Areas of Focus: Types of Cases Handled

Question: What types of cases can be handled in Small Claims Court in Canada?

Answer: Small Claims Court in Canada is designed for civil disputes involving smaller sums of money, typically up to a set limit that varies by province. Common cases include breach of contract, construction and renovation disputes, debts and liens, insurance coverage issues, liability of bailees, realty dispute issues, and tortious conduct claims. By understanding these categories, individuals can better navigate the legal landscape and seek proper resolution. For personalized guidance tailored to your situation, consider consulting with legal professionals to explore your options effectively.

Understanding the Types of Cases that May Be Litigated in Small Claims Court

The law is much too large for any person to ever know in full.  Indeed, even highly experienced judges with decades of experience will be without full knowledge of the law and are therefore, usually, assigned to handle a narrow focus of cases that are within areas of law that are familiar to the judge. Even so, judges will routinely expect representatives for the parties to perform precedent research and then provide submissions and present argument based upon the findings of that research.

Accordingly, there will be certain judges who will hear civil law cases and there will be other judges who hear family law cases and then other judges who hear criminal cases, etc.  In a similar fashion, lawyers and paralegals will develop specific areas of law as the types of Small Claims Court cases that are focused upon. While all cases will involve unique facts, after hundreds of years of development of the law and justice system, few cases are truly novel and various fundamental basics of the law will likely exist and apply to a specific situation.