MacDonald v. Brufatto

MacDonald v. Brufatto

The Court ordered immediate retrieval of the Claimant's acknowledged personal property and set a specific time for collection; directed the Defendant to deliver vehicle ownership documents and keys and required the Claimant to remove the vehicle within 30 days or accept reversion of title and pay $500; declared absolute title to the slip-on camper in favour of the Defendant; the Court reserved jurisdiction over any remaining issues in the counterclaim and admonished that retaining personal property as ransom is unlawful.

Citation
2019 NSSM 78
Parties
Claimant; Defendant by Counterclaim: Scott MacDonald; Defendant; Claimant by Counterclaim: Judy Brufatto
Court
Nova Scotia Small Claims Court
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
10 June 2019
Procedural Posture
Small Claims Court Claim and Counterclaim Arising From Common Law Relationship / Interim Decision and Order Following Hearings Held March 6 and June 5, 2019
Outcome
Interim order: Claimant permitted to retrieve personal property; Defendant to deliver vehicle documents and keys; Claimant to remove vehicle within 30 days or ownership reverts to Defendant with $500 payable; title to slip-on camper awarded to Defendant; remaining counterclaim matters reserved for further...
Legal Topics
Division of Personal Property, Possession and Retrieval of Chattels, Conversion/detinue, Interim Court Orders, Title to Chattels, Jurisdictional Limits of Small Claims Court
Source Language
English

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Parties

Scott MacDonald

Claimant; Defendant by Counterclaim

Judy Brufatto

Defendant; Claimant by Counterclaim

Procedural Posture

Small Claims Court Claim and Counterclaim Arising From Common Law Relationship / Interim Decision and Order Following Hearings Held March 6 and June 5, 2019

  1. 1 Whether the Claimant is entitled to immediate return of personal property located at Defendant's residence
  2. 2 Whether the Defendant may retain Claimant's property as security for alleged debts/expenses
  3. 3 Determination of ownership/title of a slip-on camper trailer

Ratio Decidendi

The Court ordered immediate retrieval of the Claimant's acknowledged personal property and set a specific time for collection; directed the Defendant to deliver vehicle ownership documents and keys and required the Claimant to remove the vehicle within 30 days or accept reversion of title and pay $500; declared absolute title to the slip-on camper in favour of the Defendant; the Court reserved jurisdiction over any remaining issues in the counterclaim and admonished that retaining personal property as ransom is unlawful.

Court Disposition

Interim order: Claimant permitted to retrieve personal property; Defendant to deliver vehicle documents and keys; Claimant to remove vehicle within 30 days or ownership reverts to Defendant with $500 payable; title to slip-on camper awarded to Defendant; remaining counterclaim matters reserved for further...

Orders

  • Claimant shall attend at Defendant's residence on June 16, 2019 at 2:00 pm to recover remaining personal property listed in Exhibit C-1; Defendant shall make those items available; no entry into residence/garage without Defendant's express permission.
  • Defendant shall deliver to Claimant on June 16, 2019 at 2:00 pm the original Certificate of Registration, Permit and keys for the automobile located on Defendant's property.