Video Box Enterprises Inc. v. Yang, 2003 FC 1257

Date: 20031028

Docket: T-824-03

Citation: 2003 FC 1257

Montreal, Quebec, October 28, 2003

Present:           RICHARD MORNEAU, ESQ., PROTHONOTARY                                   

BETWEEN:

                                                   VIDEO BOX ENTERPRISES INC.

                                                                                 and

                                                         TVB (OVERSEAS) LIMITED

                                                                                                                                                      Plaintiffs /

                                                                                                                     Defendants by Counterclaim

                                                                                 and

                                                                     WEI BIN YANG

                                                 (ALSO KNOWN AS WEIBIN YANG)

                                                                                 and

                                                              4011716 CANADA INC.

                                                                                                                                                  Defendants /

                                                                                                                          Plaintiffs by Counterclaim

Motion on behalf of the Defendants for an order permitting Wei Bin Yang to represent the corporate defendant 4011716 Canada Inc. in lieu of a lawyer.

                                    [Rules 120 and 369 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998]

                                               REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

[1]                 Rule 120 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998 reads as follows:

[2]                 Definite evidence must be submitted by an applicant in connection with such a motion. In S.A.R. Group Relocation Inc. et al. v. Canada (Attorney General) (2002), 289 N.R. 163, at 164, the Federal Court of Appeal noted the following:

For the court to make such an order in these circumstances it must be satisfied that the corporations are truly unable to pay for a lawyer and that the person sought to be allowed to represent them has indeed been authorized by the corporations to represent them. (Source Services Corp. v. Source Personal Inc. (1995), 105 F.T.R. 42 (T.D.); NsC Diesel Power Inc. (Bankrupt), Re (1995), 96 F.T.R. 161 (T.D.)). There is no clear evidence here on either point. Further, it is relevant to consider whether the proposed representative would also be a witness, as counsel cannot appear in cases where they are witnesses. (See Kobetek Systems Ltd. v. Canada, [1998] F.T.R. Uned. 9; [1998] 1 C.T.C. 308).

(My emphasis.)

[3]                 The evidence presented in the case at bar is far from meeting these evidentiary requirements. In particular, I am satisfied that Wei Bin Yang will inevitably be the corporation's primary witness. As indicated by the Plaintiffs, Mr. Yang was the person present for the Defendants during the execution of the Anton Piller order, he is the person who has sworn all affidavits on behalf of the Defendants to date, he is the principal of the corporation, he is the person who it is alleged performed the infringing acts.

[4]                 I am also satisfied that the Defendants' materials produced to date (motion record for the within motion, motion record to set aside the execution of the Anton Piller order, statement of defence and counterclaim, reply to defence to counterclaim) are further evidence of the need for a lawyer on this file representing at least the corporate defendant.

[5]                 Therefore, the instant motion of the Defendants is denied, costs to follow.

Richard Morneau      

Prothonotary

                  FEDERAL COURT

Date : 20031028

Docket : T-824-03

BETWEEN:

VIDEO BOX ENTERPRISES INC.

and

TVB (OVERSEAS) LIMITED

                                 Plaintiffs/

                  Defendants by Counterclaim

and

WEI BIN YANG (ALSO KNOWN AS WEIBIN YANG)

and

4011716 CANADA INC.

                                 Defendants/

                  Plaintiffs by Counterclaim

         REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

                                  FEDERAL COURT

                    COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:

STYLE OF CAUSE:

T-824-03

VIDEO BOX ENTERPRISES INC. and

TVB (OVERSEAS) LIMITED

                                 Plaintiffs/

                 Defendants by Counterclaim

and

WEI BIN YANG (ALSO KNOWN AS WEIBIN YANG) and

4011716 CANADA INC.

                                 Defendants/

                 Plaintiffs by Counterclaim

WRITTEN MOTION EXAMINED IN MONTREAL WITHOUT PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE PARTIES

REASONS FOR ORDER OF:        Richard Morneau, Esq., Prothonotary

DATED:                                 October 28, 2003

WRITTEN OBSERVATIONS BY:

SOLICITORS OF RECORD: