Date: 19971203
Docket: T-1552-97
ADMIRALTY ACTION IN REM AGAINST THE SHIPS "ALASKA QUEEN II", "ALBION GAMBLER", "ALBIONIC", "ALGOMA", "ASTRONAUT", "AUDREY II", "B.C. DRIFTER", "B.C. MAID II", "BIG DADDY", "BLUE HAZE NO. 1", "BLUE MIST II", "BONNIE DOON", "BORDERLINE", "BRENDA MAE", "CADBORO BAY II", "CAN-MOR", "CANADIAN SHORE", "CANDU", "CAPE BELLE", "CAPE FREEMAN", "CAPE GEORGE", "CAPE KNOX", "CAPE SPRUCE", "CAPITAL GAIN", "CAPTAIN LOWLINER", "CAROL ANNE K", "CAROLYN", "CASTLE ROCK", "CELTICA", "CHERISH II", "CHRISTIE LEE", "CLOUD BURST", "CONRADINE", "CRYSTAL C II", "CRYSTAL SPIRIT", "DANDEE NO. 1", "DANIEL D NO. 1", "DAVID", "DAVID N.", "DEAN KINGFISHER", "DIAL WEST", "DIANA TINA", "DISRUPTOR", "DOWN DEEP", "DUSTY JAMES", "D'YER MAK'ER", "DYNAMIC II", "EAGLE SPIRIT NO. 1", "ELIZA JOYE", "EMMA S", "ESTEEM", "FAST BREAK I", "FLASHPOINT", "FLYING O", "FOOLISH PLEASURE", "FRASER SUNRISE", "GALLEY BAY", "GANNET V", "GLENNORA III", "GO'IN HOME", "GOLDEN CHALICE", "GORJAN", "GRACE XIX", "GRIZZLY KING", "HALFERS", "HARMONY II", "HELEN H", "HERRING GIRL", "INTERCEPTOR IV", "INTENSITY", "INXS", "ISLAND PROVIDER", "ISLAND VIKING", "IVORY C", "JAMBOREE", "JESSICA", "JESTER", "JO FOGO", "JOEL A", "JOE LE", "KAREN DALE", "KASTEL NOVI", "KOKI M", "KRISTEN LEIGH", "LADY ADINA NO. 1", "LADY ARRAN", "LADY CARRISSA", "LADY KELLY", "LADY MARIE NO. 1", "LADY MERCY", "LADY ROMA", "LASQUETI SPIRIT", "LASQUETI STORM", "LAVONNE", "LAX GYIBUU", "LEADING LADY", "LISA GAYLE", "LITTLE DENISE", "LUCKY GAMBLER", "LUCKY JO JEAN", "MARCI LYNN", "MARIA", "MARNIE LOU", "MEGA BITE", "MI-T-QUINN", "MIDNIGHT ISLE", "MIHAMA WEST", "MISA REI", "MISS DEBORAH", "MISS DOVER", "MISS ERICA", "MISS GINA", "MISS INA", "MISS KATRINA", "MISS LEANNE", "MISS SHADOW", "MITCHELL BAY", "MOJO", "MONTCALM II", "MOUNT FOLEY", "MRS. G.", "NALLE", "NANI WAHINE", "NEVER ENDING", "NICKIE MAC", "NICOLE JOYE", "NIGHT LIFE", ANISHGA CLOUD", "NORDIC QUEEN", "OCEAN FALLS", "OCEAN'S BEST", "OCEAN STAR", "PACE SETTER", "PACIFIC DRIFTER II", "PACIFIC FAITH (HULL 318)", "PACIFIC MARL", "PACIFIC RAY", "PACIFIC SHORE", "PAY STREAK", "PE 209", "PE 225", "PENDER BREEZE", "PHANTOM THRUSH II", "PINE ISLAND", "POST TIME", "PRIVATEER #1", "PROVIDENCE", "QUE PASA", "RADAR", "REEFER", "RESTLESS WIND", "ROBERT BRIAN", "ROCKET IV", "ROLLING THUNDER", "RONDALE", "RUMOURS I", "RUNNIN LITE", "SAVAGE FISHER", "SCOTIA", "SEA HUSTLER", "SEA LORD", "SEA SONG NO. 1", "SEA WIFE", "SEAWAY II", "SERIN III", "SHARON B", ASHARRON LYNN", "SHELLIE SHAUN", "SHIRAHAMA", "SHO