Sean Dewart

Sean Dewart's picture

Sean Dewart has been practicing litigation law in diverse areas for more than 20 years.

A Lawyer's Lawyer

Lawyers are sued by former clients, and with increasing regularity, are being dragged into litigation by their opponents for tactical reasons.  Sean has defended hundreds of lawyers facing such claims.

He has successfully represented civil, criminal and family counsel, corporate/commercial and real estate practitioners and arbitrators.
He has defended lawyers being sued for defamation, and those who are facing claims for personal costs orders.  Where lawyers' integrity has been attacked, Sean has won punitive costs orders against plaintiffs, including on an appeal, where such orders are exceedingly rare.

Police Accountability

Sean was lead counsel in two groundbreaking cases against police services. In Jane Doe v. Toronto Police, a woman successfully sued the police when they failed to protect her from a serial rapist at large in her community. The case was immortalized in a made-for-TV movie in which Sean was portrayed by an actor who did not know how to cross-examine witnesses. Hill v. Hamilton Police, the Supreme Court of Canada held that people who are wrongly charged with a crime can sue the police for negligent investigations.

Sean also acted for interveners in Supreme Court of Canada cases concerning remedies for misfreasance by government officials, the liability of Crown prosecutors for malicious prosecution, and the availability monetary awards where government officials breach the rights guaranteed under the Charter.

Counsel for Tough Cases

Sean represented the plaintiffs in a case where the court blocked the government's attempt to unlawfully privatize a major Crown corporation, he successfully challenged a cruel welfare 'reform' law, and acted for a former head of state who was sued by a Prime Minister for supposed defamation.  Sean enjoys nothing more than defending a picketing injunction, even if the facts are hopeless.

Sean is a frequent speaker at continuing legal education events, and sits as a director of the Advocates' Society, the Huntington Society of Canada and Lawyers International Food Enterprise.  He is an avid skier, a zealous cyclist, and a very average squash player.

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