People

Representative Work

Denise successfully represented a complainant in a sexual assault claim with respect to a decision of the Inquiries, Complaints and Reports Committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. The Health Professions Appeal Review Board concluded that the Committee’s decision was unreasonable. The Committee subsequently referred the allegations of the physician’s professional misconduct to the Discipline Committee of the College: L. F. v B. C. T., 2017 CanLII 62882 (ON HPARB) http://canlii.ca/t/h69xh 

Rob Centa, Kris Borg-Olivier and Denise Cooney successfully represented Brandon Moyse in proceedings brought by Mr. Moyse’s former employer in The Catalyst Capital Group Inc. v Moyse.

They successfully defended the employee in contempt proceedings in which Mr. Moyse’s former employer sought to have him sent to prison for breach of a court order (2015 ONSC 4388 (CanLII), http://canlii.ca/t/gm3x1). Subsequently, they successfully moved to have the employer’s appeal to the Court of Appeal from that decision quashed (2015 ONCA 784 http://canlii.ca/t/gm3x1), and to the Divisional Court dismissed for delay (2016 ONSC 554 (CanLII), http://canlii.ca/t/gn1mk)

At the trial of the action, the plaintiff advanced the tort of spoliation against Mr. Moyse, the first time such a claim had been advanced to trial in Ontario. The court dismissed the action against Mr. Moyse in its entirety (2016 ONSC 5271 (CanLII),http://canlii.ca/t/gt24t). Mr. Moyse was wholly successful on appeal. The Court of Appeal for Ontario dismissed  the appeal from the trial judge, and the motion for leave to appeal the costs decision (The Catalyst Capital Group Inc. v. Moyse, 2018 ONCA 283 (CanLII), http://canlii.ca/t/hr4gx).

Awards and Honours

Community Involvement

In addition to her busy practice, Denise actively volunteers her time and legal skills in the community. Through Pro Bono Ontario, Denise represents Registered Early Childhood Educators in professional discipline proceedings on a pro bono basis. She also acts as duty counsel to self-represented litigants appearing before the Superior Court of Justice Civil Practice Court, and at Law Help Ontario, providing legal assistance to low-income self-represented litigants.

Denise also volunteers at the Fred Victor’s Women’s 24/7 Drop-in Program, a social service charitable organization, where she provides legal information and support to the Program’s members.

Denise also regularly volunteers with the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, providing coaching and guidance to students participating in the school’s moot programs, mentoring law students through its alumni mentorship program, and speaking to high school students as part of its programs for youth.