AM HUNGRY", "SILVER BULLET", "SILVER DAWN I", "SILVER FIN II", "SILVER GIRL", "SILVER KING", "SILVER MINE", "SILVER SEEKER", "SILVER TIDE", "SLEEPLESS NIGHTS", "SLEEP ROBBER", "SPUTNIK", "STAR OF DAVID", "STARRING", "SULA", "SUNBURST", "SUN DANCER", "SUN MARINER", "SUN SHADOW", "SUNDOWN", "SUNWIND", "SUPER ONE", "SUPERSTAR", "SWAN", "TAASKA", "TANG", "TARA MARIE", "TENERIFE II", "THUAN AN I", "TIARA V", "TOP DOG", "TORIE DAWN", "TORTUGA", "TOSHA", "TRINA MARIE", "TURNING POINT I", "TWIN STARRS III", "UNICORN", "UNTAMED", "USQUAEBACH", "VAL PAM TOO", "VALERIE-JANE", "VELVET MORNING", "VICTOR", "VIKING JOY", "VIKING SUN", "VIVIAN O", "VONNI DEE", AWAIT 'N SEA I", "WESTERN EAGLE", "WESTERN PRINCESS", AWESTERN SLOPE", "WIDOW MAKER", "WILD THING", "WILLIAM I", "WINDSWEPT", "WISHING WELL", "WONDER Y", "ZOMBY WOOF", AND OTHERS,
BETWEEN:
STATE OF ALASKA, ALASKA MARINE HIGHWAY SYSTEM, AND
ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES,
Plaintiffs,
- and -
JOHN A DOE, JOHN B. DOE, JANE A. DOE, JANE B. DOE, AND OTHER PERSONS UNKNOWN INCLUDING, 446017 B.C. LTD., ABERDEEN FISHING CORP., ALASKA Q. MARINE INC., GLEN INGUART ALSTAD, TOM TATSUO AMADATSU, BETTY ANNE ANDERSON, ROBERT IRVIN ANDERSON, WAYNE FREDERICK ANDERSON, ARNOLD CHARLES ANGUS SR., B.C. PACKERS LTD., WILLIAM JOHN BADARD, BERNICE BADINE, SCOTT ARTHUR BAGSHAW, ALBERT WILLIAM BAGSHAW, FRANK ALAN BARTON, RONALD JOSEPH BEANLAND, CLIFFORD BENTZEN, MARGARET BENTZEN , JUNE ANNETTE BILLIE, LANCE HERBERT BILLIE, TEX WILLIAM BIRCH, ROBERT ALLAN BLACK, GREGG BOLDERSON, KERRY EARLE BROWN , WILSON ROBIN BROWN, ROBERT BURKOSKY, ^, WILLIAM ALLISTAR CAMERON, BRUCE WILLIAM CAMERON, CHRISTOPHER CHILD, JAMES W. CHISLETT, DAVID MERLYN CHRISTIAN, CK MARTIN VENTURES LTD., HENRY CLIFTON, SAMPSON PETER COLLINSON, DEANE A. CONNELLY, KENNETH C. CONNELLY, GILBERT COOK, PETER CAREW DILLON COSTE, SUSAN WENDY COSTE, BERNARD ROSS CROWELL, BERISLAV CURIC, RICHARD H. DAHM, ^, NORMAN ELMER DAVIS, RICHARD R. DIETTERLE, SONG VAN DINH a.k.a DIN VAN SONG, LUC DO, CHAU KIM THI DOAN, BARNEY NORMAN DUDOWARD, RENEE EUGENE DUMOUNT, RICHARD A. DUNAWAY, ROBERT EDWIN DUNCAN, DIANNA LEE EMES, ARTHUR MORD EMES, RUTH CAROL EMES, EMES FISHING LTD., DONALD GORDON ENOCKSON, LLOYD PATRICK ETZERZA, KEITH ARNOLD FELL, STIRLING FOWLER, LESLIE FOWLER, RICHARD STANLEY FREY, EDMUND G. FRYER, G. COOK & SONS FISHING LTD., G & S SEAFOOD PRODUCTS CO. LTD., GARDEN CITY ENTERPRISES CO. LTD., ALASTAIR ROSS GARRICK, MICHAEL GERALD, GJAN FISHING CO. LTD., GEOFFREY R. GOLDIE, JOSEPH