Pierringer Agreement Ontario Disclosure

The Pierringer Agreement is a legal tool used in settlements to allow a defendant to settle with one or more co-defendants or parties and be relieved of further liability. In Ontario, the Pierringer Agreement has been used in personal injury cases as a means of resolving disputes between multiple defendants by allowing them to settle with the plaintiff individually, while absolving them of any future liability.

However, while Pierringer Agreements are a useful tool for resolving complex personal injury cases, they must be disclosed to all parties involved. Failure to disclose the agreement can result in legal consequences for the parties involved, including the possibility of sanctions.

In Ontario, the Rules of Civil Procedure mandate full and frank disclosure of all evidence, including Pierringer Agreements, in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice. This means that all parties to a lawsuit must be provided with a copy of any Pierringer Agreement, as well as any additional materials that relate to the settlement.

The disclosure of Pierringer Agreements is particularly important in cases where a party intends to rely on the settlement agreement as evidence or in support of a defense. In such cases, failure to disclose the agreement can result in the exclusion of the evidence, sanctions, or other penalties. The courts have been clear that there is a high level of expectation for full and frank disclosure of all evidence, particularly in cases where the issues involved are complex or contentious.

In summary, the Pierringer Agreement is a legal tool used in personal injury cases to resolve disputes between multiple defendants. However, it must be disclosed to all parties involved, in accordance with the Rules of Civil Procedure. Failure to disclose Pierringer Agreements can result in legal consequences, including the possibility of sanctions. As a result, legal practitioners must take care to ensure that all evidence is fully and frankly disclosed in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice.