Jean-François Michaud practises in the area of civil and commercial litigation. He has acquired expertise in dealing with shareholder disputes and has acted frequently in commercial contract disputes. He also takes an interest in the professional liability of investment brokers and financial planners.
In insurance law, his particular areas of interest are life and health insurance, damage insurance, including fraud, general and professional liability and directors and officers' liability. A large part of his practice consists in drafting coverage opinions and representing clients taking subrogatory actions and in defence.
Another area of Mr. Michaud's practice is construction law and product liability. He prepares opinions and manages litigation arising out of contested calls for tenders.
Mr. Michaud frequently pleads before the civil courts and has acted in a number of files involving alternative dispute resolution methods, such as mediation and arbitration. His marked interest in the rules of evidence and procedure has led him to serve on various committees of the Bar of Montreal that deal with such questions. He recently chaired the committee responsible for drafting the Best Practices Guide for the management of litigation files.
Speaking engagements
· "La difficile réalité des tarificateurs," Association Québecoise des Tarificateurs-Vie, Montréal, November 17, 2011.
· "Le Guide des meilleures pratiques : présentation et point de vue du client," presented at the Canadian Bar Association, Montréal, October 11, 2011, at the Quebec Bar Convention (with Jean-François Legault), Montréal, June 3, 2011, at the Young Bar of Montreal Annual Convention, Montréal, May 19, 2011, and at the Quebec Bar Grands rendez-vous de la formation (with François Rolland, Chief Justice of the Quebec Superior Court), Montréal, February 11, 2011 and Québec, March 17, 2011.
· "Sommaire de la jurisprudence marquante de 2010," Legal Section, Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, Québec, April 19, 2011.
· "La responsabilité extracontractuelle des municipalités" (with Charles A. Foucreault), Corporation des officiers municipaux agréés du Québec, February 17, 2011.
· "Préparation et interrogatoire des témoins au procès," The Canadian Institute, Montréal, October 21, 2010.
· "La jurisprudence récente an matière d'appel d'offres : les leçons à retenir pour les municipalités" (with Sophie Barry), Union des municipalités du Québec, October 14, 2010.
· "Le point sur le droit québécois" (co-presenter: André Legrand), Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association Annual Meeting, May 6, 2010.
· "Étude de l'affaire Gibbens," Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, April 20, 2010.
· "Les recours subrogatoires contre des assurés innommés," The Canadian Institute, Montréal, June 11, 2009.
· "La gestion des dossiers de réclamation," Union des municipalités du Québec, April 28, 2009 and November 6, 2008.
Rankings and recognitions
· Best Lawyers in Canada, 2012- Product Liability Law, Directors' and Officers' Liability
· Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory - "Repeatedly Recommended" for Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law
Memberships and activities
· Canadian Bar Association
· Bar of Montreal
- Chair, Ad Hoc Committee on the Best Practices Guide (2009- )
- Chair, Committee on the Administration of Civil Justice (2008-2011)
- Chair, Liaison Committee with the Superior Court, Civil Division (2004-2008)
- Committee on the Illegal Practice of Law (2001-2003)
- Ad Hoc Committee for the Reform of Civil Procedure (2000-2003)
· Quebec Bar
- Committee on Civil Procedure (2011- )
- Committee on Applications (2006-2008)
- Discipline Committee (2008-2011)
· Quebec Insurance Institute
- Seminars Committee (1998-2002)
· Quebec Bar Admission Course
- Lecturer, Law of Evidence and Liability, (2001-2003, 2008- )
- Leader of workshop on best practices (2011- )
Related Publications
La bonne foi dans l'exercice des clauses de réserve contenues aux documents d'appel d'offres
En janvier dernier, la Cour d'appel du Québec a confirmé qu'une municipalité était bien fondée d'annuler un appel d'offres pour en lancer un second.
19/03/2012
Municipalities' obligation to ensure cyclists' safety extends beyond bike paths
Last September, the Quebec Superior Court ordered the City of Montreal to pay more than $1 million in damages to a woman who became paraplegic and to her family following a cycling accident on a city street.
05/12/2011
Absence of a legal relationship between the reinsurer and the insured
On June 23, 2011, the Quebec Court of Appeal ruled on the scope of Article 2397 of the Civil Code of Québec (CCQ), which states that "the contract of reinsurance has effect only between the insurer and the reinsurer."
28/07/2011
The Principle of Proportionality and its Impact on Disputes
The conditions of access to justice are a concern of both individuals and large companies. When the Quebec legislator passed a reform of the Code of Civil Procedure in 2002, it enshrined the principle of proportionality in Article 4.2 of the Code.
27/04/2011
Tender Document Indemnity Clauses May Not Have the Scope You Think They Do
The Quebec Court of Appeal just rendered a decision limiting the application of a fairly broad indemnity clause.
12/04/2011
Désignation de bénéficiaire aux fins des assurances et des rentes
Les assureurs en assurance de personnes sont souvent confrontés à une difficulté : déterminer la personne à qui doit être versée la prestation de décès.
25/10/2010
Court of Appeal rules on clauses requiring reimbursement of lawyers' fees
On November 2, the Court of Appeal rendered an important decision on a party's right to claim lawyers' fees.
24/11/2010
L'obligation de renseignement dans le cadre d'un appel d'offres
La Cour d'appel a récemment retenu la responsabilité d'une municipalité au motif que cette dernière a fait défaut de renseigner adéquatement les soumissionnaires dans le cadre d'un appel d'offres qu'elle avait lancé.
24/03/2009
Les pompiers ont droit à l'erreur
La Cour d'appel vient de rappeler que les pompiers sont soumis à une obligation de moyens et non de résultat. Leur responsabilité n'est pas engagée même s'ils commettent une erreur dans la mesure où celle-ci ne constitue pas une faute.
17/02/2009
La fraude et le fardeau de la preuve
Quel est le fardeau de la preuve de l'assureur qui, après que l'assurance a été en vigueur pendant une période de deux (2) ans, oppose à son assuré la nullité ab initio du contrat en raison de déclarations frauduleuses lors de la souscription d'une police d'assurance de personnes?
27/03/2009
Related News
Que. CA examines effect of reinsurance contracts
Jean-François Michaud tells The Lawyers Weekly how significant the Quebec Court of Appeal's decision on reinsurance contracts is.
28/10/2011
Quebec Court of Appeal narrows scope of tender document's indemnity clause
Quebec's Court of Appeal has limited the application of a fairly broad indemnity clause. Jean-François Michaud comments in Canadian Underwriter.
29/04/2011
Que. CA limits scope of indemnity clause
The courts will narrowly construe the scope of contracts even though the wording of the contract may be very broad, says Jean-François Michaud in the Lawyers Weekly.
10/06/2011
SLAPPs On The Wrist
Quebec's law attempts to balance the rights of all parties, says Jean-François Michaud in Canadian Lawyer commenting on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP).
04/01/2010