Amberwood

 

AMB005a - Amberwood (2002) 211 DLR (4th) 1 (Ont.C.A.)
AMB010a - Amberwood (2002) 58 OR (3d) 481 (Ont.C.A.)
AMB015a - Amberwood (2002) 157 OAC 135 (Ont.C.A.)
AMB020a - Amberwood - law reports titlecard

 

Peter A. Simm was co-counsel in the Ontario Court of Appeal for the successful Respondents in Amberwood  (2002).

Canadian law schools from coast to coast teach Amberwood  in mandatory Property Law courses. In 2016, the Supreme Court of Canada confirmed that this remains the leading Canadian case on positive covenants.

Amberwood  is cited in 44 Canadian legal textbooks and 35 judicial decisions, including 10 appellate rulings made as recently as 2019. It is the subject of 3 published case comments and a feature article in the Law Times  (June 3, 2002). This case is extensively discussed in two LSUC Special Lectures, as well as being cited in 26 accredited CPD papers and 11 law journal articles.

Amberwood  has also been cited internationally, including by the Victoria (Australia) Law Reform Commission, the Irish High Court, and 3 leading British textbooks (which rarely cite Canadian cases).

Simm was retained when the appeal was launched. His research unearthed important jurisprudence and statutory provisions overlooked by all trial counsel, enabling him to formulate the winning arguments. In light of how Simm’s Factum compellingly reframed the issues, Catzman J.A. ordered the Appellant to file a responsive, supplementary Factum. Simm then co-presented the oral argument at the hearing of the appeal, convincing the majority to reject a half-century of English jurisprudence that the trial judge had been inclined to adopt.

The Court of Appeal expressly noted “the complexity and novelty of the issues,” which included privity of contract, an extraordinarily byzantine area of real property law, and the limits of judicial reform of the common law. Professor Bruce Ziff subsequently swore that Amberwood  is “the most important decision on the subject of positive covenants running with the land in the history of Canadian jurisprudence.”

Full cite: Amberwood Investments Ltd. v. Durham Condominium Corp. No. 123 , 2002 CanLII 44913, 211 D.L.R. (4th) 1, 58 O.R. (3d) 481, 50 R.P.R. (3d) 1, 157 O.A.C. 135, 2002 CarswellOnt 850, [2002] O.J. No. 1023 (Ont. C.A); additional reasons re costs, 2002 CanLII 26298, 2002 CarswellOnt 1201, [2002] O.J. No. 1532 (Ont. C.A.); application for leave to appeal discontinued, S.C.C. Bulletin 2002, p. 1053, [2002] S.C.C.A. No. 208. (Co-counsel with A. Price.)

 

Elements of Land Law (UK) (5th ed., 2008) - Gray & Gray - cites Amberwood

Elements of Land Law (UK) (5th ed., 2008) - Gray & Gray - cites Amberwood

Property Law (UK) (6th ed., 2015) - Smith - cites Amberwood

Property Law (UK) (6th ed., 2015) - Smith - cites Amberwood

Restrictive Covenants (UK) (10th ed., 2013) - Preston & Newsom - cites Amberwood

Restrictive Covenants (UK) (10th ed., 2013) - Preston & Newsom - cites Amberwood

Special Lectures in Real Property LSUC 2002 - Carter and Ziff each analyze Amberwood

Special Lectures in Real Property LSUC 2002 - Carter and Ziff each analyze Amberwood

Annotated British Columbia Strata Property Act - Smythe & Vogt - cites Amberwood twice

Annotated British Columbia Strata Property Act - Smythe & Vogt - cites Amberwood twice

Annotated Land Development Agreements - Mascarin &  de Francesca - discusses Amberwood, and cites 'Swamp'

Annotated Land Development Agreements - Mascarin & de Francesca - discusses Amberwood, and cites 'Swamp'

Annotated Municipal Act (2nd ed.) - Auerback & Mascarin - sums Amberwood, Kawartha Downs

Annotated Municipal Act (2nd ed.) - Auerback & Mascarin - sums Amberwood, Kawartha Downs

Annotated Real Estate Laws of Ontario - Petraglia & Sarna - quotes Amberwood

Annotated Real Estate Laws of Ontario - Petraglia & Sarna - quotes Amberwood

Apex Courts (2019) Daly, ed. - c.10 by Swan + Adamski cites Amberwood

Apex Courts (2019) Daly, ed. - c.10 by Swan + Adamski cites Amberwood

British Columbia Debtor-Creditor Law & Precedents - Robinson & Di Bella - cites Amberwood twice

