LSO CPD’s motor vehicle litigation summit tackles AI evidence, tort damages and coverage disputes
The files may look familiar. The framework around them is anything but. Changes to the Statutory Accident Benefits Schedule (SABS), emerging issues related to admissibility of AI evidence, and nuanced coverage disputes are reshaping how Ontario motor vehicle litigators manage those files.
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) is once again hosting the Motor Vehicle Litigation Summit, slated for September 22 and 23, at the Donald Lamont Learning Centre in Toronto, with a live webcast option also available. Evolving from an earlier program, and now in its ninth year, the continuing professional development (CPD) program has become a fixture for Ontario litigators who handle motor vehicle accident cases. As Eve Halpern, contract counsel, LSO CPD, puts it, the profession has “a continued need for practical guidance and meaningful discussion.”
“Motor vehicle litigation is a highly specialized and constantly evolving area of practice,” she says. “We created a dedicated forum where practitioners could get timely updates, examine emerging issues, and learn from leading experts in the field.”
Built around the issues MVA litigators are wrestling with now
Every year, the LSO structures the program based on recent case law, legislative and regulatory developments, emerging trends, and feedback from past attendees and faculty. The team behind the summit always asks the same questions, Halpern notes. What challenges are lawyers facing? What questions are arising in practice? What developments are likely to have the greatest impact on clients and cases?
Each year, the agenda addresses a broad range of new topics, along with annual updates on fundamentals such as costs, evidence, and Licence Appeal Tribunal procedure. This year, discussion will include a look at the practical implications of recent SABS optionality changes, which have generated significant questions across the plaintiff and defence bars about how accident benefits elections affect case strategy and file management. Attendees will also hear from the author of a leading paper and guide on the calculation of damages under Bill-59 and gain insight into recent proposals to streamline the process for Wagg motions.
“Our goal is to build an agenda that reflects what practitioners are dealing with right now,” explains Halpern, adding that the summit’s two-day format reflects the breadth of the subject matter.
“This length gives us the opportunity to explore these topics in depth and provide attendees with practical insights they can immediately apply to their current and future files.”
Who’s in the room?
The summit will be co-chaired by Susan Gunter of Dutton Brock LLP and Adam Wagman, C.S., of Howie, Sacks & Henry LLP. The roster includes experienced litigators from regions throughout Ontario, along with experts, members of the judiciary, and an update from The Honourable Doug Downey, Attorney General of Ontario.
While Halpern says putting together a roster of speakers of such high calibre requires significant effort, it’s what makes the event valuable.
“By including plaintiff, defence, and in-house perspectives, attendees gain a more complete understanding of the issues and can better anticipate arguments and strategies from all sides,” says Halpern. “The participation of judges and government representatives adds further depth and helps create the balanced, practical discussions that attendees appreciate.”
What practitioners can expect to take away
The team behind the program has seen first-hand how valuable it is to participate in the balanced discussion of complex issues by experienced practitioners. If motor vehicle litigation is part of your practice, the summit is one of the most efficient ways to stay current on the developments shaping the field.
Calling it “a comprehensive and practical framework for success,” Halpern encourages practitioners looking to deepen their expertise or stay ahead of emerging trends to register now.
“We hear that the summit helps registrants stay current in a fast-changing practice area and gives them greater confidence in managing challenging files, which is great,” says Halpern. “The most common piece of feedback we receive, however, is that registrants leave with practical knowledge they can immediately put to work. That’s exactly what we’re trying to do here.”
Registration for in-person attendance closes September 17, 2026. Live webcast registration remains open until the morning of September 22, 2026. Register or view the full two-day program agenda now.
This article was produced in partnership with the Law Society of Ontario
