A.B. and C.D. v. E.F., (2004) 278 N.B.R.(2d) 310 (TD)

JudgeMcLellan, J.
CourtCourt of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
Case DateJuly 21, 2003
JurisdictionNew Brunswick
Citations(2004), 278 N.B.R.(2d) 310 (TD);2004 NBQB 259

A.B. v. E.F. (2004), 278 N.B.R.(2d) 310 (TD);

    278 R.N.-B.(2e) 310; 728 A.P.R. 310

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

[La version française vient à la suite de la version anglaise]

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Temp. Cite: [2004] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. JN.055

A.B. and C.D. (plaintiffs) v. E.F. (defendant)

(S/C/414/00; 2004 NBQB 259)

Indexed As: A.B. and C.D. v. E.F.

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Saint John

McLellan, J.

June 29, 2004.

Summary:

A psychiatrist put the female plaintiff on excessive medications, undermining her relationship with her husband and prevailing upon her to have sex with the psychiatrist on two occasions. The plaintiff and her husband sued the psychiatrist for damages. The psy­chiatrist left the country and did not appear at trial. Liability was not at issue.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, assessed damages accordingly.

Damage Awards - Topic 11

Injury and death - General - Continuing pain - A psychiatrist put a patient on ex­cessive medications, undermining the patient's relationship with her husband and prevailing upon her to have sex with the psychiatrist on two occasions - The patient became distressed and upset - She at­tempted suicide by driving a car into the path of a tractor-trailer - The collision left her with serious physical injuries that resulted in orthopedic problems - She was left in permanent pain and misery, physi­cally and emotionally disabled and unem­ployable - Now aged 53 - The New Bruns­wick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Divi­sion, awarded the patient, inter alia, $100,000 general damages for pain and suffering and $25,000 punitive damages - An award of punitive damages in favour of the patient's husband was not appropriate.

Damage Awards - Topic 205

Injury and death - Psychological injuries - Mental distress - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 216

Injury and death - Psychological injuries - Suicide attempts - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 627

Torts - Injury to the person - Sexual as­sault (incl. sexual abuse) - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 2013

Exemplary or punitive damages - Sexual assault (incl. sexual abuse) - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Damages - Topic 1302.1

Exemplary or punitive damages - Sexual assault (incl. sexual abuse) - [See Damage Awards - Topic 11 ].

Cases Noticed:

Athey v. Leonati et al., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458; 203 N.R. 36; 81 B.C.A.C. 243; 132 W.A.C. 243, refd to. [para. 7].

Belyea v. Hammond (1999), 220 N.B.R.(2d) 201; 565 A.P.R. 201 (T.D.), revd. in part (2000), 231 N.B.R.(2d) 305; 597 A.P.R. 305 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

Lewis v. MacWilliam (1999), 208 N.B.R.(2d) 359; 531 A.P.R. 359 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 11].

Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto and Manning, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130; 184 N.R. 1; 84 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 16].

Whiten v. Pilot Insurance Co. et al., [2002] 1 S.C.R. 595; 283 N.R. 1; 156 O.A.C. 201, refd to. [para. 16].

Norberg v. Wynrib, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 226; 138 N.R. 81; 9 B.C.A.C. 1; 19 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 18].

H.R. v. F.M. (1992), 129 N.B.R.(2d) 303; 325 A.P.R. 303 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 20].

S.C. v. R.L.L. (1993), 133 N.B.R.(2d) 332; 341 A.P.R. 332 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 21].

L.T. v. McGillivray (1993), 143 N.B.R.(2d) 241; 366 A.P.R. 241 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 22].

J.M.C. v. J.E.P. (1994), 201 N.B.R.(2d) 201; 514 A.P.R. 201 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 23].

Lee v. Bliss and Woodstock Transport Ltd. (1995), 170 N.B.R.(2d) 131; 435 A.P.R. 131 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 24].

P.L. v. É.L. (1998), 197 N.B.R.(2d) 272; 504 A.P.R. 272 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 25].

C.G. v. Hunter (1998), 201 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 514 A.P.R. 207 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 26].

J.L.H. v. D.H.H. (1999), 213 N.B.R.(2d) 87; 545 A.P.R. 87 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 27].

C.D. et al. v. G.W.P. (1999), 217 N.B.R.(2d) 238; 555 A.P.R. 238 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 28].

Keats v. Arditti (2000), 233 N.B.R.(2d) 291; 601 A.P.R. 291 (T.D.), affd. (2001), 243 N.B.R.(2d) 15; 631 A.P.R. 15 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 29].

