What happens when a real estate transaction collapses and the purchaser blames their own lawyer? In Farid v. Brunt, 2025 ONSC 2117, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice examined a negligence claim against a lawyer arising from a failed purchase and sale.
The court rejected the plaintiffs’ allegations of professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and statutory duty, finding the evidence did not support a causal link between the lawyer’s conduct and the failed closing. Even on the assumption of liability, damages were limited due to lack of contemporaneous documentation.
Nick breaks down the court’s reasoning, the key legal tests for solicitor negligence claims, and the practical takeaways for real estate lawyers advising clients on failed transactions and professional liability risk. Subscribe to the Ontario Real Estate Law Insights newsletter for timely, case-law-based insights built specifically for Ontario real estate practitioners.
