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Christopher F. Reil
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Education
- LLB, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario (1979)
- Honours B.A. Philosophy & Psychology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario (1976)
Areas of Practice
- Insurance litigation
- Personal injury litigation
- Professional negligence litigation
- Employment litigation
- Commercial litigation
- Construction litigation and
- Real estate litigation
Practice Summary
Chris Reil joined Williams McEnery in 2003. Since his call to the bar in 1981, he has devoted his practice to civil litigation and has been counsel in a wide variety of matters including: insurance litigation, (motor vehicle, arson, fraud, coverage issues, errors and omissions) personal injury litigation, professional negligence, real estate and estate litigation, defamation, products liability, enforcement of creditor's rights, occupier's liability, commercial and construction litigation. Chris acts for a large cross section of institutional clients as well as individuals for both plaintiffs and defendants. He is also often asked to accept referrals from other counsel. He has extensive trial experience and has appeared as Counsel in all levels of Court in Ontario including the Divisional Court and the Court of Appeal as well as a number of administrative tribunals.
Risk management on behalf of the client is a core element of Chris' practice tempered by a results oriented focus. This includes providing policy advice focused on problem solving and prevention. Clients expect and receive services that are predictable, understood and effective. Chris views being pro-active as a cornerstone of his practice.
Chris is able to bring a unique perspective to both his Plaintiff and defence practice having been employed as an in-house litigation Counsel with a major insurance company.
Seminars
- Speaker, "Examining the Expert Witness on Discovery", Carleton County Law Association, May 1998
- Speaker, "Occupier's Liability" Risk Insurance Managers Conference, 2000
- Speaker, "Punitive Damages an Overview", Canadian Risk Insurance Managers Conference, Ottawa, September 2001
- Speaker, "Evidenciary Matters relating to Fire Investigation", Canadian Association of Fire Investigators, June 2001
- Speaker, "Nuts and Bolts on Pleadings and Preliminary Matters", Carleton County Law Association, 2001
Selected Cases
Insurance:
- SunAlliance Insurance Company v. Commercial Union Assurance Company [1991] O.J. No. 425 (H.C.J.). This was a dispute between two insurers as to which insurer provided primary coverage in respect of damages arising from a serious motor vehicle accident. Chris acted as co-counsel for the Defendant insurer. The action was dismissed.
- Saikaley v. Commonwealth Insurance Company, (1989) (Ont. H. C. J.) unreported
This was an arson claim. Chris was co-counsel defending the insurer. The Court was satisfied the fire was incendiary and had been arranged by the insured. The Court found that the insured's failure to deliver a proof of loss was fatal to his claim and that he was not entitled to relief from forfeiture as the default had been deliberate. The action was dismissed.
- Ali v. Diogo [1996] O.J. No. 4094 (Ont. Ct. Gen. Div.)
In this motor vehicle claim involving a collision at an intersection, Chris represented the defendant insured in a trial that dealt with the liability issue only, it having been agreed to defer the issue of damages to a later date if the plaintiff was successful on the liability issue. The action was dismissed.
Negligence
- Hewitt v. Hillary Cleaners et al, (1998) (Ont. H. C. J.), unreported
Chris successfully represented the plaintiffs in an action against their cleaning company arising from a break enter and theft that had been facilitated by the defendant's former employee. The Court held that the defendant was negligent in hiring an employee with an extensive criminal record without performing a proper background check and for failing to warn the plaintiffs after discovering her criminal background.
Construction:
- Carleton Condominium Corp. No 75 v. Campeau Corp. [1988] O.J. No. 1687 (H.C.J.)
This was a lengthy multiparty action dealing concerned with nemrous alleged construction defects in a large twin tower condominium project. Chris acted as co-counsel for the plaintiff.
Commercial:
- Metcalfe Realty v. 990982 Ontario Inc. [1998] O.J. No. 3637 (C.A.)
Chris represented the landlord and obtained a summary judgment against the defaulting tenant for both arrears of rent and the present value of the future rent to the end of the term. The judgment was upheld by the Court of Appeal.
- Toronto-Dominium Bank v. Pella/Hunt Corp. 10 O.R. (3d) 634 (Ont. Ct. Gen. Div.)
This involved a novel issue involving the law of restitution. Chris successfully represented the Bank, which the Court held was entitled to recover monies it had paid out to its customer's creditor under a mistake of fact.
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