Practice Area:
Specialty Risk and Insurance
Specialty Risk and Insurance
Meet
Stuart Zacharias
Specialty Risk and Insurance Lawyer
Phone:
Fax:
416.867.2451



PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Executive Summary
Stuart Zacharias is a partner in Lerners’ Toronto office and a member of its Appeals, Health Law, Professional Regulation, and Specialty Risk and Insurance groups. He is certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario and is a past chair of the National Civil Litigation Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Stuart has been lead counsel on numerous trials and appeals. He has acted in matters before the Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, and Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He regularly writes and presents on a variety of civil litigation topics.
Practice Areas
Police Liability
Institutional Sexual Abuse Claims
Building Code Claims
Municipal Road Liability
Serious Personal Injury Claims
Policy Interpretation / Coverage
Defence Class Actions
Achievements
Recognized in the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory for Medical Negligence
Selected by peers for inclusion in “Best Lawyers™ in Canada” for Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Medical Negligence, and Professional Malpractice Law
Certified as a Specialist in Civil Litigation by the Law Society of Ontario
Named by Lexpert in its 2014 Guide to the Leading U.S./Canada Cross-border Litigation Lawyers in Canada as a “Litigation Lawyer to Watch”
In 2012, Stuart was the recipient of the Richard B. Lindsay QC Exceptional Young Lawyer Award. This award is given annually to one member of Canadian Defence Lawyers of up to 10 years at the bar.
Noteworthy Cases
Rivard v. Ontario (2025, C.A.) – Stuart represented the appellant chief of police and police services board on an appeal, with leave, from a decision declining to strike allegations of systemic wrongdoing. The claim against the police services board was struck out, and the decision clarified the pleading requirements for such claims.
Christian Heritage Party of Canada v. City of Hamilton (2024, Div. Ct.) – Stuart represented the respondent municipality in a judicial application brought by the applicant political party after its proposed bus shelter advertisement was declined for publication. The respondent concluded that the ad could impact on its ability to provide a “safe and welcoming” transit system for its constituents. In particular, it concluded that running the ad could potentially impact the health and safety of transgender and non-gender conforming persons using the transit system. The application was dismissed and the respondent’s decision upheld. The applicant has sought leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal for Ontario.
Breen v. Lake of Bays (2021, S.C.J.; 2022, C.A.): Stuart represented the defendant municipality at trial in an action alleging negligent issuance of a building permit and negligent building inspection of a 5,000 square foot cottage which was constructed between 1989 and 1991. The trial judge allowed the action in part, finding that the municipality was liable for certain alleged Building Code deficiencies, but not others. Stuart assisted with the appeal, on the primary issue of whether the municipality had discretion on which inspections to conduct given that the Building Code Act of the day did not explicitly mandate inspections (as distinct from the subsequent legislation). While not going so far as to say a municipality necessarily had to conduct each and every potential inspection enumerated in the Building Code, the court held that in this case a final inspection was required by the “overall purpose” of the legislation existing at the time. However, the court reversed the trial judge’s findings of liability for certain non-Code compliant features of the cottage, holding that the test for liability is not merely that there is non-compliance with the Code; rather, it has to be shown that a reasonable building inspector would have noticed the issue. The court also held that municipalities are not liable for issues caused by poor workmanship or poor maintenance by the owner, as distinct from derogations from the Code that a reasonable building inspector should have noticed.
Decision No. 960/21 (2021, ONWSIAT): Stuart successfully represented the applicant First Nation on an application under s. 31 of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, resulting in a determination that the plaintiff’s lawsuit against the First Nation was statute-barred as the plaintiff was a worker in the course of her employment when the subject incident occurred.
Azzeh v. Legendre (2017, C.A.): Stuart successfully represented the City of Greater Sudbury on this appeal from a motion adding it as a defendant. The court reversed the motion decision and held that the proposed claim against the City was barred by the 10 day notice period in the Municipal Act. The court also provided helpful guidance on the application of the Limitations Act where a litigation guardian is involved. The co-defendant's application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada was dismissed.
City of Pickering ats Rausch (2017, S.C.J.): Stuart successfully defended the municipality at trial in an action alleging that negligent enforcement of a by-law caused the plaintiff to kill a number of wild boars on her property resulting in economic loss of approximately $2 million. The plaintiff also alleged malicious prosecution in connection with a charge under the by-law. All claims were dismissed and the court expressed significant difficulty with the plaintiff’s credibility.
