Handley Estate Rule - Overturned

Ontario appeal court overturns Handley Estate rule

Partial settlements in Ontario litigation no longer carry a tripwire. The Court of Appeal replaced the exceptionless Handley Estate stay with a discretionary test in 2026 ONCA 352, where prejudice and proportionality now decide the remedy. Rule 49.14 still demands every non-monetary term disclosed within seven days or before the next step: courts can now answer slips with costs instead of killing the case.