The database aims to reduce the challenge of locating information on court judgements and related documents. It informs counsel about the size and composition of class membership in a given class action, and judges on the class members’ bound by their decisions.
Search the Class Action Database launch
What You Should Know
The database is a voluntary initiative, so it relies on lawyers across Canada to submit documents related to class action lawsuits. As a result, it does not provide a comprehensive listing of all class action lawsuits in Canada.
About the Database
The database started as a pilot project of the Civil Litigation Section of the Canadian Bar Association, following a recommendation by a Uniform Law Conference of Canada’s Working Group on Multi-Jurisdictional Class Actions.
Class actions are listed in chronological order with the jurisdiction, filing date, style of cause, description of the class, subject matter and status of the case clearly indicated.
Database Contents and Dates
The database will list all class actions filed in Canada after January 1, 2007 that are sent to the CBA. Once posted, a class action proceeding will remain on the database unless and until it is dismissed as a class action by the court. Counsel can request that proceedings filed prior to January 1, 2007 be posted on the CBA website. These “archived” class actions will be posted as soon as time permits.
Steps to Submit Proceedings
- Please complete the Database Registration Form
- Send the form, original pleadings and certification motion (in PDF or Word) to us at classaction@cba.org
We aim to post the information provided within five working days after receiving the documents and registration form. We ask counsel to verify the accuracy of the information once it is posted. Please inform us if there is a need to modify or update it.
Limitations of the Database
Several jurisdictions have issued practice directions requiring counsel to complete the Database Registration Form and provide relevant documents to the CBA (see below). However, providing this information is done on a voluntary basis by class action counsel. The CBA cannot guarantee the completeness of the class action list, or the accuracy of the information posted.
Additional Information for Counsel
Content and Document Accessibility
The Canadian Bar Association’s websites and content must conform with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 launch, at Level AA. All content (PDFs, images, audio and video) submitted to the database must comply with these standards.
Policy on Deletion and Redaction
The CBA has established a policy on deleting and redacting information in the National Class Action Database to ensure a balance between access to justice, privacy concerns and a consistent approach.
Practice Directions
Consult the practice directions issued by courts in the following jurisdictions for the Class Action Database:
