Basque v. Saint John, (2002) 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207 (TD)

JurisdictionNew Brunswick
JudgeGlennie, J.
Neutral Citation2002 NBQB 131
Citation(2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207 (TD),2002 NBQB 131,1964 CanLII 594 (NB QB),250 NBR (2d) 207,[2002] NBJ No 134 (QL),(2002), 250 NBR(2d) 207 (TD),250 N.B.R.(2d) 207,[2002] N.B.J. No 134 (QL),250 NBR(2d) 207
Date28 March 2002
CourtCourt of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)

Basque v. Saint John (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207 (TD);

    250 R.N.-B.(2e) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207

MLB headnote and full text

[French language version follows English language version]

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

....................

Temp. Cite: [2002] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. AP.028

Nancy Basque (plaintiff) v. The City of Saint John (defendant)

(S/C/505/00; 2002 NBQB 131)

Indexed As: Basque v. Saint John (City)

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Saint John

Glennie, J.

March 28, 2002.

Summary:

The plaintiff attended a furniture clearance sale at an arena owned by a mu­nicipality. The plaintiff slipped and fell on the stairs. The plaintiff sued the municipality for dam­ages. Liability and damages were in issue.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, allowed the plaintiff's action and assessed damages accordingly.

Damage Awards - Topic 130

Injury and death - Leg injuries - Knee - The plaintiff slipped and fell on the stairs in an arena owned by a municipality - She sustained a hematoma to the left knee and neck strain (whiplash type injury) - She sued the municipality for damages - Suf­fered continuing pain - The New Bruns­wick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Divi­sion, awarded the plaintiff $25,000 non­pecuniary general damages - See para­graphs 100 to 267.

Damage Awards - Topic 178

Injury and death - Neck injuries - Whip­lash - [See Damage Awards - Topic 130].

Damage Awards - Topic 495

Injury and death - General damage awards - Loss of housekeeping capacity - The plaintiff slipped and fell on the stairs in an arena owned by a municipality - She sus­tained a hematoma to the left knee and neck strain (whiplash type injury) - She sued the municipality for damages - Con­tinuing pain - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, awarded the plaintiff $5,000 for loss of home­mak­ing and valuable services - See para­graphs 302 to 313.

Damages - Topic 1550

General damages - General damages for personal injury - Prospective loss of wages or earnings - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, reviewed the principles applicable to assessing dam­ages for diminution in earning capacity - See paragraphs 268 to 301.

Municipal Law - Topic 1808

Liability of municipalities - Negligence - Standard of care - Maintenance of public lands and buildings - [See Torts - Topic 3583].

Torts - Topic 3583

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dan­gerous premises - Negligence of occupier - Stairs, steps or landings - The plaintiff slipped and fell on the stairs in an arena owned by a municipality - She sued the municipality for damages - The stairs, which were wooden and appeared old, constituted the only active entrance to the arena - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, held that the municipality owed a duty of care to the plaintiff which it breached - The stairs were not designed or constructed properly and the city had no reasonable and ade­quate system of maintenance and in­spec­tion in place respecting the stairs - The construction did not meet applicable codes - The stairs were in a poor state of repair - There should have been a centre handrail - Inconsistent rise and run - No slip resis­tance - See paragraphs 1 to 96.

Torts - Topic 3712

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dan­gerous premises - Invitees - Liability of particular occupiers (incl. duty and stan­dard of care) - Recreational and sports arenas or facilities - [See Torts - Topic 3583].

Torts - Topic 6633

Defences - Contributory negligence - Fail­ure to keep proper lookout - The plaintiff slipped and fell on the stairs in an arena owned by a municipality - She sued the municipality for damages - The stairs, which were wooden and appeared old, constituted the only active entrance to the arena - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, held that the municipality owed a duty of care to the plaintiff which it breached - The stairs were not designed or constructed properly and the city had no reasonable and ade­quate system of maintenance and in­spec­tion in place respecting the stairs - The court rejected the municipality's argument that the plaintiff was contributorily negli­gent - See paragraphs 97 to 99.

Cases Noticed:

Wilkins v. Ryder (1995), 165 N.B.R.(2d) 43; 424 A.P.R. 43 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 65].

Vautour v. Greendale Holdings Ltd. (1998), 204 N.B.R.(2d) 45; 520 A.P.R. 45 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 65].

Bridges v. North London Railway Co. (1874), L.R. 7 H.L. 213, refd to. [para. 66].

Just v. British Columbia, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1228; 103 N.R. 1, refd to. [para. 67].

Lanteigne v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp. et al., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 21; 2002 CarswellNB 85 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 74].

Beck et al. v. Saint John (City) (1996), 183 N.B.R.(2d) 321; 465 A.P.R. 321 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 76].

Stewart v. Moncton (Municipality) (1925), 53 N.B.R. 427 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 88].

Hanson v. Saint John Horticultural Associ­ation and Saint John (City), [1974] S.C.R. 354; 6 N.B.R.(2d) 292, refd to. [para. 88].

Cole v. Gargoyles Lounge Inc. (1998), 205 N.B.R.(2d) 270; 523 A.P.R. 270 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 91].

McAllister v. Wal-Mart Canada Inc. (2000), 228 N.B.R.(2d) 230; 588 A.P.R. 230 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 93].

Legood v. Atlantic Wholesalers Ltd., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 5; 2002 CarswellNB 58 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 93].

Kinsella v. Logan et al. (1996), 179 N.B.R.(2d) 161; 455 A.P.R. 161 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 232].

Andrews et al. v. Grand & Toy (Alberta) Ltd. et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 229; 19 N.R. 50; 8 A.R. 182; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 452; [1978] 1 W.W.R. 577; 3 C.C.L.T. 225, refd to. [para. 232].

Thornton v. Board of School Trustees of School District No. 57 (Prince George) et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 267; 19 N.R. 552; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 480; [1978] 1 W.W.R. 607; 3 C.C.L.T. 257, refd to. [para. 232].

Teno et al. v. Arnold et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 287; 19 N.R. 1; 3 C.C.L.T. 272; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 609, refd to. [para. 232].

Doiron v. Goguen (1992), 130 N.B.R.(2d) 168; 328 A.P.R. 168 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 234].

Coffey v. Dalin Investments Ltd. (1996), 176 N.B.R.(2d) 148; 447 A.P.R. 148; 1996 CarswellNB 147 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 242].

Chamberlain and Orr v. Robichaud (1985), 62 N.B.R.(2d) 73; 161 A.P.R. 73 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 245].

Meunier v. Green Gables Food Stores Ltd. (1990), 109 N.B.R.(2d) 251; 273 A.P.R. 251 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 246].

Mathews v. North Road Baptist Church Inc. (1999), 217 N.B.R.(2d) 357; 555 A.P.R. 357; 1999 CarswellNB 358 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 247].

Vincente and Davis v. Campbell, Camp­bell, Clark and Clark (1978), 21 N.B.R.(2d) 583; 37 A.P.R. 583 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 249].

Panasuk v. Corp. of Holy Trinity Church and Harvey Construction Ltd. (1977), 16 N.B.R.(2d) 648; 21 A.P.R. 648 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 250].

McGraw v. Preston (1981), 37 N.B.R.(2d) 252; 97 A.P.R. 252 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 251].

LeBlanc v. Cormier; Cormier and Cormier v. LeBlanc (1980), 32 N.B.R.(2d) 408; 78 A.P.R. 408 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 252].

Proenca v. Larsen et al., [1998] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 36 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 255].

Christensen et al. v. Rivard, [1998] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 59 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 256].

Kelly v. MacBean (1995), 171 N.B.R.(2d) 219; 437 A.P.R. 219 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 257].

Overholt et al. v. Stratford (City) et al. (1996), 1 O.T.C. 161; 1996 CarswellOnt 1526 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 258].

Pringle v. Wardhaugh, [1995] O.J. No. 1298; 1995 CarswellOnt 566 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 258].

Scott v. Renton et al. (1999), 215 N.B.R.(2d) 263; 551 A.P.R. 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 268].

Boucher v. Doiron (2000), 230 N.B.R.(2d) 247; 593 A.P.R. 247; 2000 CarswellNB 392 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 269].

Cooper v. McLeod (1996), 178 N.B.R.(2d) 276; 454 A.P.R. 276 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 271].

Kelly v. Garnett et al. (1997), 191 N.B.R.(2d) 150; 488 A.P.R. 150 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 272].

Young v. Fletcher and Lakeburn Lumber Retail Ltd. (1995), 161 N.B.R.(2d) 116; 414 A.P.R. 116; 1995 CarswellNB 38 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 274].

Meyer et al. v. Bright et al. (1993), 67 O.A.C. 134; 15 O.R.(3d) 129 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 276].

Janiak v. Ippolito, [1985] 1 S.C.R. 146; 57 N.R. 241; 9 O.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 277].

Graham et al. v. Rourke (1990), 40 O.A.C. 301; 75 O.R.(2d) 622 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 278].

Schrump v. Koot, 1977 CarswellOnt 454 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 279].

Steenblok v. Funk, 1990 CarswellBC 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 281].

Mallett v. McMonagle, [1970] A.C. 166; [1969] 2 W.L.R. 767; [1969] 2 All E.R. 178 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 284].

Marsh v. Poirier et al. (1995), 161 N.B.R.(2d) 178; 414 A.P.R. 178 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 287].

Betts v. Reilly, [1997] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 1 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 288].

Fillier v. Whittom (1995), 161 N.B.R.(2d) 241; 414 A.P.R. 241 (T.D.), affd. (1995), 171 N.B.R.(2d) 92; 437 A.P.R. 92 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 290].

Poirier v. Donelle et al. (1995), 165 N.B.R.(2d) 132; 424 A.P.R. 132 (T.D.), affd. (1996), 173 N.B.R.(2d) 75; 441 A.P.R. 75 (C.A.), refd to. [paras. 291, 293].

Cramm v. Griffith-McGuire, [2000] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 84; 2000 Cars­wellNB 277 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 295].

Hamm v. Mawhinney, [1999] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 11; 1999 CarswellNB 597 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 298].

Fobel v. Dean and MacDonald (1991), 93 Sask.R. 103; 4 W.A.C. 103; 83 D.L.R.(4th) 385 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 302].

O'Neill v. Campbell (1995), 161 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 414 A.P.R. 1; 1995 Cars­wellNB 85 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 303].

LeBreton v. LaRocque, [2000] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 97 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 307].

Johnson v. Shelest (1988), 22 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 310].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Charles, William H.R., Handbook on As­sessment of Damages in Personal Injury Cases, generally [para. 233].

Cooper-Stephenson, Kenneth D., and Saun­ders, Iwan B., Personal Injury Dam­ages in Canada (1981), pp. 10 [para. 285]; 84 [para. 283]; 148 [para. 307]; 150 [para. 310]; 283 [para. 286]; 315 [para. 306].

Cooper-Stephenson, Kenneth D., and Saun­ders, Iwan B., Personal Injury Dam­ages in Canada (2nd Ed. 1996), p. 104 [para. 305].

Linden, Allen M., Canadian Tort Law (6th Ed. 1997), p. 623 [para. 70].

Counsel:

Robert M. Creamer, on behalf of the plain­tiff;

Donald V. Keenan, on behalf of the defen­dant.

This case was heard on January 15 and 16, 2002, before Glennie, J., of the New Bruns­wick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Divi­sion, Judicial District of Saint John, who delivered the following decision on March 28, 2002.

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10 practice notes
  • KY v Bahler,
    • Canada
    • Court of King's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • May 8, 2023
    ...not see much difference between a probability of 51 per cent and a probability of 49 per cent. See also Basque v The City of Saint John, 2002 NBQB 131, Glennie J at paras (c) Contingencies 1643 It follows that as future facts such as those relating to costs of future care are not establishe......
  • Moreau v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Edmundston, (2011) 371 N.B.R.(2d) 360 (CA)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • January 25, 2011
    ...(S.C.), refd to. [para. 15]. Robins v. Tremblay, [1993] O.J. No. 4691 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 15]. Basque v. Saint John (City) (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207; 2002 NBQB 131 (T.D.), refd to. [para. McAllister v. Wal-Mart Canada Inc. (2000), 228 N.B.R.(2d) 230; 588 A.P.R. 230......
  • Hickey v. New Brunswick Housing Corp., 2014 NBCA 36
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • September 25, 2013
    ...Ltd. v. Liebig (H.W.) & Co., [1986] 1 S.C.R. 70; 65 N.R. 209; 14 O.A.C. 159, refd to. [para. 29]. Basque v. Saint John (City) (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207; 2002 NBQB 131, refd to. [para. Lanteigne v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp. et al., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 21; 2002......
  • Moreau v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Edmundston, (2010) 373 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • July 15, 2010
    ...112]. Scott v. Renton et al. (1999), 215 N.B.R.(2d) 263; 551 A.P.R. 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114]. Basque v. Saint John (City) (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207; 2002 NBQB 131, refd to. [para. Davis v. LeBlanc et al. (2005), 288 N.B.R.(2d) 316; 751 A.P.R. 316; 2005 NBQB 193, ref......
  • Request a trial to view additional results
10 cases
  • KY v Bahler,
    • Canada
    • Court of King's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
    • May 8, 2023
    ...not see much difference between a probability of 51 per cent and a probability of 49 per cent. See also Basque v The City of Saint John, 2002 NBQB 131, Glennie J at paras (c) Contingencies 1643 It follows that as future facts such as those relating to costs of future care are not establishe......
  • Moreau v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Edmundston, (2011) 371 N.B.R.(2d) 360 (CA)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • January 25, 2011
    ...(S.C.), refd to. [para. 15]. Robins v. Tremblay, [1993] O.J. No. 4691 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 15]. Basque v. Saint John (City) (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207; 2002 NBQB 131 (T.D.), refd to. [para. McAllister v. Wal-Mart Canada Inc. (2000), 228 N.B.R.(2d) 230; 588 A.P.R. 230......
  • Hickey v. New Brunswick Housing Corp., 2014 NBCA 36
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Appeal (New Brunswick)
    • September 25, 2013
    ...Ltd. v. Liebig (H.W.) & Co., [1986] 1 S.C.R. 70; 65 N.R. 209; 14 O.A.C. 159, refd to. [para. 29]. Basque v. Saint John (City) (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207; 2002 NBQB 131, refd to. [para. Lanteigne v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp. et al., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 21; 2002......
  • Moreau v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Edmundston, (2010) 373 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (TD)
    • Canada
    • New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
    • July 15, 2010
    ...112]. Scott v. Renton et al. (1999), 215 N.B.R.(2d) 263; 551 A.P.R. 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 114]. Basque v. Saint John (City) (2002), 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 650 A.P.R. 207; 2002 NBQB 131, refd to. [para. Davis v. LeBlanc et al. (2005), 288 N.B.R.(2d) 316; 751 A.P.R. 316; 2005 NBQB 193, ref......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

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