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Attacking Prior Decision: Involves Attempts to Argue That Prior Judicial Decisions Were Improper
Question: Can you challenge a court decision after it has been made?
Answer: No, attempting to challenge a court's decision is generally considered a collateral attack and is not permitted unless the decision is appealed and overturned. Understanding these principles can help you navigate your legal options more effectively. For tailored support, consider reaching out to the team at Caruso Legal Services.
Understanding Collateral Attack Principles
In law, there is a rule that imports finality upon previous decisions of a court or tribunal whereby the previous decision is deemed proper and correct unless such was overturned on an Appeal. If the previous decision was without overturn, the decision stands and any subsequent attempt to argue that the decision was flawed is improper and should be viewed as an improper collateral attack.
The Law
The rule regarding attempts to argue that a previous decision, including factual findings, of a court or tribunal were flawed was well explained within, among others, the cases of Mailloux v. Mindorff, 2016 ONSC 6003, as well as Black v. Owen, 2016 ONSC 40, wherein each it was said:
[42] The Supreme Court of Canada held in R. v. Wilson, 1983 CanLII 35 (SCC), [1983] 2 S.C.R. 594 c. p. 599 that collateral attacks are impermissible:
It has long been a fundamental rule that a court order, made by a court having jurisdiction to make it, stands and is binding and conclusive unless it is set aside on appeal or lawfully quashed. It is also well settled in the authorities that such an order may not be attacked collaterally – and a collateral attack may be described as an attack made in proceedings other than those whose specific object is the reversal, variation, or nullification of the order or judgment.
[43] The rule is a judicial creation (which must therefore yield to a contrary legislative enactment) based on general considerations related to the administration of justice, as explained in Garland v. Consumers’ Gas Co., 2004 SCC 25 (CanLII), [2004] 1 S.C.R. 629 at para. 72:
The fundamental policy behind the rule against collateral attack is to “maintain the rule of law and to preserve the repute of the administration of justice” (R. v. Litchfield, 1993 CanLII 44 (SCC), [1993] 4 S.C.R. 333, at p. 349). The idea is that if a party could avoid the consequences of an order issued against it by going to another forum, this would undermine the integrity of the justice system. Consequently, the doctrine is intended to prevent a party from circumventing the effect of a decision rendered against it.
[52] The principles of res judicata apply. To allow the findings of fact in the First Decision to be challenged would be a collateral attack and an abuse of process.
As shown in Mailloux, and Black, once a judicial decision or factual findings are made, unless subsequently overturned within a proceeding brought specifically for the purpose of overturning the decision, the decision stands and any attempt within a subsequent proceeding to argue that the decision was wrong or otherwise flawed, is improper and shall be viewed as a collateral attack.
“... a court order, made by a court having jurisdiction to make it, stands and is binding and conclusive unless it is set aside on appeal or lawfully quashed. ...”
~ McIntyre J.R. v. Wilson, [1983] 2 S.C.R. 594
Clarity Required
In the context of applying the doctrine of collateral attack, clarity within a prior Order is a fundamental prerequisite. A party may reasonably challenge the findings of an Order that is ambiguous, internally inconsistent, or lacking in sufficient precision to allow for meaningful interpretation or understanding; and accordingly, to invoke the principles of collateral attack, the Order in question must be clear on its face and capable of consistent interpretation. A clear Order as a requisite to a collateral attack argument was stated in the case of Furney v. Hazan, 2025 ONCA 73, where it was said:
[12] We are not satisfied that Centa J.’s decision renders the current action against Mr. Chhina res judicata. On reading the earlier decision, it is unclear whether there are sufficient similarities to the causes of action in the current case. The doctrine of res judicata prevents the re-litigation of previously adjudicated and finally decided matters. It applies where the basis of the cause of action was argued or could have been argued in a prior action, the same parties were involved, and the underlying decision is final: The Catalyst Capital Group Inc. v. VimpelCom Ltd., 2019 ONCA 354, at paras. 50-51. Here, the same parties were involved and the decision is final. However, it is not apparent that the same cause of action was argued. Further, it is unclear what “collateral attacks” are being referred to.
Criticisms Are Permitted
Appearing contrary to the rule agaisnt collateral attacks, the Court of Appeal has said that publishing public or statements or private communications that contradict the findings of a court are permissible; and accordingly, although challenging a prior decision or factual finding may be viewed as a collateral attack within the confines of subsequent legal proceedings, criticisizing the decision or factual findings as incorrect is permitted. This right to criticize the accuracy of a prior proceeding, without seeking to overturn the result of the prior proceeding, was stated in Nixon v. O'Callaghan, 1926 CanLII 421, wherein it was said:
The Judge does not mean that when a Judge, County Court Judge or otherwise, finds adversely to any one it is his duty - to "take it lying down." No Judge claims infallibility—even the Judicial Committee has been known to reverse itself—and it is the right of every Canadian to vindicate his own character, clear his own reputation, by every legitimate means, however vigorous. He must not attack the bona fides of the Judge, but he may, the case being no longer sub judice, attack in proper language the accuracy of the conclusions of law or fact arrived at.
Stuart had the right to show, if he could, that he was not blameworthy; he had the right to make inquiries in every quarter, and to make public the result of his inquiries; he had a perfect right to assist Blatch and to bring facts to his notice; a perfect right to reduce to writing the information received from O'Callaghan and Gilliland so far as that would tend to assist him in clearing his own good name.
Conclusion
A collateral attack is a legal argument that attempts to undermine a decision or a factual finding as determined by a court or tribunal within a previous legal proceeding.
