Torkin Manes Secures Complete Victory Following Two-Week Commercial Trial
Overview
On June 10, 2026, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice released its decision in the combined actions of Tricor Automotive Group v. Premier Dealer Services. Torkin Manes represented Tricor Automotive Group (“Tricor”), successfully defending against Premier Dealer Services’ (“PDS”) claim and obtaining judgment in Tricor’s favour on its own claim in the amount of $1.265 million plus costs of $550,000.
The litigation arose from the breakdown of an 18-year business relationship between the parties. Following unsuccessful negotiations regarding a proposed ownership interest in PDS, Tricor began exploring a transition to an alternative service platform. PDS took the position that the parties’ agreement was exclusive and that Tricor was required to provide 12 months’ notice before moving its business elsewhere.
In May 2018, PDS shut down Tricor’s dealer portal and withheld commissions, leading to competing breach of contract claims and damages claims exceeding several million dollars.
The trial involved complex issues of contractual interpretation, anticipatory breach, termination rights, and damages, together with competing expert valuation evidence and a factual record spanning nearly a decade of litigation.
Following two weeks of fact and expert evidence, the Court accepted Tricor’s position that the parties’ agreement was not exclusive and concluded that PDS breached the agreement by shutting down Tricor’s dealer portal while the contract remained in force. The Court dismissed PDS’s action in its entirety and awarded Tricor damages of $1,265,274.
Tricor was represented by Torkin Manes’ lawyers Niklas Holmberg, Harris Khan and incoming associate Alyssa Campana. A copy of the Trial Decision can be found here.
People
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A partner in the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group, Niklas specializes in complex litigation and has represented clients in all manner of commercial and civil disputes. View bio
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Harris is an associate in our Construction, Litigation and Privacy & Data Management Groups, with a broad civil and commercial litigation practice. View bio