GOSNELL, MITS GOTTO, ROBBIE GRAY, GREEN LAKE PACKING LTD., JAMES LAUDER GREENLAW, WILLIAM VICTOR GRIFFITH, WILLIAM GROENING, WALTER E. GROENING, HARRY GEORGE GROOM, GULF & FRASER FISHERMAN'S CREDIT UNION, GARY G. GUYATT, GARRY LLOYD HAGEN, ANITA HAMILTON, HARVEST OF THE SEA ENTERPRISES LTD., PETER HAUGAN, RICHARD JAMES HAUGEN, HEGGLUND HOLDINGS LTD., EARLE EDWARD HENTGES, RAYMOND WALTER HERN, DOROTHY HERN, DONALD FREDERICK HERON, ANNE HIGGINS, HARVEY ALLEN HIGGINS, CINDY LEA HILDEBRAND, RICHARD WAYNE HILDEBRAND, KENT HILLMAN, ROGER LAVAL HILLS, JOHN DUDLEY HIRD, SALME MARI HIRD, JOHN HODANIC, FRANK WARREN HUDSON, CHAU VAN HUYNH, DONG DUC HUYNH, ISLAND VIKING FISHING LTD., DEBORAH IVERSON, JAMES WALKUS FISHING CO. LTD.,^ JIM PATTISON ENTERPRISES LTD., ALBERT KALACK, TOSHIKAZU KAWANO, DAVID KAUFMAN, ^ THOR KRISTINSSON, ROBERT KRISTINSSON, GUNNAR KUFAAS, DARLENE ELLEN KUFAAS, RONALD GRANT KULAI, ALFRED SPENCER LADRET, EDGAR MORRIS LANDSDOWNE, LASQUETI FISHING CO. LTD., ^ RODNEY LANQVIST, NO THI LE, NGA THI LE, VIET UU LE, DUOC TAI LE, THANH VAN LE, THONG VAN LE, CHARLES EDWARD LEE, ^, MAUREEN CAROL LEE, BRADLEY RYAN LEIGHTON, GEORGE LEIGHTON, ^ DAVID M. LIND, JACK RONALD LITWINOWICH, HEN VAN LU, HIEN LUONG, TAC SOU MA, JOHN MACDONALD, CHARLES DANIEL MACDONALD, DONNA THERESA MACDONALD, DOUGLAS RORY MACDONALD, LAVERNE MACDONNELL, RITA D. MACDONNELL, RONALD ROBERT JAMES MACVEIGH, HOANG MAI, LINDA MANN, VERN MANN, MARCOTTE ENTERPRISES LTD., ROBERT STEPHEN MARTIN, ^, HAJIME MATSUZAKI, ALLAN MCEACHERN, BRUCE ALLAN MCEACHERN, MCEACHEN MURRAY & COMPANY LIMITED, BRIAN CHARLES MCGEE, MICHAEL EDWARD MCGEE , HESTER ROBERTA MCKAY, DONALD JOHN MCNEIL, LAWRENCE KIM MCTAGGART, JAMES MCVEIGH, HEATHER DORI RUTH MEARNS, ALAN ROGER MEARNS , RALPH EARL MILLER, RUBY PEGGY MILLER, MITCHELL BAY FISHING LTD., RICHARD EDWARD MOI, MARILYN JANICE MONTGOMERY, STERLING MORGAN, BARRY GUNNAR NELSON, CARL LEONARD NELSON, SHAUNE MICHEAL NELSON, NGUGEN VAN NGO, THAO THANH NGUYEN, ANH NGOC NGUYEN, TO TRI NGUYEN, PHUNG VAN NGUYEN, HIEN VAN NGUYEN, PHUONG THANH NGUYEN, TRI QUOC NGUYEN, XUAN MAI THI NGUYEN, HIET NGUYEN, FISHER A. QUEN THI NGUYEN, DO VAN NGUYEN, BOI NGUYEN, HIEN VAN NGUYEN, HOA VAN NGUYEN, IN VAN NGUYEN, NGAY NGUYEN, NON VAN NGUYEN, PHUONG HAI NGUYEN, SANG NGUYEN,THI BAY NGUYEN, THUAN MOA NGUYEN, QUANG MY NHAN, MODESTUS MARTINUS NOBELS, NORINGSETH FISHING CO. LTD., NORTH RIDGE FISHING LTD., NORTH DELTA SEAFOOD LTD., NORTHERN NATIVE FISHING CORP., CYNTHIA ELIZA NORUM, KENNETH HARRY OLSEN, KIM