Canadian Breweries Co. v. Gariépy
- Citation
- (1907) 38 SCR 236
- Status
- Judgment
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Court
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Decision
- 21 February 1907
- Posture
- Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada / Motion to Quash Appeal
- Language
- English
More details
- Court
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Decision
- 21 February 1907
- Posture
- Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada / Motion to Quash Appeal
- Language
- English
On this page
Professional case brief
Research organized from the available case record
01
Holding and result
The appeal was quashed because the issue on the tierce opposition did not involve a direct pecuniary amount in controversy sufficient to confer jurisdiction on the Supreme Court of Canada; therefore this Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.
Court disposition
Appeal quashed with costs.
Orders
- Appeal quashed with costs.
02
Material facts
Parties
Canadian Breweries Company
Appellant Counsel: Atwater K.C.Onésime Gariépy
Respondent Counsel: MurphyAmounts and remedies
- Creditor Claim: CAD 600
- Alleged Business Value: CAD 5,000
03
Procedural history
Posture
Appeal to Supreme Court of Canada / Motion to Quash Appeal
04
Questions and positions
Legal issues
- 01
Whether the Supreme Court of Canada had jurisdiction to hear the appeal
- 02
Whether there was a pecuniary amount in controversy sufficient to confer appellate jurisdiction
- 03
Whether the creditor had locus standi to maintain a tierce opposition to set aside an ex parte judgment
- 04
Whether the present case is distinguishable from Coté v. The James Richardson Co.
Party arguments
- Applicant
- The appellants, creditors claiming $600, relied on Coté v. The James Richardson Co. and argued that the disputed judgment concerned property and a liquor licence alleged to be worth over $5,000, thereby creating a pecuniary matter in controversy that vested this Court with jurisdiction.
- Respondent
- The respondent argued that the tierce opposition sought only to set aside an ex parte judgment and did not raise a direct monetary claim; accordingly there was no pecuniary amount in controversy and this Court lacked jurisdiction. The respondent also relied on estoppel and relevant precedents.
05
Court’s reasoning
Legal principles
- 01
R.S.C. c. 135, s. 29; Supreme Court precedent
An appeal to the Supreme Court requires a matter in controversy involving a pecuniary amount to confer jurisdiction
- 02
Arts. 1185-1188 C.P.Q.; case law cited in judgment
A tierce opposition under the Quebec Code of Procedure is a procedural vehicle to contest a prior judgment but does not itself create a pecuniary controversy unless the opposition raises a direct monetary claim
- 03
Coté v. The James Richardson Co.; Noel v. Chevrefils; reasons of Chief Justice Fitzpatrick
Precedent must be distinguished on its facts; absence of a direct monetary dispute removes appellate jurisdiction even if underlying property has significant alleged value
06
Ratio, limits and disposition
Ratio decidendi
The appeal was quashed because the issue on the tierce opposition did not involve a direct pecuniary amount in controversy sufficient to confer jurisdiction on the Supreme Court of Canada; therefore this Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the appeal.
Obiter and limits
- The case is distinguishable from Coté v. The James Richardson Co. on its facts because that case involved a direct dispute over property of admitted monetary value.
- The appellants were held estopped in the Superior Court, a factual determination affirmed on appeal.
Court disposition
Appeal quashed with costs.
- Appeal quashed with costs.
Source and reliance status
Supreme Court of Canada · 21 February 1907
This page organises the available record for research. Confirm quotations, current status, and subsequent treatment against the official source before relying on the case.
Judgment reading view
Judgment text
The complete available source text.
Supreme Court of Canada
Judgment· 21 February 1907
Canadian Breweries Co. v. Gariépy Collection Supreme Court Judgments Date 1907-02-21 Report (1907) 38 SCR 236 Judges Fitzpatrick, Charles; Girouard, Désiré; Davies, Louis Henry; Idington, John; Maclennan, James; Duff, Lyman Poore On appeal from Quebec Subjects Civil procedure Decision Content Supreme Court of Canada Canadian Breweries Co. v. Gariépy (1907) 38 SCR 236 Date: 1907-02-21 The Canadian Breweries Company (Opposants) Appellants; And Onésime Gariépy (Petitioner) Respondent. 1907: Feb. 19; 1907: Feb.
21. Present:—Fitzpatrick C.J. and Girouard, Davies, Idington, Maclennan and Duff JJ. ON APPEAL FROM THE COURT OF KING'S BENCH, APPEAL SIDE, PROVINCE OF QUEBEC. Vacating judgment—Appeal—Jurisdiction—Matter in controversy— Tierce opposition—Arts. 1185-1188 C.P.Q.—R.S.C. c. 135, s.
29. A creditor of an insolvent with a claim for $600 filed a tierce opposition to vacate a judgment declaring the respondent to be the owner of the business of a restaurant and the liquor license accessory thereto, alleged to be worth over $5,000. The opposition was dismissed on the ground that, under the circumstances of the case, the company had no locus standi to contest the judgment. On motion to quash an appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada, Held, that as there was no pecuniary amount in controversy an appeal would not lie. Coté v. The James Richardson Co. (38 Can. S.C.R 41, distinguished. Motion to quash an appeal from the judgment of the Court of King's Bench, appeal side, affirming the judgment of the Superior Court, District of Montreal (Archibald J.), which dismissed the company's tierce opposition with costs. On petition by the present respondent the curator of one Herschon, an insolvent, was, by judgment of the Superior Court, District of Montreal, on 29th June, 1905, ordered to transfer to the respondent the right to carry on the business of a restaurant with the license to retail liquors in connection therewith, the said business being considered worth $5,000 or upwards. The appellants, being creditors of the insolvent to the amount of $600, filed a tierce opposition asking to have the license restored to the curator to be disposed of by him for the benefit of
the creditors generally. In the Superior Court, Mr. Justice Archibald held that, under the circumstances of the case, the appellants were estopped and dismissed the opposition with costs. This decision was affirmed by the judgment now appealed from. Murphy for the motion. Atwater K.C. contra. THE CHIEF JUSTICE.—This case is easily distinguishable from Cote v. The James Richardson Co.[1], upon which the appellant chiefly relied to support his contention that this court has jurisdiction to hear this appeal. In that case the direct issue between the parties was as to the ownership of a certain quantity of spool wood admittedly of a value exceeding $2,000. Here the appellant, a creditor of one Herschorn for the sum of $600, by a proceeding known under the Quebec Code of Procedure as a tierce opposition asked that a judgment rendered ex parte seven months before, and to which the curator to the estate was a party, be set aside. By the judgment to which this opposition was fyled the respondent was declared to be entitled to the possession as owner of certain property then in the hands of the curator to Herschorn's estate, and the question in issue on the tierce opposition was the right of the present appellant to have the ex parte judgment rendered in favour of the respondent set aside. On that issue there was no matter in controversy involving directly a question of money and this
court is without jurisdiction. See Noel v. Chevrefils[2]. GIROUARD J.—Without agreeing that this case is distinguishable from Coté v. The James Richardson Co.[3], I concur in the result. DAVIES, IDINGTON, MACLENNAN and Duff JJ. concurred with His Lordship the Chief Justice. Appeal quashed with costs. Solicitors for the appellants: Archer, Perron & Taschereau. Solicitors for the respondent: Murphy & Roy. [1] 38 Can. S.C.R. 41. [2] 30 Can. S.C.R. 327. [3] 38 Can. S.C.R. 41.
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