Christopher A. Caston Email & Phone Number

Richmond Hill Small Claims Court

Deputy Judge, Central East Region - Small Claims Court

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Chris Caston has been practicing law in Ontario for over 23 years. Prior to entering the field of dispute resolution, he was a civil litigator who represented both plaintiffs and defendants. He has participated in hundreds of mediations. Providing services throughout Ontario, Chris customizes his approach to each mediation. He provides a comfortable forum where parties feel engaged and confident, leading to durable resolutions.Chris is a senior lawyer with expertise in motor vehicle liability (including US accidents), accident benefits, contracts, municipal liability, LTD, occupiers' liability (including slips and falls), dog attacks, property damage / subrogation (including fires, floods and oil spills), products liability, professional negligence (including claims against real estate agents and brokers), medical malpractice, employment and insurance disputes. In the early 2000's he was co-counsel for the Municipality of Brockton, one of the main defendants in the Walkerton class action case. He has extensive trial and appellate experience on both sides of the table. As a civil litigator, he has amassed 28 reported decisions over the course of his long legal career.Chris was called to the Ontario Bar in 2001. He holds a B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) from Brock University (1995), and an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School (1999). Through Osgoode he completed the advanced Lawyer as Negotiator course in negotiation and mediation, which included a practical component mediating disputes at Toronto Small Claims Court. He also completed Osgoode's Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop, and more recently, earned a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution through the Stitt Feld Handy Group.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Senior Trial Counsel working on behalf of insured individuals and numerous corporations spanning many business sectors including municipalities, long-term care, retail, food industry, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, distributing, dentistry, electrical, oil, security, road construction, and winter maintenance. Tort litigation involved motor vehicle accidents (including many US accidents), municipal liability, products liability, property damage / subrogation (including fires, floods and oil spills), occupiers' liability (including slips and falls), professional liability, and dog attacks.First chaired successful 15 day trial (affirmed on appeal) on behalf of insured driver: Taylor v. Durkee, (Docket M51440, November 9, 2020) (ONCA) (Appeal Dismissed), [2020] O.J. No. 865 (Div. Ct.) (Threshold Decision Affirmed), [2018] O.J. No. 6298 (Threshold Decision), [2018] O.J. No. 282 (Correcting Instructions re: Plaintiff Counsel's Closing), [2017] O.J. No. 6435 (Surveillance), [2017] O.J. No. 6819 (Admissibility of Expert Evidence).Carried 75± tort litigation files from pleadings stage to trial / appeal. Mentored junior lawyers.

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

First chaired record 23 day FSCO arbitration on behalf of insurer re catastrophic impairment claim (shutout win) (Nguyen v. TD, [2015] O.F.S.C.D. No. 360).Civil litigation practice working on behalf of insured individuals and a major Canadian property and casualty insurance company. Carried 80+ tort and accident benefits files from pleadings stage to trial / arbitration / appeal.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Full carriage of 80+ professional negligence (real estate agent / broker), commercial tort (golf courses, campgrounds, racetracks), and insurance broker negligence files.

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Supervised and mentored 6 junior lawyers and 2 trial clerks with respect to 500+ tort, accident benefits, and errors / omissions files. First Chair, all trials and arbitrations for lawyers on my team. Assessed team members’ performance through monthly File Reviews and semi-annual Performance Reviews. Assessed articling student’s progress through mid-term and final Performance Review. Led and facilitated monthly team meetings. Oversaw project for Claims Department of national insurer re standardisation of legal documents. Regularly presented to insurance adjusters on various insurance law matters. Authored quarterly articles for Advocates Legal Review.Carried 80+ tort and accident benefits files from pleadings stage to trial / arbitration / appeal.

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Argued successful FSCO appeal on behalf of claimant regarding the deductibility of HOOPP disability retirement pension from her income replacements benefits (Scott v. State Farm, [2005] O.F.S.C.D. No. 96).Assisted senior lawyer with all aspects of file development for tort, accident benefits, and commercial litigation matters.

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Civil litigation practice working exclusively on behalf of injured plaintiffs. Assisted 3 partners with all aspects of file development at busy personal injury boutique. Prepared for, and second chaired, trials and FSCO arbitrations.

Greater Toronto Area, Canada

Worked exclusively on the Walkerton Class Action for over 3 months. Drafted responding materials for, and argued, the class action certification motion. Second chaired the Walkerton Class Action arbitration before the Hon. Justice Adams, QC. Prepared for and argued 10 Small Claims trials, including a successful 2 day trial defending an insurance broker against a negligence claim. Carried 70+ municipal liability, tort, hospital malpractice, and long term disability benefits files from pleadings stage to trial.

Bachelor Of Laws (Ll.B)

Alternative Dispute Resolution - Faculty Of Law, Certificate

Stitt Feld Handy Group ADR Workshop

Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop

Lawyer As Negotiator

Mediator, Toronto Small Claims Court

B.A., (Hons, Summa Cum Laude), Philosophy