ANTHONY OLSEN, OLSEN FISHING LTD.,PAT DOUGLAS OLSON, KORE C. OLSON, RICHARD AKIRA OMORI, VIVIAN OMORI, PABB ENTERPRISES LTD., PACIFIC FAITH FISHING CO. LTD., PACIFIC PEARL FISHING CO. LTD., BRIAN BERTRAM PARROTT, MAUREEN PARROTT, THOMAS PAUL SR., IRENE PEARSON, JOHN DOUGLAS PEARSON, PEARSON MARINE & INDUSTRIAL LTD., ^, KY VAN PHAN, PHANTOM FISHING LTD., JACK A. PHILLIPS, DAVID BRIAN QUINN, RH FISHING LTD., PAUL EDWARD RAMER, DARREN KIRBY REID, ROBERT ANDERSON RICE, RITCHIE FISHING CO. LTD., ^ FRANK ROBINSON, ROBERT GARY ROBINSON, WILLIAM GEORGE ROBSON, LAWRIE D. RONNESETH, SCOTT ROSS, WALLACE FRANK RYAN, S & J FISHING LTD., DAVID MELVIN SANDVE, ROBERT WILFRED HERBERT SCALES, MICHAEL GARY SHARKO, DONA LYNN SHARKO,.^, JOHN STUART SHELLEY, BARRY DAVID SIIDER, GERALD ALEX SIMMONDS, LAWRENCE BERTRAM SJOBERG, HAROLD JAMES SMALL, ^, ^, FREDERICK STARR, BRUCE NICHOLAS STEVENS, JOHN M. STEVENS, LAURA LILLIAN STEVENS, RONALD BRUCE NICHOLAS STEVENS, STANLEY JOHN STEVENS, GARRY ROBERT SWITZER, TAASKA FISHING CO. LTD., CHRISTOPHER ROSS TAGART, JOHN PETER TARA, TASAKA FISHERIES LTD., CLAIRE TAYLOR, ERIC WAYNE TAYLOR, WAYNE DOUGLAS TOKIWA, NEN VAN TRAN, PETER TRIMIS, MUONG XUAN TRUONG, TSUTHLA FISHING CO. LTD., ROBERT ALLEN TYNJALA, COLIN W. VADER, HOWARD MARTIN VESTAD, JAMES W. VESTAD, JAMES WATSON WALKUS, THOMAS COLIN WALLINGTON, HARRY WASKA, MIKE WASKA, PETER THOR WATSON, DAVID LAMONT WEEDMARK, CONRAD DEAN WESLEY, GLEN ROBERT WESLEY, WEST POINT FISHING LTD., ALBERT RENO WHITE, ^, WILLIAM A. CAMERON FISHERIES LTD., CHARLES DEXTER WILMAN, ROBERT ANDREW WULFF, CLARABELL MARY YOUNG, CLINTON WILBERT YOUNG, JAMES HENRY YOUNG AND VARIOUS SHIPS OBSTRUCTING NAVIGATION IN PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA, INCLUDING "ALASKA QUEEN II", "ALBION GAMBLER", "ALBIONIC", "ALGOMA", "ASTRONAUT", "AUDREY II", "B.C. DRIFTER", "B.C. MAID II", "BIG DADDY", "BLUE HAZE NO. 1", "BLUE MIST II", "BONNIE DOON", "BORDERLINE", "BRENDA MAE", "CADBORO BAY II", "CAN-MOR", "CANADIAN SHORE", "CANDU", "CAPE BELLE", "CAPE FREEMAN", "CAPE GEORGE", "CAPE KNOX", "CAPE SPRUCE", "CAPITAL GAIN", "CAPTAIN LOWLINER", "CAROL ANNE K", "CAROLYN", "CASTLE ROCK", "CELTICA", "CHERISH II", "CHRISTIE LEE", "CLOUD BURST", "CONRADINE", "CRYSTAL C II", "CRYSTAL SPIRIT", "DANDEE NO. 1", "DANIEL D NO. 1", "DAVID", "DAVID N.", "DEAN KINGFISHER", "DIAL WEST", "DIANA TINA", "DISRUPTOR", "DOWN DEEP", "DUSTY JAMES", "D'YER MAK'ER", "DYNAMIC II", "EAGLE SPIRIT NO. 1", "ELIZA JOYE", "EMMA S", "ESTEEM", "FAST BREAK I", "FLASHPOINT", "FLYING