Davenport v. Miller (1990), 108 N.B.R.(2d) 336; 269 A.P.R. 336; 70 D.L.R.(4th) 181 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 32].

Counsel:

E.J. Mockler, Q.C., and Nicole Beaulieu, for the plaintiffs;

No one for the defendant.

McLellan, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Saint John, heard this action on January 23, June 26 and July 21, 2003, and June 17, 2004, and delivered the following judgment on June 29, 2004.

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11 practice notes
  • Table of Cases
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Archive Remedies: the Law of Damages. Second Edition Part Three
    • September 8, 2008
    ...22 B.C.L.R. (4th) 1, [2003] B.C.J. No. 2747 (C.A.) ............................................... 149, 302, 364, 365 A.B. v. E.F. (2004), 278 N.B.R. (2d) 310, 5 C.P.C. (6th) 59, [2004] N.B.J. No. 261 (Q.B.) .........................................................................................
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    • Irwin Books Remedies: The Law of Damages. Third Edition Limiting Principles
    • June 21, 2014
    ...v Clarke (2003), 235 DLR (4th) 13, 22 BCLR (4th) 1, [2003] BCJ No 2747 (CA) ......................... 170, 345, 415, 416 AB v EF (2004), 278 NBR (2d) 310, 5 CPC (6th) 59, 2004 NBQB 259 ........................................................................................... 339 AB v South......
  • Deterring Compensation: Class Action Litigation and Damage Awards Against Corporate Defendants
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    • Irwin Books The Canadian Class Action Review No. 12-2, March 2017
    • March 1, 2017
    ...(1991) 23 Ottawa Law Review 177; and Geraint Howells, Comparative Product Liability (Aldershot, UK: Dartmouth, 1993) at 62. 199 AB v EF, 2004 NBQB 259 at paras 16–17. The plaintiff’s claim for $3 million in punitive damages was rejected because such large awards are justified only against i......
  • Punitive Damages
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    • Irwin Books Remedies: The Law of Damages. Third Edition Non-compensatory Damages
    • June 21, 2014
    ...controlled by the judge to eliminate undue prejudice. 92 Whiten , above note 1 at para 119. 93 Hill , above note 8 at 1209. 94 AB v EF , 2004 NBQB 259 at paras 16–17: plaintiff’s claim for $3 million in punitive damages rejected because such large awards are justified only against instituti......
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1 cases
  • A.B. and C.D. v. E.F., 2005 NBCA 2
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • January 13, 2005
    ...and did not appear at trial. Liability was not at issue. The New Brunswick Court of Queen Bench, Trial Division, in a decision reported 278 N.B.R.(2d) 310; 728 A.P.R. 310, assessed damages accordingly. The plaintiffs The New Brunswick Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal. Editor's Note: Cer......
10 books & journal articles
  • Table of Cases
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Archive Remedies: the Law of Damages. Second Edition Part Three
    • September 8, 2008
    ...22 B.C.L.R. (4th) 1, [2003] B.C.J. No. 2747 (C.A.) ............................................... 149, 302, 364, 365 A.B. v. E.F. (2004), 278 N.B.R. (2d) 310, 5 C.P.C. (6th) 59, [2004] N.B.J. No. 261 (Q.B.) .........................................................................................
  • Table of cases
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books Remedies: The Law of Damages. Third Edition Limiting Principles
    • June 21, 2014
    ...v Clarke (2003), 235 DLR (4th) 13, 22 BCLR (4th) 1, [2003] BCJ No 2747 (CA) ......................... 170, 345, 415, 416 AB v EF (2004), 278 NBR (2d) 310, 5 CPC (6th) 59, 2004 NBQB 259 ........................................................................................... 339 AB v South......
  • Deterring Compensation: Class Action Litigation and Damage Awards Against Corporate Defendants
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books The Canadian Class Action Review No. 12-2, March 2017
    • March 1, 2017
    ...(1991) 23 Ottawa Law Review 177; and Geraint Howells, Comparative Product Liability (Aldershot, UK: Dartmouth, 1993) at 62. 199 AB v EF, 2004 NBQB 259 at paras 16–17. The plaintiff’s claim for $3 million in punitive damages was rejected because such large awards are justified only against i......
  • Introduction
    • Canada
    • Irwin Books The Canadian Class Action Review No. 12-2, March 2017
    • March 1, 2017
    ...(1991) 23 Ottawa Law Review 177; and Geraint Howells, Comparative Product Liability (Aldershot, UK: Dartmouth, 1993) at 62. 199 AB v EF, 2004 NBQB 259 at paras 16–17. The plaintiff’s claim for $3 million in punitive damages was rejected because such large awards are justified only against i......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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