Significant recent cases in which our lawyers have as acted as counsel:

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Equustek Solutions Inc. v. Jack, 2024 BCCA 104, successful defense of a significant and complex 3-day appeal relating to a claim of breach of confidence and conspiracy. The Court of Appeal upheld the findings of the trial judge after a 73-day trial. Our client was awarded costs at an elevated scale to reflect the complexity of the matter.

White Square Development Inc. v. Tympanum Construction and Project Management Ltd., 2024 BCCA 66, successful defense of a business loan dispute where our client was awarded judgment at trial pursuant to a promissory note which was upheld by the Court of Appeal with legal costs payable to our client.

1008718 B.C. Ltd. v. Osiria Welding & Fabrication, 2023 BCCA 149, our client, a commercial landlord, appealed an order relating to the termination of a commercial lease pursuant to the Commercial Tenancy Act. The appeal was allowed vacating the chambers judgment.

Pineau v. KMI Publishing and Events Ltd., 2022 BCCA 426, successful appeal of a damages trial decision in a defamation case on a highly deferential standard. Our client’s damages award from trial was doubled after the Court of Appeal found two errors of law in the trial decision related to publication of a defamatory article online. Legal costs were subsequently awarded to our client.

Equustek Solutions Inc. v. Jack, 2022 BCCA 194, respondent’s counsel on a significant breach of confidence and conspiracy claim set for appeal June 2023.

Teal Cedar Products Ltd. v. Rainforest Flying Squad, 2022 BCCA 26, and Teal Cedar Products Ltd. v. Mashari, 2021 BCCA 353, representation of a number of protestors in the Fairy Creek watershed area on Vancouver Island who have mounted an ongoing protest against old-growth logging. Leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada denied.

Victory Motors (Abbotsford) Ltd. v. Actton Super-Save Gas Stations Ltd., 2021 BCCA 129, precedent setting appeal regarding the interpretation of legal costs and what is relevant in the “fair and just” apportionment of liability under the Environmental Management Act.

Crook v. British Columbia (Director of Child, Family and Community Service), 2020 BCCA 192, in conducting a safety assessment under s. 16(2)(b.1) of the Child, Family and Community Service Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 46, social workers concluded that the our client’s children, ages 10 and under, should not be unsupervised while riding public transit. The Court of Appeal found that the MCFD purported to exercise a statutory power that was subject to judicial review, in that they imposed a requirement on the appellant to supervise his children on public transit. This requirement, or order, became a condition to their conclusion that the children were safe and the file could be closed.  The Court of Appeal concluded that this purported exercise of a statutory power was not authorized under s. 16(2)(b.1) of the CFCSA and was therefore unreasonable.

Ladner Reach Properties Ltd. v. Cameron, 2020 BCCA 198, an appeal of an order striking paragraphs of an amended counterclaim and dismissing most of an application for production of documents. Pleadings were restored as a result of being material to the declaratory and injunctive relief sought under s. 172 of the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act. Document production application was remitted to lower court.

1103969 B.C. Ltd. v. 1069185 B.C. Ltd., 2019 BCCA 73 – Successful representation of the appellants overturning a discretionary decision in a complex foreclosure proceeding regarding the extension of a redemption period.

Stolba v. Comwave, 2019 BCCA 120 – Trial decision upheld by the Court of Appeal in favour of our clients, a telecommunications company in an appeal challenging a trial judgment in a breach of contract and unjust enrichment claim.

Xiao v. Fan, 2018 BCCA 143 – Representation of the respondents in an appeal related to the removal of a certificate of pending litigation in a previously unsettled area of the law.

Barker v. Daum, 2018 BCCA 400 and 2018 BCCA 402 – Successful representation of a respondent on an appeal of a point of law relating to the Court Order Enforcement Act.

Northwest Waste Solutions Inc. v. Super Save Disposal Inc., 2017 BCCA 312  – A leading Court of Appeal case regarding the requirement to disclose a settlement agreement in a commercial case.  

British Columbia Supreme Court 

Actton Super-Save Gas Stations Ltd. v Eneas, 2024 BCSC 543, emergency interim injunction was granted in favour of our client to protect their business operations when the opposing party stated their intention to remove our client from the property with less than 24 hours notice.

Re (Zhang) 2024 BCSC 553, ongoing bankruptcy proceedings where our clients are the major creditors of the estate after securing a trial judgment in excess of $7 million. This decision allowed the appeal of that judgment to proceed but protected our clients through interim distributions and costs payable by a third party rather than the estate.

1008718 B.C. Ltd. v Osiria Welding & Fabrication Ltd., 2023 BCSC 2001, successful conclusion to a commercial leasing dispute where the firm acted for the landlord in terminating a lease and illegal sublease. The court ordered vacant possession in favour of our client as well as full indemnity legal fees and double rent during the entire overholding period.

Visionlink Corp. v Patterson, 2023 BCSC 1341, our client who was a judgment creditor on a different matter successfully had this claim struck out as an abuse of process.

Wu v Ma, 2023 BCSC 1390, our firm acted for an individual who had his assets frozen without notice. This decision overturned that freezing order for the benefit of our client.

Zhang v Zhang, 2022 BCSC 2156, Successful 32-day trial in which our clients obtained judgment for over $7 million in a breach of trust claim, including an award of special costs (ie. full payment of all legal fees) and punitive damages against the defendants.

