Basque v. Saint John, (2002) 250 N.B.R.(2d) 207 (TD)
Jurisdiction | New Brunswick |
Judge | Glennie, J. |
Neutral Citation | 2002 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 |
Date | 28 March 2002 |
Court | Court 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]
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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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KY v Bahler,
...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......
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...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......
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KY v Bahler,
...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......
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Moreau v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Edmundston, (2011) 371 N.B.R.(2d) 360 (CA)
...(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......
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Hickey v. New Brunswick Housing Corp., 2014 NBCA 36
...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......
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Moreau v. Roman Catholic Bishop of Edmundston, (2010) 373 N.B.R.(2d) 1 (TD)
...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......