O", "FOOLISH PLEASURE", "FRASER SUNRISE", "GALLEY BAY", "GANNET V", "GLENNORA III", "GO'IN HOME", "GOLDEN CHALICE", "GORJAN", "GRACE XIX", "GRIZZLY KING", "HALFERS", "HARMONY II", "HELEN H", "HERRING GIRL", "INTERCEPTOR IV", "INTENSITY", "INXS", "ISLAND PROVIDER", "ISLAND VIKING", "IVORY C", "JAMBOREE", "JESSICA", "JESTER", "JO FOGO", "JOEL A", "JOE LE", "KAREN DALE", "KASTEL NOVI", "KOKI M", "KRISTEN LEIGH", "LADY ADINA NO. 1", "LADY ARRAN", "LADY CARRISSA", "LADY KELLY", "LADY MARIE NO. 1", "LADY MERCY", "LADY ROMA", "LASQUETI SPIRIT", "LASQUETI STORM", "LAVONNE", "LAX GYIBUU", "LEADING LADY", "LISA GAYLE", "LITTLE DENISE", "LUCKY GAMBLER", "LUCKY JO JEAN", "MARCI LYNN", "MARIA", "MARNIE LOU", "MEGA BITE", "MI-T-QUINN", "MIDNIGHT ISLE", "MIHAMA WEST", "MISA REI", "MISS DEBORAH", "MISS DOVER", "MISS ERICA", "MISS GINA", "MISS INA", "MISS KATRINA", "MISS LEANNE", "MISS SHADOW", "MITCHELL BAY", "MOJO", "MONTCALM II", "MOUNT FOLEY", "MRS. G.", "NALLE", "NANI WAHINE", "NEVER ENDING", "NICKIE MAC", "NICOLE JOYE", "NIGHT LIFE", ANISHGA CLOUD", "NORDIC QUEEN", "OCEAN FALLS", "OCEAN'S BEST", "OCEAN STAR", "PACE SETTER", "PACIFIC DRIFTER II", "PACIFIC FAITH (HULL 318)", "PACIFIC MARL", "PACIFIC RAY", "PACIFIC SHORE", "PAY STREAK", "PE 209", "PE 225", "PENDER BREEZE", "PHANTOM THRUSH II", "PINE ISLAND", "POST TIME", "PRIVATEER #1", "PROVIDENCE", "QUE PASA", "RADAR", "REEFER", "RESTLESS WIND", "ROBERT BRIAN", "ROCKET IV", "ROLLING THUNDER", "RONDALE", "RUMOURS I", "RUNNIN LITE", "SAVAGE FISHER", "SCOTIA", "SEA HUSTLER", "SEA LORD", "SEA SONG NO. 1", "SEA WIFE", "SEAWAY II", "SERIN III", "SHARON B", ASHARRON LYNN", "SHELLIE SHAUN", "SHIRAHAMA", "SHO AM HUNGRY", "SILVER BULLET", "SILVER DAWN I", "SILVER FIN II", "SILVER GIRL", "SILVER KING", "SILVER MINE", "SILVER SEEKER", "SILVER TIDE", "SLEEPLESS NIGHTS", "SLEEP ROBBER", "SPUTNIK", "STAR OF DAVID", "STARRING", "SULA", "SUNBURST", "SUN DANCER", "SUN MARINER", "SUN SHADOW", "SUNDOWN", "SUNWIND", "SUPER ONE", "SUPERSTAR", "SWAN", "TAASKA", "TANG", "TARA MARIE", "TENERIFE II", "THUAN AN I", "TIARA V", "TOP DOG", "TORIE DAWN", "TORTUGA", "TOSHA", "TRINA MARIE", "TURNING POINT I", "TWIN STARRS III", "UNICORN", "UNTAMED", "USQUAEBACH", "VAL PAM TOO", "VALERIE-JANE", "VELVET MORNING", "VICTOR", "VIKING JOY", "VIKING SUN", "VIVIAN O", "VONNI DEE", "AWAIT 'N SEA I", "WESTERN EAGLE", "WESTERN PRINCESS", AWESTERN SLOPE", "WIDOW MAKER", "WILD THING", "WILLIAM I", "WINDSWEPT", "WISHING WELL", "WONDER Y", "ZOMBY WOOF", AND OTHERS,
Defendants.
