Wallin v. Canada, 2002 FCA 198

Date: 20020514

Docket: A-565-01

Neutral citation: 2002 FCA 198

CORAM:        ISAAC J.A.

NOËL J.A.

SHARLOW J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                                SHELDON WALLIN

                                                                                                                                                       Appellant

                                                                                 and

                                                        HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                       Heard at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on May 14, 2002

                Judgment delivered from the Bench at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on May 14, 2002

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

Date: 20020514

Docket: A-565-01

Neutral citation: 2002 FCA 198

CORAM:        ISAAC J.A.

NOËL J.A.

SHARLOW J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                                                SHELDON WALLIN

                                                                                                                                                       Appellant

                                                                                 and

                                                        HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

                                                                                                                                                   Respondent

                                                        REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

                                               (Delivered from the Bench at Saskatoon,

                                                       Saskatchewan on May 14, 2002)

SHARLOW J.A.

[1]                 These are four appeals from identical judgments of a Motions Judge dated August 27, 2001, allowing the Crown's motions for default judgment because of the failure of the appellants to provide a timely answer to written examinations for discovery.

[2]                 In the Trial Division there were six related actions by the Crown against related parties, all based on similar facts. The actions were based on the allegation of the Crown that in September of 1998, the appellants had each obtained an advance for the 1998/99 crop year under the Agricultural Marketing Programs Act, and that the advances were not repaid on the due date in August of 1999. The Crown sought answers to written examinations for discovery. The responses were due in June of 2001, but had not been made by July 30, 2001. The Crown then filed motions for default judgment. The motions were granted in four of the cases but dismissed in the fifth, on the basis that the answers in that case had been filed on August 17, 2001. The four parties against whom judgment was granted filed motions for reconsideration, which were dismissed.

[3]                 The fact is that the answers in all five cases had been filed on August 17, 2001. The record discloses no basis on which the filing of answers in the fifth case was a sufficient defence to the motion for default judgment, when it was not a defence in these four cases. We infer that the Motions Judge was not aware that answers had been filed in these four cases.

[4]                 In these circumstances we agree with counsel for the appellants that the default judgments should be set aside. However, as the cause of the confusion was an error or errors by counsel for the appellants, as he has frankly conceded, the costs of these appeals, and the costs in the Trial Division of the motions for default judgment and for reconsideration, should be borne by the appellants. A copy of these reasons will be filed in each of the four appeal files.

                                                                                                                                      "Karen R. Sharlow"                  

                                                                                                                                                                  J.A.         

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

May 14, 2002

                        FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                             APPEAL DIVISION

           NAMES OF SOLICITORS AND SOLICITORS ON THE RECORD

Appeal from an order of the Trial Division dated August 27, 2001, Trial Division

Docket T-1709-00.

DOCKET:                              A-565-01

STYLE OF CAUSE:             Sheldon Wallin v. Her Majesty The Queen

PLACE OF HEARING:                   Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

DATE OF HEARING:             May 14, 2002

                          REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF

                  THE HONOURABLE MADAM JUSTICE SHARLOW

                          DATED MAY 14, 2002

APPEARANCES:

Mr. Jay D. Watson                                                 for the Appellant

Mr. Marvin Luther                                               for the Respondent

Department of Justice

10^th Floor, 123 - 2^nd Ave. South

Saskatoon, SK    S7K 7E6

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Mr. Jay D. Watson

500 128 4^th Avenue South

Saskatoon, SK    S7K 1M8                                        for the Appellant

Morris Rosenberg                                                                 

Deputy Attorney General of Canada                              for the Respondent