Faulding Canada Inc. v. Pharmica S.P.A., docket A-207-98

Date: 19980619

                                                                                                                            Docket: A-207-98

CORAM:         STRAYER J.A.

McDONALD J.A.

HENRY D.J.

B E T W E E N:

                                                      FAULDING CANADA INC.

                                                                                                                                     Respondent

                                                                                                                                           (Plaintiff)

                                                                      -and -

                                                            PHARMACIA S.P.A.

                                                                                                                                          Appellant

                                                                                                                                      (Defendant)

HEARD at Toronto, Ontario on Friday, June 19, 1998

JUDGMENT delivered from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario, on Friday, June 19, 1998

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY:                                                                         STRAYER J.A.

                                                                                                                               Date: 19980619

                                                                                                                            Docket: A-207-98

C O R A M:     STRAYER J.A.

McDONALD J.A.

HENRY D.J.

B E T W E E N:

                                                      FAULDING CANADA INC.

                                                                                                                                     Respondent

                                                                                                                                           (Plaintiff)

                                                                      -and -

                                                            PHARMACIA S.P.A.

                                                                                                                                          Appellant

                                                                                                                                      (Defendant)

                                                    REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

                                   (Delivered from the Bench at Toronto, Ontario

                                                       on Friday, June 19, 1998)

STRAYER J.A.

[1]         We are all of the view that this appeal must be dismissed. It is clear from the decision of this Court in the Richter Gedeon case (1995) 62 C.P.R.(3d) 137 at 144 that an examining party does not need to demonstrate to the Court the necessity of examining the assignor of a patent pursuant to former subrule 456(5). As was also held in that case, the fact that the examination is to occur abroad, and that the Court may therefore be moved under subrule 462(4) to set some of the conditions for the examination, does not empower it to approve or disapprove the holding of the examination on the basis of the alleged potential relevancy or irrelevancy of questions that may be put.

[2]         As indicated, we believe these principles of law were made amply clear in Richter Gedeon. There is nothing to suggest that the decision there turned on the particular facts of that case which might or might not be distinguishable from the present case. We are thus of the view that this appeal was patently futile and, as such, unnecessary. We will therefore direct that costs be awarded to the respondent here and in the Trial Division, to be assessed under Column V of Tariff B.

J.A.

FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA APPEAL DIVISION

NAMES OF SOLICITORS AND SOLICITORS ON THE RECORD

COURT FILE NO.:     a-207-98

STYLE OF CAUSE:                   Faulding Canada Inc. v. Pharmacia S.P.A.

PLACE OF HEARING:          Toronto, Ontario

DATE OF HEARING:                 June 19, 1998

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF STRAYER J. A. , McDONALD J. A. , HENRY D. J.