REASONS FOR ORDER
WETSTON, J.
[1] This is an appeal of the orders of the Prothonotary, John Hargrave, made November 10, 1997 and November 17, 1997, in this action. The defendants note that the Prothonotary permitted the plaintiffs to name or add approximately 473 defendants to the action. On November 17, 1997 the Prothonotary allowed the plaintiffs to add a further 20 in personam defendants and to delete 9 in personam defendants. The defendants assert that the Prothonotary did not make it clear, as no reasons were given, whether the defendants were being named or being added.
[2] The action involves the M.V. "Malaspina", a passenger and car ferry owned by the State of Alaska. It is alleged that on July 19, 1997 the ferry was prevented from leaving its berth in Prince Rupert by a large number of Canadian fishing vessels that formed a floating barrier around her. It is alleged that the blockade had a severe impact on the Alaska ferry service, disrupting its operation and causing major revenue losses. In order to obtain an interim injunction to end the blockade, it is submitted that an action had to be commenced quickly before it was possible to identify all the blockading vessels and the owners. Accordingly, in the original statement of claim, the personal defendants were described using the conventional manner of "John" and "Jane Doe" and other persons unknown. The unknown vessels were described as various ships obstructing navigation in Prince Rupert, B.C.
[3] On November 3, 1997, Mr. Justice Nadon held that the parties identified and re-named by the process utilized by the plaintiffs by amendment under Rule 421(1) was not available without an order of the Court. Accordingly, the plaintiffs applied under Rule 1716 for the naming or alternatively, adding of defendants and eventually obtained the orders of the Prothonotary which are being challenged in this appeal.
[4] It was agreed by both parties that the standard of review in this appeal from a decision of the Prothonotary is that the decision should not be disturbed unless it is clearly wrong, in the sense that the exercise of discretion was based upon a wrong principle or upon a misapprehension of the facts. Canada v. Aqua-Jem Investments Limited (1993), 149 N.R. 273 at 295 (F.C.A.) Are the orders under appeal clearly wrong in that they were based upon a wrong principle?
[5] Firstly, whether the statement of claim is being amended by the naming or adding of defendants, in my opinion, is not determinative of the outcome of this appeal. While the difference between naming or adding may be material in another case, it is not in this matter. Indeed, the application brought by the plaintiffs on November 10, 1997 was to either name or alternatively, add the defendants under Rule 1716.
[6] The essential argument of the applicants is that there is no admissible evidence that would allow the Court to determine that the proposed defendants should be named as defendants in this action. Moreover, with respect to Rule 1716(2)(b) it is contended that the plaintiffs should adduce evidence to show that the proposed defendants are necessary parties to the action. It is contended that either with respect to the naming or adding of defendants that the affidavit of Douglas Gardner, dated November 5, 1997, is inadmissable. Moreover, the affidavit of Jane Davis, dated November 13, 1997, is also inadmissable. It is contended that the affidavit of D. Gardner is double or triple hearsay and is therefore not evidence that would support the application. Furthermore, with respect to Jane Davis it is contended that she has no personal knowledge and therefore her evidence is also hearsay. Both of these affidavits were before the Prothonotary.
[7] In essence the defendants argue that the affidavits should be refused or not relied upon since they usurp the role of the Court, and furthermore, the evidence should be put before the Court for its consideration.