British Columbia Debtor-Creditor Law & Precedents - Robinson & Di Bella - cites Amberwood twice

British Columbia Strata Property Practice Manual - cites Amberwood

British Columbia Strata Property Practice Manual - cites Amberwood

Business Law in Canada (8th ed.) - Yates at al. - cites Amberwood

Business Law in Canada (8th ed.) - Yates at al. - cites Amberwood

Canadian Commercial Real Estate Manual - McDermott - cites Amberwood

Canadian Commercial Real Estate Manual - McDermott - cites Amberwood

Canadian Legal Words and Phrases (QL) -

Canadian Legal Words and Phrases (QL) - "covenant" quotes Amberwood

Civil Appeals - Brown - cites Amberwood and Richmond

Civil Appeals - Brown - cites Amberwood and Richmond

Commercial Tenancy Handbook - Olson - cites Amberwood twice

Commercial Tenancy Handbook - Olson - cites Amberwood twice

Condominium Law & Administration (2nd ed.) - Loeb - discusses Amberwood

Condominium Law & Administration (2nd ed.) - Loeb - discusses Amberwood

Condominiums - CED Ont (4th ed.) - Loeb - sums Amberwood

Condominiums - CED Ont (4th ed.) - Loeb - sums Amberwood

Debt Litigation - Tweedie - quotes Amberwood, Morray and Collins

Debt Litigation - Tweedie - quotes Amberwood, Morray and Collins

Estoppel - Halsbury's Laws of Canada - MacDougall - cites Amberwood

Estoppel - Halsbury's Laws of Canada - MacDougall - cites Amberwood

Estoppel - MacDougall - cites Amberwood

Estoppel - MacDougall - cites Amberwood

Land Use Planning Law - Hare & Mascarin - cites Amberwood

Land Use Planning Law - Hare & Mascarin - cites Amberwood

The Law & Business Administration in Canada (14th ed.) - Smyth et al. - cites Amberwood

The Law & Business Administration in Canada (14th ed.) - Smyth et al. - cites Amberwood

Law of Canadian Municipal Corporations (2nd ed.) - Rogers - cites Amberwood twice, and Kawartha Downs

Law of Canadian Municipal Corporations (2nd ed.) - Rogers - cites Amberwood twice, and Kawartha Downs

Law of Civil Procedure in Ontario (3rd ed.) - Morden & Perell - cites Amberwood, Machado, and Total Crane

Law of Civil Procedure in Ontario (3rd ed.) - Morden & Perell - cites Amberwood, Machado, and Total Crane

Law of Real Property (3rd ed.) - Anger, Honsberger, La Forest - cites Amberwood twice, Claussen,

Law of Real Property (3rd ed.) - Anger, Honsberger, La Forest - cites Amberwood twice, Claussen, "Swamp"

Law of Vendor & Purchaser (3rd ed.) - Di Castri - cites Amberwood 3 times, Morray twice, Claussen twice

Law of Vendor & Purchaser (3rd ed.) - Di Castri - cites Amberwood 3 times, Morray twice, Claussen twice

Municipal Corporations - CED Ont (4th ed.) - Rogers & Desourdie - cites Amberwood, and Kawartha Downs

Municipal Corporations - CED Ont (4th ed.) - Rogers & Desourdie - cites Amberwood, and Kawartha Downs

Ontario Civil Practice 2019 - Watson & McGowan - sums Amberwood

Ontario Civil Practice 2019 - Watson & McGowan - sums Amberwood

Ontario Civil Procedure - Holmestead & Watson - sums Amberwood, and Megens

Ontario Civil Procedure - Holmestead & Watson - sums Amberwood, and Megens

Principles of Property Law (6th ed.) - Ziff - discusses Amberwood

Principles of Property Law (6th ed.) - Ziff - discusses Amberwood

Property Course - Weinrib 2006-2007 - discusses Amberwood

Property Course - Weinrib 2006-2007 - discusses Amberwood

Property Law: Cases & Materials 2017 - Phillips - discusses Amberwood

Property Law: Cases & Materials 2017 - Phillips - discusses Amberwood

Property Law Cases & Materials 2011-2012 - Austin (UofT) - excerpts Amberwood

Property Law Cases & Materials 2011-2012 - Austin (UofT) - excerpts Amberwood

Property Law: Cases & Commentary (3rd ed.) - Mossman & Girard - discusses Amberwood

Property Law: Cases & Commentary (3rd ed.) - Mossman & Girard - discusses Amberwood

A Property Law Reader: Cases, Questions & Commentary (4th ed., 2016) - Ziff et al. - excerpts Amberwood

A Property Law Reader: Cases, Questions & Commentary (4th ed., 2016) - Ziff et al. - excerpts Amberwood

Public Interest, Private Property: Law & Planning Policy in Canada - Smit & Valiente - cites Amberwood

Public Interest, Private Property: Law & Planning Policy in Canada - Smit & Valiente - cites Amberwood

Real Estate Conveyancing (2nd ed.) - Lamont - discusses Amberwood, sums Morray

Real Estate Conveyancing (2nd ed.) - Lamont - discusses Amberwood, sums Morray

Real Estate Practice in Ontario (8th ed.) - Quinn & Grandilli - discusses Amberwood

Real Estate Practice in Ontario (8th ed.) - Quinn & Grandilli - discusses Amberwood

Real Property - Halsbury's Laws of Canada - Lem & Bocska - cites Amberwood 4 times

Real Property - Halsbury's Laws of Canada - Lem & Bocska - cites Amberwood 4 times

Real Property - CED Ont (4th ed.) - Andree - cites Amberwood

Real Property - CED Ont (4th ed.) - Andree - cites Amberwood

Registration of Title to Land - Di Castri - cites Amberwood; cites Morray twice; sums TDSB

Registration of Title to Land - Di Castri - cites Amberwood; cites Morray twice; sums TDSB

Sanagan's Encylopedia of Words and Phrases, Legal Maxims (5th ed.) - Gardner - cites Amberwood

Sanagan's Encylopedia of Words and Phrases, Legal Maxims (5th ed.) - Gardner - cites Amberwood

Secured Transactions in Personal Property (3rd ed.) - McLaren - cites Amberwood twice

Secured Transactions in Personal Property (3rd ed.) - McLaren - cites Amberwood twice

Tenant's Rights & Remedies in a Commercial Lease (2nd ed.; Haber ed.) - c.4 by Simm discusses Amberwood

Tenant's Rights & Remedies in a Commercial Lease (2nd ed.; Haber ed.) - c.4 by Simm discusses Amberwood

Title Searching & Conveyancing in Ontario (7th ed.) - Moore - cites Amberwood

Title Searching & Conveyancing in Ontario (7th ed.) - Moore - cites Amberwood

Understanding Property (2nd ed.) - Benson et al. - cites Amberwood

Understanding Property (2nd ed.) - Benson et al. - cites Amberwood

26 Advocates Quarterly 345-390 (2003) Perell paper discusses Amberwood

26 Advocates Quarterly 345-390 (2003) Perell paper discusses Amberwood

29 Advocates Quarterly 476 (2005) - Perell paper discusses Amberwood

29 Advocates Quarterly 476 (2005) - Perell paper discusses Amberwood

Annual Review of Civil Litigation 2009 - c.7 by Justices Archibald & Echlin cites Amberwood

Annual Review of Civil Litigation 2009 - c.7 by Justices Archibald & Echlin cites Amberwood

3(1) Digest of Municipal Planning Law pp2-3 (2007) - cites Amberwood

3(1) Digest of Municipal Planning Law pp2-3 (2007) - cites Amberwood

20 Legal Theory 79-105 (2014) - Austin paper discusses Amberwood

20 Legal Theory 79-105 (2014) - Austin paper discusses Amberwood

65 Maine Law Review 381 (2013) - Baxter paper cites Amberwood

65 Maine Law Review 381 (2013) - Baxter paper cites Amberwood

22 Restitution Law Review 156-185 (2014) - McInnes paper cites Amberwood

22 Restitution Law Review 156-185 (2014) - McInnes paper cites Amberwood

16 Stellenbosch Law Rev 283 (2005) - Ziff paper cites Amberwood

16 Stellenbosch Law Rev 283 (2005) - Ziff paper cites Amberwood

58 University of Toronto Law Journal 275 (2008) - Katz paper cites Amberwood

58 University of Toronto Law Journal 275 (2008) - Katz paper cites Amberwood

7 Western Journal of Legal Studies 52-61 (2017) - Alizadeh paper cites Amberwood

7 Western Journal of Legal Studies 52-61 (2017) - Alizadeh paper cites Amberwood

30 Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice 79 (2012) - Ziff & Jiang paper discusses Amberwood

30 Windsor Yearbook of Access to Justice 79 (2012) - Ziff & Jiang paper discusses Amberwood

Buying a Condominium: Best Practices for Advising Purchasers (LSUC CPD 2007) - c.2 by Freedman - cites Amberwood

Buying a Condominium: Best Practices for Advising Purchasers (LSUC CPD 2007) - c.2 by Freedman - cites Amberwood

