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Category: Civil Procedure: New Rules of Court Page 4 of 5

New Rules of Court Interpreted: Rule 5.33, Disclosure of Information

Case considered: Italian Centre Shop South Ltd. v. Moreira, 2011 ABQB 41

The Plaintiff, Italian Centre Shop South Ltd., sued the Defendant, Marcia Moreina, for allegedly stealing $173, 597.39 over the course of her employment with the Plaintiff. The Defendant was also charged criminally for defrauding the Italian Centre Shop South Ltd. of more than $5000. The Plaintiff applied for summary judgment and the Defendant applied for a stay of civil proceedings pending the resolution of criminal proceedings arising from the same facts.

New Rules of Court Interpreted: Rule 3.37, Applications for Default Judgment

Case commented on: Toerper v. Hoard, 2011 ABQB 85 

Toerper v. Hoard involved a claim for breach of contract and breach of trust or fiduciary duty by Elizabeth Toerper against several defendants. The defendant 1215396 Alberta Ltd. was noted in default on March 24, 2010, and the statement of defence of Graham Hoard and 919035 Alberta Ltd. was struck on June 11, 2010. An order directed that the action be set down for summary trial for an assessment of damages.

New Rules of Court Interpreted: Rule 9.15, Setting Aside a Judgment

Case commented on: Montes v. Al-Shiraida, 2011 ABQB 54

Manuel and Teresa Montes were injured in a motor vehicle accident. They each filed a statement of claim alleging that the accident was caused either by Al-Shiraida or by an unknown person operating a motor vehicle owned by Al-Shiraida. The Montes and the Administrator of the Motor Vehicles Accident Claims Act obtained consent judgments against Al-Shiraida. Al-Shiraida made two applications to set aside each of the consent judgments.

New Rules of Court Interpreted: Rule 6.37 and Notice to Admit

Case commented on: Andriuk v. Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., 2011 ABQB 59

Andriuk filed a statement of claim against Merrill Lynch pursuant to the Class Proceedings Act, S.A. 2003, c. C-16.5. Merrill Lynch had indicated that it would not provide a statement of defence until after the certification hearing and Andriuk did not object. Andriuk then served Merrill Lynch with a Notice to Admit Facts under the former Rule 230. Merrill Lynch claimed the Notice to Admit Facts (called a “Notice to Admit” under New Rule 6.37) was premature and otherwise improper and brought an application to strike it. Madam Justice Sheilah Martin dismissed Merrill Lynch’s application.

New Rules of Court Interpreted: Rule 12.48 and Summary Judgment in Divorce Proceedings

Case commented on: Maykowski v. Maykowski, 2011 ABQB 31

This case is described by Justice D.C. Read as “high-conflict divorce proceedings” commenced by the husband in combination with a claim for matrimonial property division, and in which the wife counterclaimed for divorce and distribution of matrimonial property. The wife sought summary judgment based on an alleged settlement agreement between the parties concerning the divorce and matrimonial property. Justice Read held that summary judgment was not available, based on an interpretation of Rule 12.48 of the new Alberta Rules of Court, Alta. Reg. 124/2010. According to Justice Read, “It is patently clear from R. 12.48 that summary judgment is not available in any action under the Divorce Act. Although summary judgment is available in proceedings under the Matrimonial Property Act, if the action was commenced as a combined proceeding with the Divorce Act, because of R. 12.48(b), a summary judgment application under the Matrimonial Property Act can be made only after that action has been severed from the Divorce Act proceedings.” (at para. 16). Because the alleged settlement agreement dealt with claims made under the Divorce Act related to child custody, child and spousal support in addition to matrimonial property claims, summary judgment was not available (at para. 19). Justice Read noted that this would also have been the outcome under the old Alberta Rules of Court, Alta. Reg. 390/1968, Rule 159, but noted that the exclusion has been outlined in more detail in the New Rules (at para. 15). Justice Read ordered the parties to proceed immediately to alternative dispute resolution, and if unsuccessful there, to trial (at para. 31).

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