Canada Case Law

Unisys Canada Inc. v. Pineau-Pandya

Court

Supreme Court of Nova Scotia

Defendants failed to discharge the onus under Rule 13.04/Shannex to show there is no genuine issue of material fact; numerous disputed material facts—including fiduciary status, solicitation, and circumstances of termination—require credibility assessments and factual findings that cannot be made on summary judgment; accordingly the summary judgment motion is dismissed at stage one and defendants may not summarily dismiss other claims without specific notice.

Source excerpt

• Fiduciary duty
• Non-solicitation/non-competition
• Misuse of confidential information
• Constructive trust/accounting
• Settlement privilege
• Summary judgment/shannex test

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Buffalo Megan Holding Ltd. v. PKT Holdings Inc.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

La Cour suprême de la Colombie-Britannique rejette les prétentions personnelles de William Wang contre les requérants pour absence de véritable question à juger et ordonne 87 000 $ en sûreté pour frais.

• Summary judgment under rule 9-6
• Collateral/umbrella agreements
• Abuse of process and collateral attack
• Elements of conspiracy
• Quantification and timing of security for costs
• Receiver sale approval

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Northam Distributor Ltd. v. Roman Hardware Inc.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

Roman Hardware Inc.’s applications to strike, summarily dismiss, and obtain security for costs were dismissed; the court ordered production of a list of documents.

• Non‑compete clause
• Share purchase agreement
• Civil conspiracy
• Pleading sufficiency
• Summary judgment
• Security for costs

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0928234 BC Ltd. v. Starmark Properties Corp.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The court struck parts of a pleading alleging payment for real estate services, but allowed referral and conspiracy claims to proceed, with particulars ordered and security for costs set at $35,000.

• Finder's fee/commission
• Employee exemption under resa
• Security for costs
• Abuse of process
• Quantum meruit
• Unjust enrichment

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Pearce v. 4 Pillars Consulting Group Inc.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The court dismissed adjournment motions and approved a $6 million partial settlement in a class proceeding over debt restructuring services, along with class counsel fees and an honorarium.

• Settlement approval
• Certification
• Class action waiver enforceability
• Adjournment
• Fees and disbursements
• Bar order

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0742848 B.C. Ltd. v. 426008 B.C. Ltd.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The court struck negligence claims arising from a foreclosure sale, dismissed trespass claims and the appraiser-based conspiracy claim, and allowed a limited amendment to the remaining conspiracy claim.

• Duty of care
• Power of sale
• Court approval of sale (businesslike and provident test)
• Order for conduct of sale
• Pleading sufficiency
• Abuse of process

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National Bank Financial Ltd. v. LePoidevin

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

La Corte confirmó el derecho de NBF a examinar por descubrimiento a cada codemandado individual y fijó duraciones específicas para cada examen.

• Examination for discovery
• Proportionality
• Commonality of interest
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Breach of confidence
• Conversion

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Price v. 481530 B.C. Ltd.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The court denied adding Anna Robson for special costs, but awarded special costs against most defendants for misleading the court, fabricated evidence, and litigation misconduct.

• Special costs
• Wrongful dismissal
• Civil conspiracy
• Abuse of process
• Misleading the court
• Third party costs

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Alexis v. Drury

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The court dismissed Thomas Alexis’s claims for defamation and conspiracy arising from a memorandum about his termination of the Executive Director.

• Qualified privilege
• Malice
• Unlawful means conspiracy
• Authority of council
• In camera council proceedings
• Defamation

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XY, LLC v. Canadian Topsires Selection Inc.

Court

Supreme Court of British Columbia

The court found that XY’s confidential SX cytometer technology was misused by Zhu and related companies in a coordinated scheme after the licence ended.

• Breach of confidence
• Trade secrets
• Constructive trust
• Disgorgement of profits
• Punitive damages
• Special costs

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