Wabasso Ltd. v. National Drying Machinery Co.

Wabasso Ltd. v. National Drying Machinery Co.

Where the alleged negligent act constitutes a delictual fault independently of the contract (art. 1053 C.C.), the victim may elect to proceed in delict; because the alleged delictual acts occurred in Trois-Rivières the Superior Court of that district had jurisdiction under art. 68 C.C.P., so the declinatory...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[1981] 1 SCR 578
Parties
Plaintiff Appellant: Wabasso Limited; Defendant Respondent: The National Drying Machinery Co.
Court
Supreme Court of Canada
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
22 June 1981
Procedural Posture
Tort (negligence) / Conflict of Laws / Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada From the Court of Appeal for Quebec on a Declinatory Exception Regarding Jurisdiction
Outcome
Appeal allowed; decision of the Court of Appeal reversed; judgment of the Superior Court restored; declinatory exception dismissed
Legal Topics
Choice Between Contractual and Delictual Liability, Jurisdiction Under Art. 68 C.c.p., Place Where Whole Cause of Action Arose, Duty to Warn, Art. 1053 Civil Code
Source Language
english
Torts Conflict of Laws Contract Law Civil Procedure Choice Between Contractual and Delictual Liability Jurisdiction Under Art. 68 C.c.p. Place Where Whole Cause of Action Arose Duty to Warn +1 more

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Parties

Wabasso Limited

Plaintiff Appellant

The National Drying Machinery Co.

Defendant Respondent

Procedural Posture

Tort (negligence) / Conflict of Laws / Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada From the Court of Appeal for Quebec on a Declinatory Exception Regarding Jurisdiction

  1. 1 Whether a plaintiff with a contractual relationship may elect to sue in delict for the same facts
  2. 2 Whether the Superior Court of Trois-Rivières has jurisdiction under art. 68 C.C.P. as the place where the whole cause of action arose
  3. 3 Whether the alleged fault falls within art. 1053 C.C. independent of the contract

Ratio Decidendi

Where the alleged negligent act constitutes a delictual fault independently of the contract (art. 1053 C.C.), the victim may elect to proceed in delict; because the alleged delictual acts occurred in Trois-Rivières the Superior Court of that district had jurisdiction under art. 68 C.C.P., so the declinatory exception was dismissed and the appeal allowed.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; decision of the Court of Appeal reversed; judgment of the Superior Court restored; declinatory exception dismissed

Orders

  • Appeal allowed
  • Decision of the Court of Appeal for Quebec reversed