[8] The applicants argue that the plaintiffs have not met the test set out by Mr. Justice Nadon in his Reasons for Order dated November 3, 1997:
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"Later on, in his reasons, Mr. Justice Bull adopts the test set out by Devlin L.J. in Davies v. Ellsby Bros. Ltd. to determine whether a plaintiff seeks to correct a misnomer or to add a new party. At page 676, Devlin L.J. states: |
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"The test must be: How would a reasonable person receiving the document take it? If, in all the circumstances of the case and looking at the documents as a whole, he would say to himself: "Of course it must mean me, but they have got my name wrong", then there is a case of mere misnomer. If, on the other hand, he would say: "I cannot tell from the document itself whether they mean me or not and I shall have to make inquiries", the it seems to me that one is getting beyond the realm of misnomer." |
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Mr. Justice Nadon concluded:
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"At this stage of the proceedings it is obviously not my role to assess the evidence so as to decide whether the statement of claim is well-founded or not. However, it is necessary, to a certain extent, to examine some of the evidence so as to answer the questions which must be answered in order to determine whether the plaintiffs are attempting to add defendants or to simply correct a misnomer. In my view, the plaintiffs had the burden of adducing some evidence in order to show that the schedule "A" defendants are the "Doe" defendants named in the statement of claim. In my view, the plaintiffs have not succeeded in making that proof. Thus, on the evidence, I cannot conclude that the plaintiffs, by their amendments, are attempting to correct a misnomer and, therefore, as a result, the applications shall be allowed. Consequently, I find that the action instituted by the plaintiffs against the schedule "A" defendants, other than the 17 named defendant ships, is improperly commenced. As a result, service of the statement of claim or amended statement of claim on these defendants is invalid." |
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[9] In the proceeding before Mr. Justice Nadon, the plaintiffs took the position that every defendant listed in the schedule to the amended statement of claim was already a defendant in the action as a "Doe" defendant. Nadon, J. was not satisfied with this procedure and stated that some evidence had to be adduced to show that the schedule "A" defendants are the "Doe" defendants named in the statement of claim. Accordingly, an application was brought before the Prothonotary under Rule 1716 with the two impugned affidavits filed in support.
[10] Once again, the essential issue is whether the evidence relied upon by the Prothonotary was inadmissable and therefore improperly admitted for the purposes relied upon by the plaintiffs.
[11] In my opinion, the Prothonotary made no error in admitting or relying upon the affidavits for their purpose in this interlocutory proceeding. No cross-examination has taken place on either affidavit. Moreover, this is an interlocutory proceeding and hearsay in the form of information and belief, with the grounds thereof, is admissible under Rule 332(1). Accordingly, even if the affidavits did contain hearsay, that would not make them inadmissable.
[12] In my opinion, the role of the Court at this stage of the proceeding, is not to try the case, but to ascertain whether the applicants have demonstrated that they have a claim that is not completely spurious, frivolous or untenable. Eastman Kodak Company v. Hoyle Twine Ltd. (1985), 5 C.P.R. (3d) 264 (F.C.T.D.). It is not the role of the Court to assess the evidence in the manner advanced by the defendants in this appeal. This is for the trial not for an interlocutory application to name or add defendants, provided, there is some evidence in the proper form before the Court upon which to make the orders now under appeal. In my opinion, there was such evidence.
[13] My review of the evidence and the authorities provided to the Court compels me to conclude that the orders of the Prothonotary dated November 10th and 17th, 1997 are not predicated on any wrong principle and thus the appeal shall be dismissed. The costs of this appeal shall be in the cause.
(Sgd.) "Howard I. Wetston"
Judge
December 3, 1997
Vancouver, British Columbia
NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
| STYLE OF CAUSE: STATE OF ALASKA ET AL. |
| PLACE OF HEARING: Vancouver, BC |
| DATE OF HEARING: December 1, 1997 |
REASONS FOR ORDER OF WETSTON, J.
APPEARANCES:
| Mr. David McEwen for Plaintiff |
| Mr. Shawn Neylan for Defendants |
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
| McEwen Schmitt for Plaintiff |
| Ladner, Downs for Defendants |
| Vancouver, BC Kim Anthony Olsen et al. |
| Campney & Murphy for Defendants |
| Vancouver, BC B.C. Packers Ltd. et al. |
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