M. Steven Rastin

(705) 722-6393 rastin@gluckstein.com

Court of appeal decision ‘a wake-up call and a warning’

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Plaintiff lawyers negotiating settlements in complex actions involving multiple parties must pay heed to a recent Ontario Court of Appeal (OCA) ruling that has effectively made their task more difficult, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin.  Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says the decision in Crestwood Preparatory College Inc. v. Smith is […]

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Product recalls without robust follow-up may not be enough

/ Class Action /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • There is an assumption in our legal and regulatory systems that, in cases where a product is defective and potentially dangerous, the manufacturer’s recall notice may be sufficient to deem that public safety has been adequately safeguarded, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin.   In fact, he says in the recent decision of Coles v. FCA Canada

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Gluckstein Lawyers investigates link between NEC, baby formula

/ Class Action /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The class-actions and mass torts team at Gluckstein Lawyers is investigating potential claims on behalf of premature infants suffering from serious long-term consequences after being diagnosed with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), says senior counsel Steve Rastin. The litigation team, which includes Rastin, James Newland, Jordan Assrraf and Brian Moher, is looking into whether

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Still no closer to an answer in issue of proving legal causation

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • The challenge of proving legal causation is often misunderstood and a recent divisional court decision dealing with a catastrophic injury claim does little to clarify the issue, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says the court made the correct decision in Thiruchelvam v. RBC

Still no closer to an answer in issue of proving legal causation Read More »

Prison lawsuit ruling shows why mass torts can be a valuable tool

/ Class Action /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • A recent British Columbia court of appeal decision overturning certification of a class-action lawsuit brought by 215 inmates of a federal prison confirms the need to develop a Canadian-based mass tort litigation regime, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. The proposed class action relating to the alleged unlawful strip searches of prisoners in

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Medical device and medication litigation offers chance for justice

/ Class Action /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • It is unlikely cases of medical device and medication litigation can be completely eliminated but class-action and mass tort lawsuits can help bring justice to victims and ultimately lead to improvements that benefit the public, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin.  Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says more regulations or changes

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Assumption not enough to win class-action certification

/ Class Action /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Preparation is vital in getting a class-action lawsuit past the all-important certification stage, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin.  Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says failing to win certification can be the death knell of a class action. However, if the plaintiff is successful, “what often follows is some sort of serious settlement

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The pandemic had a profound impact on the litigation world in 2021

/ 2021 Year in Review, Personal Injury /

Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin and senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, examined issues from the need to strike civil jury notices to the evolving impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on civil litigation during the past year. Rastin opened the new year by merging with Toronto-based Gluckstein Lawyers, explaining the partnership creates a new entity in Barrie

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Mass torts effective in ensuring access to justice for average plaintiff

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • With the cost of litigation becoming increasingly out of reach for the average plaintiff, a move to mass tort lawsuits appears inevitable, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says he has joined Gluckstein Lawyers associate Jordan Assaraf to handle class action and mass tort lawsuits. “More and more,

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Slip and fall victims can be plowed under trying to sue municipalities

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • Provincial and municipal governments use legislation to insulate themselves against slip and fall lawsuits when they should be “held to the same standard” as average homeowners, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says lawmakers enact legislation that makes it more difficult for the average person to file a

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