Green Computer in Sweden AB v. Federal Express Corp., 2004 FCA 111

Date: 20040316

Docket: A-256-03

Citation: 2004 FCA 111

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

NOËL J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                               GREEN COMPUTER IN SWEDEN AB

                                                                                 and

                                                    POWER GROUP & ASSOCIATES

                                                                                                                                     Plaintiffs/Appellants

                                                                                 and

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

and

UNIVERSAL FDX AB

and

FEDERAL EXPRESS CANADA LIMITED

and

ALL FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION'S

AFFILIATED, ASSOCIATED

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

                                                                                                                           Defendants/Respondents

                                            Heard at Montréal, Quebec, on March 15, 2004.

                                  Judgment delivered at Montréal, Quebec, on March 15, 2004

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:                                                           NOËL J.A.

Date: 20040316

Docket: A-256-03

Citation: 2004 FCA 111

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

NOËL J.A.

PELLETIER J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                               GREEN COMPUTER IN SWEDEN AB

                                                                                 and

                                                    POWER GROUP & ASSOCIATES

                                                                                                                                     Plaintiffs/Appellants

                                                                                 and

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

and

UNIVERSAL FDX AB

and

FEDERAL EXPRESS CANADA LIMITED

and

ALL FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION'S

AFFILIATED, ASSOCIATED

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

                                                                                                                           Defendants/Respondents

                                       REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

                      (Delivered from the Bench at Montréal, Quebec, on March 15, 2004)

NOËL J.A.

[1]                 We are of the view that this appeal cannot succeed.

[2]                 Judge Martineau correctly concluded that subsection 18(3) of the Warsaw Convention, which was incorporated into Canadian Law by the Carriage by Air Act, creates a presumption to the effect that when a carriage by land, sea or river outside an aerodrome takes place in the performance of the contract of carriage by air in order to load, deliver or tranship, a loss is presumed to occur during the carriage by air, unless it is established that said loss occurred elsewhere.

[3]                 As this presumption was not rebutted, Judge Martineau properly held that the loss occurred during carriage by air and that the limitation of liability provided for in Article 22 of the Warsaw Convention applied.

[4]                 The appeal will be dismissed with costs.

                  « Marc Noël »                     

J.A.

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                              NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                             A-256-03

APPEAL FROM A ORDER OF THE TRIAL DIVISION DATED MAY 13, 2003, NO. T-452-00.

STYLE OF CAUSE:                           GREEN COMPUTER IN SWEDEN AB

                                                                                 and

                                                    POWER GROUP & ASSOCIATES

                                                                                                                                     Plaintiffs/Appellants

                                                                                 and

FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION

and

UNIVERSAL FDX AB

and

FEDERAL EXPRESS CANADA LIMITED

and

ALL FEDERAL EXPRESS CORPORATION'S

AFFILIATED, ASSOCIATED

AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

                                                                                                                           Defendants/Respondents

PLACE OF HEARING:                                                             Montréal, Quebec

DATE OF HEARING:                                                               March 15, 2004

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT:              RICHARD C.J., NOËL, PELLETIER, JJ.A.

DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:                               NOËL J.A.

APPEARANCES:

SOLICITORS OF RECORD: