On October 1, 2025, Ontario is bumping the Small Claims Court ceiling from $35,000 to $50,000 per plaintiff. The Ministry’s stated goal is plain: free up Superior-Court dockets and make justice more accessible and affordable. Wrongful Dismissal Claims Fit the New Sweet Spot Most wrongful-dismissal claims for non-executive...
The Rules of Civil Procedure are likely to face radical revision in Ontario. On April 1, 2025, the Civil Rules Review (“CRR”) Working Group published its Phase 2 Consultation Paper (the "Paper"), which outlines a new framework proposed for Ontario’s civil procedure. The CRR invited comments...
Cooper Mediation is pleased to sponsor this year’s Employment Lawyers Association of Ontario (ELAO) Summer Social, taking place on July 24, 2025, at The Porch in downtown Toronto. This is a perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues in a vibrant setting—complete with skyline views,...
Let me share about the mediation tools—and traits—I bring to the table as a mediator across different practice areas. It’s no coincidence that I chose the toolbox metaphor. One of my favorite pastimes is walking around my house with a screwdriver, hunting for loose screws to...
Cooper Mediation Inc. is pleased to sponsor the Four Chords and the Truth Fire Relief Benefit Concert for Canadian Music Workers in L.A. which takes place on Monday, February 10, 2025. Join us for a special benefit concert at TD Music Hall in Toronto’s Allied Music...
[ Download PDF Version ] I frequently encounter two problems at mediation: first, the content and style of opening remarks in the joint plenary session; second, positional and distributive bargaining process. These problems are the result of our longstanding traditions to mediate in the same way...
What is the difference between submissions at the mediation table and discussions at the “kitchen table”? Should the “kitchen table” style of discussions ever be employed at the mediation table? I mediated two matters recently which might be instructive and will be discussed below. What Are Kitchen...
Cooper Mediation and Trails Youth Initiatives send out our heartfelt thanks for all the support of this year’s edition of Vancestock. Together we raised almost $42,000 towards Trails bringing our 13 year total to over $440,000! There is still an opportunity to contribute to this year’s...
Cooper Mediation is proud to have played a role in organizing the first ever Canadian Regional Conference for the International Academy of Mediators (IAM) in beautiful Muskoka, Ontario. Our very own Vance Cooper and Logan Cooper, alongside esteemed colleagues Barry B. Fisher, Allan Stitt, and Gary...
Nothing sends shivers down the spine of litigants quite like the ghost of a previous offer haunting future negotiations. As we enter the spooky season, it’s an opportune time to reflect on a topic that can often feel like it’s haunted by uncertainty: lowering the...
