Heads up - Toronto Trial Initiative

For the Private Healthcare community it is always nice to plan your holidays. Here is something you need to know. The court in Toronto will be implementing the Toronto Sittings Project starting the fall of 2017. The project will apply to all two and three week trials in personal injury cases (except medical malpractice). There will no longer be fixed trial dates. Cases will be on a list to be tried in the fall sittings starting at the end of November. Those not reached will be heard in the last two weeks of January 2018. The spring sittings will start in May 2018. Again those not reached will be will be tried in September.

As a potential witness you are expected to be available to give evidence when the case is called. It is likely that three week trials will be called to start during the first or second week of the sittings. Consequently two week trials will be called to start at any time during the first three weeks of the sittings.

I would suggest you check your calendar and contact the lawyer who is involved with any case you might be called as a witness in, in order to find out when you might be needed.