Here are examples of small claims court judgments, where consumers asserted their legal warranty rights. This tool can be useful to you in your negotiations with a merchant. For example, it could help you determine a reasonable durability period for your item or estimate the amount of compensation for damages to which you may be entitled. 

Cautionary note

These judgment summaries are presented for reference purposes only. An application that was settled in favour of a consumer in one situation may not necessarily result in the same ruling for another consumer. 

Several factors can influence a judge's decision regarding a reasonable durability period for an item. These include the price paid, contract clause provisions, the conditions under which the  item is used, etc. Remember that each case is different, and every decision is rendered on the basis of the evidence brought before the court.  

Exemples of judgments

Washer stopped working about 3 and a half years after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Purchase price: unspecified

Claim for $529.40

  • For the cost of replacement
  • $150 for inconvenience suffered.

Amount awarded

$529.40

Full judgment (in French only)

Demers c. GE Canada

September 2022

Dryer stopped working less than 5 years after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Purchase price: $1,020.63

Claim for $1,283.48

For the cost of replacement and inconvenience suffered

Amount awarded

$647.49

  • $63 for partial reimbursement of sales price
  • $57.42 for the cost of removing the old appliance and installing the new one
  • $100 for laundromat expenses
  • $13.44 for mailing costs

Full judgment (in French only)

Blouin-Gagné c. Ameublement Tanguay inc.

September 2022

Washer stopped working after 52 months of use

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Price paid: $599.99 plus tax

Unspecified claim

Amount awarded

$368.37

  • $300 in reduction of sales price
  • $57.06 for estimate fees
  • $11.31 for sending of formal notice

Full judgment (in French only)

Auclair c. Mc Commercial inc.

September 2021

Washer leaked a few days after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Purchase price: $1,179.01

Claim for $13,304.54

Unspecified

Amount awarded

$5,038.42

  • $1,179.01 for reimbursement of purchase price
  • $1,824.65 for floor repairs
  • $1,034.76 for damage to an air hockey table
  • $1,000 for inconvenience suffered

Full judgment (in French only)

Deschamps c. LG Électroniques Canada inc.

October 2020

Washer stopped working 4 years after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Purchase price: $688

Claim for $639

Unspecified

Amount awarded

$527

  • $390 for cost of repairs
  • $137 cost of technician’s service call

Full judgment (in French only)

Béland c. Centre de liquidation Robitaille inc.

January 2020

Washer of washer-dryer set makes piercing noise and does not wash clothes properly less than 3 weeks after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Price paid: $2,551.30

Claim for $4,551.30

  • $2,551.30 to reimburse sales price;
  • $1,000 in moral damages;
  • $1,000 in punitive damages.

Amount awarded

$3,051.30

  • $2,551.30 to reimburse sales price;
  • $500 for inconvenience suffered.

Full judgment (in French only)

Parent c. Groupe BMTC inc.

September 2019

Washer stopped working 4½ years after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Price paid : $739.07

Claim for $1,681.68

To reimburse sales price and various losses sustained

Amount awarded

$924.53

  • $453.80 for value of replacement washer;
  • $228.80 for technician’s fees;
  • $150 for inconvenience suffered;
  • $91.93 to reimburse costs incurred to determine cause of problem.

Full judgment (in French only)

Labrecque c. LG Électroniques Canada inc.

September 2019

Repeated problems with washer of washer-dryer set 1 year after purchase

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Price paid: $1,200

Claim for $1,768.99

  • $1,200 to reimburse sales price;
  • $68.99 for costs of repairs;
  • $500 for inconvenience suffered.

Amount awarded

$968.99

  • $600 for cancellation of sale of washer;
  • $300 for inconvenience suffered;
  • $68.99 for repair costs.

Full judgment (in French only)

Grondin c. GE Canada

May 2019

Washer began leaking as of first use

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Price paid: $550

Claim for $594.76

  • $550 to reimburse sales price;
  • $25.28 for purchase of USB flash drives submitted in evidence to establish leaking of washer;
  • $11.50 for costs of formal notice;
  • $7.98 for costs of photocopies.

Amount awarded

$586.78

  • $550 to reimburse sales price;
  • $25.28 for purchase of USB flash drives submitted in evidence to establish leaking of washer;
  • $11.50 for costs of formal notice.

Full judgment (in French only)

Lippé c. 9314-0614 Québec inc.

May 2019

Washer began leaking and making noise after 4½ years of use

Claim allowed in part

Summary

Price paid: $561.68

Claim for $894.41

  • $561.68 to reimburse price paid;
  • $97.73 for technician’s service fees;
  • $35 for costs of sending registered letters;
  • $200 for inconvenience suffered.

Amount awarded

$632.73

  • $300 for depreciated value of washer;
  • $97.73 for technician’s service fees;
  • $35 for postal fees;
  • $200 for inconvenience suffered.

Full judgment (in French only)

Labrecque Provencher c. Meubles Poisson ltée

March 2019

Continuing your search

You can also consult other court decisions concerning legal warranties using the search engine available free of charge on the SOQUIJ website (in French only).

Last update : June 27, 2023

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The information contained on this page is presented in simple terms to make it easier to understand. It does not replace the texts of the laws and regulations.