Ottawa Police ats Farley (2016, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the Ottawa Police Services Board in successfully obtaining summary judgment dismissing the plaintiff’s claim. After a jury convicted the plaintiff of first degree murder, he appealed and the Court of Appeal ordered a new trial based on a technical error in the trial judge’s charge to the jury. Following his acquittal at the second trial, the plaintiff sued the police for malicious prosecution, negligent investigation and alleged breach of Charter rights. Summary judgment was granted, however, based on determinations in the underlying criminal proceedings, principally the Court of Appeal’s order for a second trial – which meant that a reasonable, properly instructed jury could find guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Barrie ats Martin (2016, S.C.J.): Stuart successfully defended the City of Barrie at trial in a claim arising from an alleged injury on a snow slide at the City’s “Winterfest” event. The court held that there was no breach of the Occupiers’ Liability Act.
DRPS ats Smith (2016, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the Durham Regional Police in successfully opposing the co-defendant Crown’s motion to strike the crossclaim, which advanced a novel claim for indemnity based on legal advice provided to the police during the course of an alleged “Mr. Big” investigation conducted in 2009 regarding a murder in 1974.
Martin v. Attard Plumbing Ltd. (2015, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the plaintiff in obtaining partial summary judgment in a subrogated action arising from water damage, wherein the court held that there was an implied warranty of fitness of the part installed by the defendant contractor.
Gore Mutual Insurance Company ats Imola (2014, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful insurer in opposing an application for a declaration that it owed a duty to defend, in a matter where coverage had previously been denied on the ground, amongst others, of the exclusion for intentional or criminal acts.
Brant ats Demets (2013, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful defendant in obtaining summary judgment declaring that both the third-party insurer and a co-defendant owed a duty to defend the plaintiff's claim.
Pickering ats Rausch (2013, C.A.): Stuart acted for the successful defendant in obtaining leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal, arising from a Rule 21 motion dealing with the scope of a municipality’s duty of care in the context of by-law enforcement.
Barrie ats McHardy (2012, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful defendant in obtaining leave to appeal to the Divisional Court, arising from a motion for summary judgment based on a statutory bar contained in the Municipal Act.
Gore Mutual Insurance Company ats Hayward (2011, S.C.J.): Stuart was the trial lawyer for the defendant insurer in an action arising from a denial of coverage following a fire loss.
Durham Regional Police ats Mohamed et al. (2011, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful defendants, on an appeal from a Master's order which dismissed the plaintiffs' motion for production of any complaint and discipline records. The Master's decision was upheld and also found to be correct based on a subsequent decision of the Divisional Court.
Durham Police ats Murphy (2011, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful defendants in opposing a motion to amend a claim on the ground that the proposed allegations were statute-barred.
Sault Ste. Marie Police ats Charette (2011, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful defendants in opposing a motion to withdraw admissions and for partial summary judgment.
Brant ats Mannen (2011, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful third party in obtaining summary judgment dismissing the third-party claim as statute-barred.
Timmins ats Rekela-Morrish (2011, S.C.J.): Stuart was the trial lawyer for the City of Timmins in successfully defending a claim of alleged roadway non-repair.
Caston ats Alves (2010, C.A.): Stuart acted for the successful respondent, on an appeal which affirmed the enforcement of a settlement which included a provision that the opposing party sign a Release.
Barrie Police ats Bilotta (2010, S.C.J.): Stuart acted for the successful defendants on a motion to strike improper allegations against the Police Services Board.
Scugog ats Deering (2010, S.C.J.): Stuart was part of the defence team at the multi-week liability trial of multiple actions against the municipalities alleging roadway non-repair in the context of a serious motor vehicle accident, resulting in a split liability decision.
Brantford ats Herbert (2010, S.C.J.): Stuart was part of the defence team at the multi-week liability trial of an action arising from a serious cycling accident on a recreational trail, resulting in a split liability decision.