Zhang v. Zhang, 2022 BCSC 1369, Successful application to compel production of a solicitor’s file.

Tietz v. Cryptobloc Technologies Corp., 2021 BCSC 2275 – Successful defence of our client in repelling an attack by the petitioners for leave to bring secondary market claims pursuant to section 140.8 of the Securities Act within a proposed class action.

Patterson v. Eilat Exploration Ltd. and Kitov Resources Ltd., 2021 BCSC 1474 – Our client was successful in his damages claim against the two defendant companies for breach of contract.

Yang v. Lu, 2021 BCSC 2681, Successful application for a preservation order over funds and assets pursuant to Rule 10‑1(1) of the Supreme Court Civil Rules

Sipos v Netlink Computer Inc., 2021 BCSC 183 – Court approved settlement of class proceeding.

Theobald v. Coffey-Lewis, 2021 BCSC 2491 – Obtained a $1,269,849 judgment on behalf of a plaintiff seriously injured in two motor vehicle accidents – Trial

Singh v. Victoria & District Cricket Association, 2021 BCSC 2480 – Obtained an Order that a Society’s membership application process remain open and accessible at all times – Short Notice Application

Ralmax Properties Ltd. v. Pt. Ellice Properties Ltd., 2021 BCSC 2454 – Obtained an Order compelling the disclosure of documents over which privilege had been claimed – Application for Documents

Kinsol Timber Systems Ltd. v. Oliphant Properties Inc., 2021 BCSC 704 – Obtained an Order releasing $100,000 held in trust as security – Application

Equustek et. al. v. Jack et. al., 2020 BCSC 793 – Our client was found entirely clear of all wrongdoing in this complex litigation that concluded in a 73-day trial. The plaintiff brought claims in civil conspiracy, passing off, breach of copyright and under the Competition Act. All claims were dismissed against our client with costs payable to the client.

Jastram Properties Ltd. v Tan, 2020 BCSC 1610 – Court approved settlement of class proceeding.

Harun-ar-Rashid v. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), 2019 ABQB 54– defeated a claim against a school involving allegedly improper hiring practices – Application to Strike/Dismiss

Jansen Industries 2010 Ltd. v Victory Motors (Abbotsford) Ltd., 2019 BCSC 1621 – Result at trial from one of the longest contaminated sites trial in British Columbia in over a decade, was a major win for our clients in defending a $2.7 million contaminated sites claim. The vast majority of the claim was dismissed, with a major reduction of liability accruing to our clients on the portion of damages that were admitted at trial. This case will be relied upon in British Columbia on numerous points of law in this area for many years to come.

West Lonsdale Medical Clinic Inc. v 0706394 B.C. Ltd., 2019 BCSC 1205 – Successful defense of a landlord and advancement of a counterclaim on its behalf at trial with respect to a commercial tenancy dispute. The tenant sought various remedies against the landlord, including equitable relief and damages, with respect to two commercial leases. The tenant’s damages claim was dismissed and we successfully obtained orders including vacant possession and damages for unpaid rent on behalf of the landlord.

Daum v. Gorrell, 2018 BCSC 225 – Striking of a shareholder petition on the basis of abuse of process. Special costs awarded against the opposing party.

Stolba v. Comwave, 2017 BCSC 2254 – Defense at trial of a telecommunications company against a former agent for breach of contract. The result at trial was a major win for our client and included an order for costs against the opposing party after trial due to an ‘offer to settle’ being made pre-trial which was beaten at trial.    

Wang v. Wang, 2017 BCSC 2395 – Successful defense at trial of an individual in a business partnership against claims of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract related to the purchase and management of real estate.

Hickey v. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver, 2017 BCSC 1176 – defeated a personal injury claim made against a church involving a trip and fall in a choir loft – Summary Trial application

Font v. Segal, 2018 BCSC 693 – Successful defense on behalf of the plaintiff of an application brought by a defendant for want of prosecution.

DeCotiis v. Petromin Resources Ltd., 2017 BCSC 514 – Successful representation of Petromin Resources in proposed derivative action brought by a shareholder deemed by the court to not be in the best interests of the company. 

Laidar Holdings Ltd. v Lindt & Sprungli (Canada) Inc., 2018 BCSC 66 – Representation of the defendant in a lengthy trial of an action related to a commercial lease and zoning restrictions.

Zhang v Amaral-Gurgel, 2017 BCSC 1561 – Trial of an action regarding the application of a lawyer’s approval clause in a real estate purchase and sale agreement.

Lee v Transamerica Life Canada, 2017 BCSC 843 – Representation of a proposed class of plaintiffs in a novel fraud case relating to the provision of life insurance products. 

Ashurwin Holdings Ltd. v. British Columbia, 2012 BCSC 1408 – Successful representation of a tenant in a judicial review of a residential tenancy board decision.

British Columbia Securities Commission

Re CAAS, 2017 BCSECCOM 296 – Successful representation of an individual investigated by the BC Securities Commission for alleged breaches of the Securities Act. All allegations were dismissed. 

Federal Court of Canada

Save Halkett Bay Marine Park Society v. Canada (Environment), 2015 FC 302 – Successful representation of the Artificial Reef Society in the judicial review of a Federal permitting decision. 

Roots d.b.a. W.R. Marine Services v. Artificial Reef Society of BC, 2014 FC T-709-13 – Successful application for an order releasing the marine vessel HMCS Annapolis from arrest.