contest … Read the rest of this entry »

March 1, 2012

Fraud Update: Competition Bureau Kicks Off Fraud Prevention Month

The Competition Bureau announced earlier today that it was kicking off Fraud Prevention Month with a series of panel discussions on fraud prevention across Canada that will assemble experts from law enforcement agencies, academics and business and consumer groups. In making the announcement, the Bureau … Read the rest of this entry »