Selected Presentations/Publications
Presenter, “(Un)reasonable Users & Human Factors: s. 44 Update”, Lerners LLP Municipal and Public Entity Risk Conference, April 25, 2025
Presenter, “Medical-Legal Risks of Residency”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, February 11, 2025
Co-Presenter, “Police Liability: An Overview”, International Municipal Lawyers Association (IMLA) Annual Conference, September 26, 2024
Presenter, “Defending Institutional Sexual Abuse Claims”, Lerners LLP Municipal and Public Entity Risk Conference, April 18, 2024
Co-Presenter, “In the Line of Duty: Defending our First Responders”, Lerners LLP Municipal and Public Entity Risk Conference, April 18, 2024
Presenter, “Medical-Legal Risks of Residency”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, February 6, 2024
Panelist, “Dealing Effectively with Concurrent Regulatory, Civil, Hospital Privileges and/or Criminal Proceedings”, The Osgoode Certificate in Professional Regulation & Discipline in the Ontario Health Care Sector, November 15, 2023
Co-author with C. Kirk Boggs, “Chapter 5 – The Law of Law Enforcement: A Primer” in Annual Review of Civil Litigation – 2023 (editor: The Honourable Justice Darla A. Wilson), Thomson Reuters, October 2023
Presenter, “Medical-Legal Risks of Residency”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, April 4, 2023
Presenter, “Defending Sexual Abuse Claims: An Overview”, Society of Public Insurance Administrators of Ontario (SPIAO), December 2, 2022
Presenter, “Transition to Residency: Medical-Legal Issues”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, February 25, 2022
Presenter, “4th Annual Update on Civil Litigation”, Canadian Bar Association Law Series, September 15, 2021
Presenter, “Transition to Residency: Medical-Legal Issues”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, March 3, 2021
Presenter, “Update on Key Civil Litigation Cases Across Canada”, Canadian Bar Association Law Series, September 15, 2020
Presenter, “Transition to Residency: Medical-Legal Issues”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, January 8, 2020
Presenter, “Annual Update: Key Civil Litigation Cases in Canada”, Canadian Bar Association Webinar Series, September 24, 2019
Presenter, “Waiver of Solicitor-Client Privilege: Tips and Traps”, The Canadian Bar Association, April 30, 2019
Presenter, “This Year’s Need-to-Know Government Liability Cases”, the Canadian Institute’s 25th Annual Provincial/Municipal Government Liability Conference, April 2, 2019
Presenter, “Transition to Residency: Medical-Legal Issues”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, January 9, 2019
Co-Presenter, “Update on Key Civil Litigation Cases Across Canada”, Canadian Bar Association Webinar Series, November 8, 2018
Presenter, “Transition to Residency: Medical-Legal Issues”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, January 11, 2018
Panelist, “Mastering Winning Discovery Techniques”, The Advocates’ Society, October 30, 2017
Presenter, “Police Liability”, Society of Public Insurance Administrators of Ontario (SPIAO), September 22, 2017
Co-author with C. Kirk Boggs, “Hill v. Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police Services Board: A Review of the Tort of Negligent Police Investigation 10 Years Later”, Municipal Liability Risk Management, May 2017
Presenter, “Transition to Residency: Medical-Legal Issues”, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, January 11, 2017
Presenter, “Representing Police Services Boards”, The Canadian Institute’s Law of Policing Conference, June 16, 2016
Co-Presenter, “Civil Appeals: An Overview of Issues, Procedure and Ethics”, Continuing Professional Development session held in Windsor, Ontario, June 20, 2016
Presenter, “Waiving Solicitor-Client Privilege: Tips and Traps”, Canadian Bar Association Webinar Series, September 8, 2015
Presenter, “Battle of the Forms: An overview regarding authorizations to conduct independent medical examinations”, Canadian Defence Lawyers Annual Accident Benefit Symposium, April 25, 2013
Presenter, “Expert Evidence: An Overview”, Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, January 20, 2012
"The uncertain boundary between complaints and lawsuits against police”, The Lawyers Weekly — Focus on Civil Litigation, May 27, 2011
Co-author with C. Kirk Boggs, “Demonstrative Evidence: Basic Guidelines for its Proper and Effective Use”, presented at the Canadian Institute's Personal Injury Settlements conference, January 25, 2010
“Conflicting decisions create confusion over Charter damages”, The Lawyers Weekly — Focus on Constitutional Law, April 16, 2010
Co-author with Jasmine Akbarali, “Limitation periods curb delay — not rights”, The Lawyers Weekly — Focus on Civil Litigation, September 3, 2010
Memberships
Law Society of Ontario
Canadian Bar Association
The Advocates’ Society
Education
Admitted to Ontario Bar (2005)
Bachelor of Laws, University of Manitoba (2004)
Bachelor of Arts, University of Manitoba (2001)
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Stuart Zacharias is a partner in Lerners’ Toronto office and a member of its Appeals, Health Law, Professional Regulation, and Specialty Risk and Insurance groups. He is certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario and is a past chair of the National Civil Litigation Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Stuart has been lead counsel on numerous trials and appeals. He has acted in matters before the Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, and Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He regularly writes and presents on a variety of civil litigation topics.
Executive Summary
Stuart Zacharias is a partner in Lerners’ Toronto office and a member of its Appeals, Health Law, Professional Regulation, and Specialty Risk and Insurance groups. He is certified as a specialist in civil litigation by the Law Society of Ontario and is a past chair of the National Civil Litigation Section of the Canadian Bar Association.
Stuart has been lead counsel on numerous trials and appeals. He has acted in matters before the Superior Court of Justice, Divisional Court, and Court of Appeal for Ontario, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada. He regularly writes and presents on a variety of civil litigation topics.
Practice Areas
Practice Areas
Practice Areas
Achievements
Achievements
Achievements
Noteworthy Cases
Noteworthy Cases
Noteworthy Cases
Selected Presentations/Publications
Selected Presentations/Publications
Selected Presentations/Publications
Memberships
Memberships
Memberships
Education
Education
Education

Copyright © 2025 Lerners LLP. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2025 Lerners LLP. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2025 Lerners LLP. All rights reserved.