On March 27, 2018, the Ontario Court of Appeal released a
decision in the case of Tondat v. Hudson's Bay
Company, 2018 ONCA 302. The case involved a slip and fall
accident at a Hudson's Bay store and provides important lessons
for retail stores and other occupiers.
Facts
In December 2012, the plaintiff, a Superintendent of Education
with the Toronto District School Board, went to a Hudson's Bay
store in Oakville to return a small vacuum cleaner. It had been
raining heavily earlier in the morning. The rain had turned into a
light drizzle by the time the plaintiff arrived at the store.
The plaintiff, who was wearing leather sandals, approached the
doors to the store carrying the vacuum in both hands. A customer
opened the door for her. The plaintiff entered the store and
stepped onto a black floor mat. She did not see any debris or water
on the floor at the time.
