M. Steven Rastin

(705) 722-6393 [email protected]

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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Halloween in the time of a coronavirus pandemic

/ Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • This Halloween marks the return of trick-or-treating and parties at bars and homes, so it is a good time to put safety first, especially when it comes to COVID social distancing protocols, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. Rastin, senior counsel at Rastin Gluckstein, says it has been two years since Halloween

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As COVID issues increase, so will the need for litigation

/ COVID-19, Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • COVID’s seemingly unrelenting grip could have a profound impact on civil litigation as society grapples with issues involving health care, employment and human rights, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. “We appear to be focusing on getting back to life as normal after the pandemic. But let’s assume that this is

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Long-hauler insurance claims could be the next COVID battleground

/ COVID-19, Personal Injury /

By Tony Poland, LegalMatters Staff • As vaccines slowly return some normalcy to a world living under the cloud of coronavirus, long COVID threatens to be the next healthcare crisis and it could have a profound effect on long-term disability claims, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. “Long COVID could very well be the fibromyalgia of

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There are options when your human rights have been violated

/ Personal Injury /

Individuals who feel that their human rights have been violated have options available to them, other than turning to the court to seek a remedy, says Barrie-area litigator Steve Rastin. “When people in Ontario talk about human rights, they are usually referring to the rights that are protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC),”

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