4 Differences Between Personal Injury Cases in Ontario and the United States
4 Differences Between Personal Injury Cases in Ontario and the United States
Given Ontario’s proximity to the United States, the prevalence of American media in popular culture, and the relative infrequency with which most people interact with the courts, it comes as no surprise that some Ontarians are more familiar with American legal concepts than their relevant Ontario counterparts.
But personal injury cases in the United States and in Ontario differ significantly in several respects. Consequently, it’s important that Ontarians — and Americans who become involved in Ontario lawsuits — understand some of the differences between the two systems. Toward that end, below are four ways personal injury cases differ in Ontario and the United States.
1. The Role of Federal Courts
Both Canada and the United States divide political power between multiple provincial or state governments and a single, nationwide federal government.
The two levels of government in each nation have their own distinct courts, but the role of federal courts in personal injury cases couldn’t be more different. Ontario Canada’s federal courts exercise jurisdiction in limited circumstances, such as in admiralty cases, federal tax disputes, and lawsuits against the federal government. The one exception to this rule is the Supreme Court of Canada, which is supreme over all Canadian courts in all areas of law. United States Federal courts in the United States generally exercise two different types of jurisdiction: federal question jurisdiction, which applies when a lawsuit raises an issue of federal law; and diversity jurisdiction, which applies in a lawsuit when: None of the plaintiffs are from the same state as any of the defendants; and The amount in controversy is greater than $75,000. Federal courts in diversity cases apply the law of the state where they are located. In other words, in many cases a plaintiff can choose to file a personal injury lawsuit either in state court or in federal court, and that decision will not affect the applicable law.
However, if a plaintiff chooses to file a lawsuit in state court, the defendant may be able to move the case to federal court if the federal court’s jurisdictional requirements are met. Defendants often want to move a case to federal court, because those courts are considered friendlier to defendants than their state-court counterparts. This creates an opportunity for gamesmanship in personal injury cases that doesn’t exist in Canadian courts, as plaintiffs attempt to gerrymander an action that avoids federal jurisdiction, and defendants attempt to defeat those efforts and move the case to a more favorable forum. 2. Contributory Negligence Ontario and most states in the U.S. also differ in how they deal with a plaintiff whose negligence contributed to his or her own injury. Ontario In lawsuits in Ontario, based on the defendant’s negligence, the court must determine the extent to which the plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to his or her injury, if at all — which we refer to as “contributory negligence.” The plaintiff’s recovery is reduced in proportion to his or her contributory negligence. Learn more about contributory negligence in Ontario. United States In the U.S., the phrase “contributory negligence” refers to an older rule, under which a plaintiff was completely barred from recovering if he or she was even slightly at fault.
Today, only a handful of states still follow this rule. What we in Ontario refer to as “contributory negligence,” the U.S. refers to as “comparative fault.” Most states use a system of comparative fault, but there are different variations: Ontario’s contributory negligence rule is most like the “pure comparative fault” rule used in about a dozen states. Under this rule, the plaintiff’s recovery is simply reduced to the extent of his or her own fault. A majority of states use what’s called “modified comparative fault,” in which the plaintiff’s recovery is reduced to the extent of his or her own fault, but barred entirely if the plaintiff’s percentage fault exceeds a certain threshold. The threshold may be 49% or 50%, depending on state law. 3. Damages for Pain and Suffering Both U.S. and Ontario law provide for recovery of damages for pain and suffering. However, to what extent such damages can be recovered varies wildly not only between Ontario and the U.S., but also between different jurisdictions in the United States. Ontario In the late 1970s, the Supreme Court of Canada imposed a limit on the amount of damages that could be awarded for pain and suffering. These sorts of damages are referred to as “non-pecuniary,” because it’s impossible to put a precise price tag on them. At the time, the limit on pain-and-suffering damages was $100,000. Because of inflation, that limit is approaching $400,000 today. See also:
When to Contact a Lawyer about Your Personal Injury Compensation United States The United States is infamous for its massive damage awards. Perhaps the most famous example of that is the McDonald’s hot coffee case, a personal injury lawsuit in which a jury awarded a woman $2.9 million after she spilled a McDonald’s coffee on herself. A substantial portion of such large recoveries is attributable to damages for pain and suffering, which remain unlimited in much of the country. To be sure, there have been efforts in some states to rein in extravagant damage awards. About a dozen states limit damages in personal injury cases, and still more in medical malpractice cases. On the other hand, in several states, legislative attempts to impose similar damage caps have been struck down by the courts. 4. Costs Filing a lawsuit always involves costs. At a minimum, virtually every case will have filing fees and lawyers’ fees. But the United States and Ontario have developed different rules for who ultimately pays those costs.
Ontario Canada generally follows what is known as the “English Rule,” in which the costs of an action are paid by the losing party. In Ontario, awards of costs are within a court’s discretion, but generally the losing party will have to pay at least some of the prevailing party’s costs. See also: 4 Signs Your Personal Injury Law Firm Isn’t a Good Fit United States The United States differs from other common-law nations in how it treats the costs of litigation. The U.S. generally follows what is called the “American Rule,” under which each party to a lawsuit bears its own costs, regardless of who prevails. However, some states have introduced limited versions of the “English Rule” for specific circumstances. Conclusion: Consult a Knowledgeable Lawyer Regardless What Law Applies The differences between personal injury cases in the United States and Ontario may seem like minutia, and for most people in either place, that’s all it is. But for litigants who may be involved in lawsuits in both jurisdictions, or who face a choice of where to pursue their claims, these differences can have a dramatic impact on their legal rights and recovery. If you’re an American injured in Ontario, an Ontarian injured in the United States, or otherwise have a cross-border personal injury claim, contact the experienced lawyers of Preszler Law Firm for a free consultation to help you determine the best course of action in your case.
