On October 18th, 2006, the Quebec Court of Appeal rendered a much-awaited decision regarding class actions. The province’s highest court was called upon to rule on the issue of whether, when there is a multiplicity of defendants, it is necessary that a legal relationship exist between the petitioner applying for authorization to bring a class action and each defendant.

Recently by affirming the necessity of a legal relationship between the petitioner and all of the entities he wishes to sue, the Court of Appeal finally dispelled the uncertainty prevailing in Quebec on this issue.