Gearbulk Pool Ltd. v. Scac Transport Canada Inc., 2002 FCT 42

Date: 20020115

Docket: T-447-01

Neutral citation: 2002 FCT 42

Montreal, Quebec, January 15, 2002

Present:           Richard Morneau, Esq., Prothonotary

                                              ADMIRALTY ACTION IN PERSONAM

BETWEEN:

                                                        GEARBULK POOL LIMITED

                                                                                                                                                          Plaintiff

                                                                                 and

                                                  SCAC TRANSPORT CANADA INC.

                                                                                 and

                                                   SDV LOGISTICS (CANADA) INC.

                                                                                                                                                    Defendants

Motion on behalf of Plaintiff for the preliminary determination of a point of law, the whole with costs.

                                             [Rule 220 of the Federal Court Rules, 1998]

                                               REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER

[1]                 As part of the pre-trial conference held in this simplified action, the Plaintiff on behalf of both parties moved the Court for the determination of a point of law, to wit, the scope of the Receipt, Release and Discharge agreed to by the Plaintiff and the Defendants on January 31, 2001 (the Release).

[2]                 I agree specifically with the reasons found in paragraphs 1 to 5 of the Plaintiff's Reply to the Defendants' Motion Record, and generally with its approach to the case law as expressed therein.

[3]                 Consequently, I am of the opinion that the Release does not bar the Plaintiff from pursuing its claim herein.

[4]                 Once this order becomes final, the parties shall have thirty days to hold settlement discussions and, if those discussions fail, to request in writing the resumption of the pre-trial conference.

[5]                 Costs of this motion go to the Plaintiff.

[6]                 For the purpose of rule 51(2), the Defendants shall have thirty (30) days from the date of this order.

Richard Morneau      

                                           Prothonotary

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                                                                 TRIAL DIVISION

                              NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:

STYLE OF CAUSE:

T-447-01

ADMIRALTY ACTION IN PERSONAM

Between:

GEARBULK POOL LIMITED

                                                                              Plaintiff

and

SCAC TRANSPORT CANADA INC.

and

SDV LOGISTICS (CANADA) INC.

                                                                        Defendants

PLACE OF HEARING:Montreal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:January 11, 2002

REASONS FOR ORDER OF RICHARD MORNEAU, ESQ., PROTHONOTARY

DATED:January 15, 2002

APPEARANCES:

SOLICITORS OF RECORD: