Does the deemed undertaking rule apply to information obtained in the course of the discovery process?

Ontario, Canada


The following excerpt is from Vanderwerf v Westra, 2015 ONSC 2253 (CanLII):

As Doherty J.A. further observed at para. 51: the rule has nothing to do with the nature of the information is issue, but turns exclusively on how the party called upon to disclose the information came into possession of that information: Juman v. Doucette, at para. 25. If the party obtained the information in the course of the discovery process, it is subject to the deemed undertaking rule regardless of whether the information is confidential. If, however, the information was not obtained in the discovery process, the deemed undertaking rule has no application no matter how confidential the information might be. A litigant who wishes to resist production on the basis of the nature of the information sought must find shelter in some privilege or challenge the relevancy of the information.

Other Questions


What is the effect of a deemed undertaking on the use of discovery evidence? (Ontario, Canada)
What are the purposes of discovery and analysis in the context of discovery? (Ontario, Canada)
What is the limitation of time required by the Court of Justice to process, retain counsel and apply for bail? (Ontario, Canada)
Can a witness obtain answers to undertakings from a former colleague? (Ontario, Canada)
How have courts treated the duty to disclose in the context of obtaining informed consent? (Ontario, Canada)
What is the efficacy and integrity of the process by which an offer was obtained? (Ontario, Canada)
How have the courts in the United States dealt with the issue of disclosure of confidential information on a Motion for Personal Information Protection? (Ontario, Canada)
What is the test for exclusion from the discovery process? (Ontario, Canada)
Is there any evidence of duress, or of preventing the grandchildren from seeking and obtaining information from the grandchildren? (Ontario, Canada)
Can discovery occur earlier than actual discovery? (Ontario, Canada)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.