The two levels of government in each nation have their own distinct courts, but the role of federal courts in personal injury cases couldn’t be more different. Ontario Canada’s federal courts exercise jurisdiction in limited circumstances, such as in admiralty cases, federal tax disputes, and lawsuits against the federal government. The one exception to this rule is the Supreme Court of Canada, which is supreme over all Canadian courts in all areas of law. United States Federal courts in the United States generally exercise two different types of jurisdiction: federal question jurisdiction, which applies when a lawsuit raises an issue of federal law; and diversity jurisdiction, which applies in a lawsuit when: None of the plaintiffs are from the same state as any of the defendants; and The amount in controversy is greater than $75,000. Federal courts in diversity cases apply the law of the state where they are located. In other words, in many cases a plaintiff can choose to file a personal injury lawsuit either in state court or in federal court, and that decision will not affect the applicable law.
However, if a plaintiff chooses to file a lawsuit in state court, the defendant may be able to move the case to federal court if the federal court’s jurisdictional requirements are met. Defendants often want to move a case to federal court, because those courts are considered friendlier to defendants than their state-court counterparts. This creates an opportunity for gamesmanship in personal injury cases that doesn’t exist in Canadian courts, as plaintiffs attempt to gerrymander an action that avoids federal jurisdiction, and defendants attempt to defeat those efforts and move the case to a more favorable forum. 2. Contributory Negligence Ontario and most states in the U.S. also differ in how they deal with a plaintiff whose negligence contributed to his or her own injury. Ontario In lawsuits in Ontario, based on the defendant’s negligence, the court must determine the extent to which the plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to his or her injury, if at all — which we refer to as “contributory negligence.” The plaintiff’s recovery is reduced in proportion to his or her contributory negligence. Learn more about contributory negligence in Ontario. United States In the U.S., the phrase “contributory negligence” refers to an older rule, under which a plaintiff was completely barred from recovering if he or she was even slightly at fault.
Today, only a handful of states still follow this rule. What we in Ontario refer to as “contributory negligence,” the U.S. refers to as “comparative fault.” Most states use a system of comparative fault, but there are different variations: Ontario’s contributory negligence rule is most like the “pure comparative fault” rule used in about a dozen states. Under this rule, the plaintiff’s recovery is simply reduced to the extent of his or her own fault. A majority of states use what’s called “modified comparative fault,” in which the plaintiff’s recovery is reduced to the extent of his or her own fault, but barred entirely if the plaintiff’s percentage fault exceeds a certain threshold. The threshold may be 49% or 50%, depending on state law. 3. Damages for Pain and Suffering Both U.S. and Ontario law provide for recovery of damages for pain and suffering. However, to what extent such damages can be recovered varies wildly not only between Ontario and the U.S., but also between different jurisdictions in the United States. Ontario In the late 1970s, the Supreme Court of Canada imposed a limit on the amount of damages that could be awarded for pain and suffering. These sorts of damages are referred to as “non-pecuniary,” because it’s impossible to put a precise price tag on them. At the time, the limit on pain-and-suffering damages was $100,000. Because of inflation, that limit is approaching $400,000 today. See also:
When to Contact a Lawyer about Your Personal Injury Compensation United States The United States is infamous for its massive damage awards. Perhaps the most famous example of that is the McDonald’s hot coffee case, a personal injury lawsuit in which a jury awarded a woman $2.9 million after she spilled a McDonald’s coffee on herself. A substantial portion of such large recoveries is attributable to damages for pain and suffering, which remain unlimited in much of the country. To be sure, there have been efforts in some states to rein in extravagant damage awards. About a dozen states limit damages in personal injury cases, and still more in medical malpractice cases. On the other hand, in several states, legislative attempts to impose similar damage caps have been struck down by the courts. 4. Costs Filing a lawsuit always involves costs. At a minimum, virtually every case will have filing fees and lawyers’ fees. But the United States and Ontario have developed different rules for who ultimately pays those costs.
Ontario Canada generally follows what is known as the “English Rule,” in which the costs of an action are paid by the losing party. In Ontario, awards of costs are within a court’s discretion, but generally the losing party will have to pay at least some of the prevailing party’s costs. See also: 4 Signs Your Personal Injury Law Firm Isn’t a Good Fit United States The United States differs from other common-law nations in how it treats the costs of litigation. The U.S. generally follows what is called the “American Rule,” under which each party to a lawsuit bears its own costs, regardless of who prevails. However, some states have introduced limited versions of the “English Rule” for specific circumstances. Conclusion: Consult a Knowledgeable Lawyer Regardless What Law Applies The differences between personal injury cases in the United States and Ontario may seem like minutia, and for most people in either place, that’s all it is. But for litigants who may be involved in lawsuits in both jurisdictions, or who face a choice of where to pursue their claims, these differences can have a dramatic impact on their legal rights and recovery. If you’re an American injured in Ontario, an Ontarian injured in the United States, or otherwise have a cross-border personal injury claim, contact the experienced lawyers of Preszler Law Firm for a free consultation to help you determine the best course of action in your case.
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