Bizon v. Bizon et al., 2014 ABCA 174

• Judge: Picard, Costigan and Wakeling, JJ.A.
• Court: Court of Appeal (Alberta)
• Case Date: March 27, 2014
• Citations: 2014 ABCA 174;(2014), 572 A.R. 49

Bizon v. Bizon (2014), 572 A.R. 49; 609 W.A.C. 49 (CA)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2014] A.R. TBEd. MY.084

Emil Bizon (appellant) v. Victoria Bizon and Theresa O'Donnell (respondents)

(1303-0131-AC; 2014 ABCA 174)

Indexed As: Bizon v. Bizon et al.

Alberta Court of Appeal

Picard, Costigan and Wakeling, JJ.A.

May 21, 2014.

Summary:

In an estate case, Sulyma, J., rejected Bizon's claim that he was entitled to an executor fee of $59,521 and that his co-executor and sister Victoria, was entitled to nothing. Instead, Sulyma, J., concluded that a fee of $30,000 was appropriate to be shared equally by the co-executors. In addition, on the ground that Bizon's "autocratic" behaviour as an executor unnecessarily increased the respondents' costs, Sulyma, J., ordered Bizon to pay the respondents' cost of the application out of his share of the estate. Bizon appealed, alleging that the motions judge was biased.

The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and awarded costs of the appeal on a full-indemnity basis.

Courts - Topic 590

Judges - Duties - Duty to appear just and impartial - In an estate case, a motions judge ordered that an executor and his co-executor equally share a $30,000 fee - She also ordered Bizon to pay the respondents' cost of the application out of his share of the estate - Bizon appealed, alleging that the motions judge was biased - The Alberta Court of Appeal, per Picard and Costigan, JJ.A., stated that the tests for actual bias and a reasonable apprehension of bias were well-known - See paragraph 88 - Wakeling, J.A., concurring in the result, extensively reviewed the law respecting impartiality, bias and reasonable apprehension bias of judges - See paragraphs 32 to 62.

Courts - Topic 685

Judges - Disqualification - Bias - General - In an estate case, a motions judge ordered that an executor and his co-executor (sister) equally share a $30,000 fee - She also ordered Bizon to pay the respondents' cost of the application out of his share of the estate - Bizon appealed, alleging that the motions judge was biased - The Alberta Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal - Bizon was self-represented - The motions judge patiently listened to him, even though he routinely ignored her admonitions to refrain from gratuitous attacks on the character of the respondents and their counsel, introduced facts which were not in affidavits before the court, addressed issues which had been adjudicated and took untenable positions - A careful review of the entire transcript led the court to reject Bizon's assertion that the motions judge, at any time, was hostile to him - See paragraphs 66 to 77 and 87 to 89 - Further, Bizon's litigation misconduct prompted the court to order him to pay personally on a full-indemnity basis the costs of both respondents - On appeal, he repeated the same sins he had committed before the motions judge - He attacked his sister in his factum - The uncomplimentary remarks were uncalled for - Bizon's background was an irrelevant consideration for any of the issues before the motions judge - Aggravating the misconduct was the fact that most of these assertions were not in the record - Further, Bizon defamed counsel for both of the respondents in his factums - See paragraphs 81 to 84 and 89.

Courts - Topic 685

Judges - Disqualification - Bias - General - [See Courts - Topic 590 ].

Courts - Topic 686

Judges - Disqualification - Bias - By trial or applications judge - [See Courts - Topic 590 and first Courts - Topic 685 ].

Executors and Administrators - Topic 5544

Actions by and against representatives - Costs - Personal liability of representative - [See first Courts - Topic 685 ].

Practice - Topic 7454

Costs - Solicitor and client costs - Entitlement to - Improper, irresponsible or unconscionable conduct - [See first Courts - Topic 685 ].

Practice - Topic 7455

Costs - Solicitor and client costs - Entitlement to - Estates and estate matters - [See first Courts - Topic 685 ].

Practice - Topic 7803

Costs - Solicitor and his own client costs - Entitlement to - General - [See first Courts - Topic 685 ].

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Counsel:

Emil Bizon, the appellant, in person;

J.J. Kowalchuk, for the respondent, Theresa O'Donnell;

R.A. Speidel, for the respondent, Victoria Bizon.

This appeal was heard on March 27, 2014, by Picard, Costigan and Wakeling, JJ.A., of the Alberta Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal delivered the following memorandum of judgment on May 21, 2014, which was comprised of the following opinions:

Wakeling, J.A. - see paragraphs 1 to 86;

Picard and Costigan, JJ.A., concurring in the result - see paragraphs 87 to 90.