Canada Judgment

Court of Appeal for Ontario

CTCMPAO v. Yan

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Source document

01

Holding and result

The application judge correctly applied s.140 and, on the global history of repeated proceedings, attempts to re‑litigate the same matters, and unpaid costs of $161,000, properly concluded the appellant had persistently and without reasonable grounds instituted vexatious proceedings; the appeal is dismissed and the vexatious litigant order stands.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed; order declaring appellant a vexatious litigant upheld.

Orders

  • Appeal dismissed
  • Order declaring Nathalie Xian Yi Yan a vexatious litigant upheld
  • Appellant to pay costs of the appeal to the College in the amount of $2,500 all inclusive
  • Motions regarding fresh evidence dismissed without costs

02

Material facts

Parties

College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario

Respondent Counsel: Henry Ngan

Mahadai Bahadur

Respondent Counsel: Alicia Windsor

Nathalie Xian Yi Yan

Appellant Counsel: acting in person

Amounts and remedies

  • Unpaid Costs Accrued by Appellant at Time of Application: CAD 161,000
  • Costs of the Appeal Awarded to the College: CAD 2,500

03

Procedural history

  1. Posture

    Civil / Appeal From Superior Court of Justice (application Under S.140 Courts of Justice Act Declaring Vexatious Litigant)

04

Questions and positions

Legal issues

Party arguments

Applicant
The appellant argued the application judge failed to consider certain aspects of the proceedings, mischaracterized some proceedings, and applied the s.140 test incorrectly.
Respondent
The respondents argued the application judge applied the correct legal test under s.140, the appellant initiated persistent, unmeritorious proceedings and re‑litigation, accrued $161,000 in unpaid costs, and that the vexatious litigant declaration was justified; the College sought costs and sought to introduce fresh evidence which the court found unnecessary to decide.

05

Court’s reasoning

  1. 01

    Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s.140

    To declare a litigant vexatious under s.140 requires persistence, institution of proceedings without reasonable grounds, and vexatious conduct.

  2. 02

    Principles of appellate review / case law on appellate deference

    An appellate court will not intervene absent an identifiable legal or factual error in the application judge's exercise of discretion.

06

Ratio, limits and disposition

Ratio decidendi

The application judge correctly applied s.140 and, on the global history of repeated proceedings, attempts to re‑litigate the same matters, and unpaid costs of $161,000, properly concluded the appellant had persistently and without reasonable grounds instituted vexatious proceedings; the appeal is dismissed and the vexatious litigant order stands.

Obiter and limits

  • It was unnecessary to decide the College's motion to introduce fresh evidence or the appellant's motion for directions regarding that motion.
  • The respondent Mahadai Bahadur did not seek costs of the appeal.

Court disposition

Appeal dismissed; order declaring appellant a vexatious litigant upheld.

  • Appeal dismissed
  • Order declaring Nathalie Xian Yi Yan a vexatious litigant upheld
  • Appellant to pay costs of the appeal to the College in the amount of $2,500 all inclusive
  • Motions regarding fresh evidence dismissed without costs

Source and reliance status

Court of Appeal for Ontario · 17 March 2026

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Judgment reading view

Judgment text

The complete available source text.

Source document

Court of Appeal for Ontario

Judgment· 17 March 2026

2026 ONCA 200

CTCMPAO v. Yan Collection Decisions of the Court of Appeal Date 2026-03-17 Neutral citation 2026 ONCA 200 Docket numbers COA-25-CV-0147, M56607 Judges Huscroft, Grant; Zarnett, Benjamin; Pomerance, Renee M. Subject Civil Decision Content

COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO CITATION: CTCMPAO v. Yan, 2026 ONCA 200 DATE: 20260317 DOCKET: COA-25-CV-0147 & M56607 Huscroft, Zarnett and Pomerance JJ.A.

BETWEEN CTCMPAO* & Bahadur Applicants (Respondents/ Responding Party*) and Nathalie Xian Yi Yan Respondent (Appellant/ Moving Party) Nathalie Xian Yi Yan, acting in person Henry Ngan, for the respondent/responding party CTCMPAO Alicia Windsor, for the respondent Mahadai Bahadur Heard: March 11, 2026 On appeal from the judgment of Justice John Krawchenko of the Superior Court of Justice, dated January 16, 2025.

REASONS FOR DECISION [1] The appellant appeals from an order declaring her to be a vexatious litigant. The application judge concluded, pursuant to s. 140 of the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, that the appellant had persistently, and without reasonable grounds instituted vexatious proceedings against the respondents, the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists of Ontario, (the “College”) and Mahadai Bahadur. [2] The appellant argues that the application judge failed to consider certain aspects of the proceedings that led to the order. She takes issue with the application judge’s characterization of some of the proceedings and his application of the test under s. 140. [3] In our view, the reasons do not disclose any errors that would warrant appellate intervention. [4] It was open to the application judge to conclude that the requirements of s. 140 of the Courts of Justice Act were amply satisfied in the circumstances of this case. He considered the global history of litigation initiated by the appellant against the respondents and others. This consisted of multiple proceedings, multiple attempts to review unfavourable outcomes, and, when unsuccessful, the initiation of new proceedings dealing with the same subject matter. At the time of the application, the appellant had accrued $161,000 in costs orders, which she had not paid. [5]

The application judge applied the correct legal test. He concluded that the proceedings were persistent; that they were instituted without reasonable grounds; and that the impugned conduct was vexatious. [6] There being no grounds for intervention, we dismiss the appeal. As such, it is unnecessary to address the College’s motion to introduce fresh evidence or the appellant’s motion for directions concerning the College’s motion. [7] The respondent Mahadai Bahadur did not seek costs of the appeal. In accordance with the College’s request, the appellant is to pay costs of the appeal to the College in the amount of $2,500 all inclusive. The motions regarding fresh evidence are dismissed without costs. “Grant Huscroft J.A.” “B. Zarnett J.A.” “R. Pomerance J.A.”

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Authorities

Authorities used by the court

Cases, legislation, regulations, and constitutional provisions identified in the available record.

Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s.140

Legislation

Legislation referenced in the available case record.

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