Civil Appeals: The Year in Review (LSUC CPD 2017) - c.7 by A. Warner - discusses Amberwood

Civil Appeals: The Year in Review (LSUC CPD 2017) - c.7 by A. Warner - discusses Amberwood

Covenants Concerning the Use of Land (OBA CPD 2009) - c.1 by Perell - discusses Amberwood

Covenants Concerning the Use of Land (OBA CPD 2009) - c.1 by Perell - discusses Amberwood

Covenants Concerning the Use of Land (OBA CPD 2009) - c.2 by Johnston -discusses Amberwood, cites Morray

Covenants Concerning the Use of Land (OBA CPD 2009) - c.2 by Johnston -discusses Amberwood, cites Morray

Covenants Concerning the Use of Land (OBA CPD 2009) - c.7 by Carter - discusses Amberwood

Covenants Concerning the Use of Land (OBA CPD 2009) - c.7 by Carter - discusses Amberwood

Practice Gems: Title & Off-Title Searching (LSUC CPD 2014) c.2 by Bianchini & Caruso - discusses Amberwood, cites Morray

Practice Gems: Title & Off-Title Searching (LSUC CPD 2014) c.2 by Bianchini & Caruso - discusses Amberwood, cites Morray

Practice Gems: Title & Off-Title Searching (LSUC CPD 2016) - c.1 by Romanelli - quotes Amberwood

Practice Gems: Title & Off-Title Searching (LSUC CPD 2016) - c.1 by Romanelli - quotes Amberwood

Practice Gems: Title & Off-Title Searching (LSUC CPD 2018) - c.6 by Moore - cites Amberwood

Practice Gems: Title & Off-Title Searching (LSUC CPD 2018) - c.6 by Moore - cites Amberwood

The Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2004) c.7 by Carter - cites Amberwood

The Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2004) c.7 by Carter - cites Amberwood

Real Estate Wars (OBA CPD 2002) - c.3 by Conway & Perell - the topic is Amberwood

Real Estate Wars (OBA CPD 2002) - c.3 by Conway & Perell - the topic is Amberwood

Retirement Housing (OBA CPD 2009) - c.3 by Clark - discusses Amberwood

Retirement Housing (OBA CPD 2009) - c.3 by Clark - discusses Amberwood

The 2nd Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2005) - c.17 by Rodness cites Amberwood

The 2nd Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2005) - c.17 by Rodness cites Amberwood

The 4th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2007) - c.4 by Karoly - cites Amberwood

The 4th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2007) - c.4 by Karoly - cites Amberwood

The 4th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2007) - c.7 by Carter - discusses Amberwood

The 4th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2007) - c.7 by Carter - discusses Amberwood

The 7th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2010) c.3 by Volpatti - discusses Amberwood

The 7th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2010) c.3 by Volpatti - discusses Amberwood

The 9th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2012) - c.1 by Mikkola - cites Amberwood

The 9th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2012) - c.1 by Mikkola - cites Amberwood

The 14th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2017) - c.7 by Fortis - discusses Amberwood

The 14th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2017) - c.7 by Fortis - discusses Amberwood

The 15th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2018) -  c.4 by Carter - cites Amberwood

The 15th Annual Real Estate Law Summit (LSUC CPD 2018) - c.4 by Carter - cites Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2004 (LSUC CPD) - c.20 by Ali - discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2004 (LSUC CPD) - c.20 by Ali - discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2010 (LSUC CPD) - c.20 by Mascarin - discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2010 (LSUC CPD) - c.20 by Mascarin - discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2012 (LSUC CPD) - c.13 by Romanelli - discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2012 (LSUC CPD) - c.13 by Romanelli - discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2014 (LSUC CPD) - c.4 by Mascarin - quotes Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2014 (LSUC CPD) - c.4 by Mascarin - quotes Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2015 (LSUC CPD) -  c.12 by Romanelli - quotes Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2015 (LSUC CPD) - c.12 by Romanelli - quotes Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2017 (LSUC CPD) - c.6 by Mascarin discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2017 (LSUC CPD) - c.6 by Mascarin discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2017 (LSUC CPD) - c.8 by Fortis discusses Amberwood

The Six-Minute Real Estate Lawyer 2017 (LSUC CPD) - c.8 by Fortis discusses Amberwood

Understanding Terms of Art in Real Estate Transactions (CBA 2011) Kennedy & Lem - cites Amberwood 2x

Understanding Terms of Art in Real Estate Transactions (CBA 2011) Kennedy & Lem - cites Amberwood 2x