On May 25, 2022, the Alberta Court of Appeal released its
decision for Condominium Corporation No. 0522151 (Somerset
Condominium) v JV Somerset Development Inc., 2022 ABCA 193
("JV Somerset"). Roberto Noce,
Q.C. and Michael Gibson of Miller Thomson LLP acted for the
appellant, Condominium Corporation No. 0522151 (the
"Corporation").
In JV Somerset, the developer, JV Somerset Developments
Inc. (the "Respondent"), constructed a
215-unit condominium, the units of which were sold to members of
the public in late 2004 or early 2005. In or around 2012,
significant damage to the balconies was discovered due to
deficiencies in the waterproof membranes. The Corporation replaced
all the balconies and sued the Respondent for the cost of repairing
the deficiencies, framing the claim in tort and breach of fiduciary
duty.1 In their defence, the Respondent asserted that a
developer, which is a defined term under the Condominium
Property Act, RSA 2000, c-22, could not be liable