Fraser v. Bell

Fraser v. Bell

Majority: A payment into court made under the defendant's plea, though expressed conditionally, operated as a payment in satisfaction such that the plaintiff was entitled to withdraw and retain the money; therefore the defendant was not entitled to repayment and the appeals are dismissed.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
(1886) 13 SCR 546
Parties
Defendant / Appellant: Alexander Fraser; Plaintiff / Respondent: Andrew W. Bell
Court
Supreme Court of Canada
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
8 June 1886
Procedural Posture
Action for an Account; Trust and Insolvency Related Claims / Appeal and Cross Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada From the Court of Appeal for Ontario (judgment on Pleadings and Trial)
Outcome
Appeals dismissed with costs; judgment of Court of Appeal for Ontario affirmed; respondent entitled to retain the sum paid into court.
Legal Topics
Payment Into Court, Conditional Plea, Plaintiff's Right to Withdraw Funds, Trustee Liability, Accounting, Costs
Source Language
english
Pleading Equity Trusts Civil Procedure Insolvency Payment Into Court Conditional Plea Plaintiff's Right to Withdraw Funds +3 more

Source-derived case record

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Parties

Alexander Fraser

Defendant / Appellant

Andrew W. Bell

Plaintiff / Respondent

Procedural Posture

Action for an Account; Trust and Insolvency Related Claims / Appeal and Cross Appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada From the Court of Appeal for Ontario (judgment on Pleadings and Trial)

  1. 1 Whether a conditional payment into court under the defendant's plea entitled the plaintiff to withdraw and retain the funds despite dismissal of the action
  2. 2 Whether the plea amounted to an admission of liability or merely a trustee's payment into court held in medio
  3. 3 Whether the defendant was entitled to repayment of the money taken out of court by the plaintiff

Ratio Decidendi

Majority: A payment into court made under the defendant's plea, though expressed conditionally, operated as a payment in satisfaction such that the plaintiff was entitled to withdraw and retain the money; therefore the defendant was not entitled to repayment and the appeals are dismissed.

Court Disposition

Appeals dismissed with costs; judgment of Court of Appeal for Ontario affirmed; respondent entitled to retain the sum paid into court.

Orders

  • Appeals dismissed with costs
  • Judgment of the Court of Appeal for Ontario affirmed