Education As Consumer Product? Ramdath v. George Brown College

Mr. Justice Belobaba's recent decision in the rare common issues trial of Ramdath v. The George Brown College, 2010 ONSC 2019 should make Ontario university and college administrators consider their words very carefully in course descriptions and other communications. His Honour's decision appears to expand the protections of the Consumer Protection Act, 2002, S.O. 2001, c.30, Sched. A (the Act) to allow actions by students in respect of claims made in college course descriptions. Moreover, the common issues decision was a rare example of the use of negligent misrepresentation in a class action, which will likely change the way both class counsel and defence counsel approach misrepresentation claims.