Crown Resources Corp. S.A. et al. v. National Iranian Oil Co., [2005] O.T.C. 784 (SC)

• Judge: Greer, J.
• Court: Superior Court of Justice of Ontario (Canada)
• Case Date: September 14, 2005
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: [2005] O.T.C. 784 (SC)

Crown Resources v. Nat. Iranian Oil, [2005] O.T.C. 784 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2005] O.T.C. TBEd. SE.052

Crown Resources Corporation S.A. and Ata Olfati (in their capacities as Assignees of the Bankruptcy Estate of Canadian Triton International Ltd., pursuant to section 38 of the BIA) (plaintiffs) v. National Iranian Oil Company (defendant)

(Court File No. 03-CL-4904)

Crown Resources Corporation S.A. and Ata Olfati (in their capacities as Assignees of the Bankruptcy Estate of Canadian Triton International Ltd., pursuant to section 38 of the BIA) (plaintiffs) v. National Iranian Drilling Company (defendant)

(Court File No. 02-CL-4718)

Indexed As: Crown Resources Corp. S.A. et al. v. National Iranian Oil Co.

Court of Ontario

Superior Court of Justice

Commercial List

Greer, J.

September 14, 2005.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Conflict of Laws - Topic 7284

Contracts - Jurisdiction - Forum conveniens - See paragraphs 1 to 52.

Conflict of Laws - Topic 7286

Contracts - Jurisdiction - Choice of forum by parties - See paragraphs 53 to 65, 66 to 68.

International Law - Topic 2201

Sovereignty - Incidents of - Immunity - Acta imperii (sovereign or public acts) - See paragraphs 78 to 84.

International Law - Topic 2202

Sovereignty - Incidents of - Immunity - Exceptions - Proceedings relating to commercial activity of foreign state - Acta gestionis - See paragraphs 69 to 77.

Cases Noticed:

Ahani v. Canada (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration) (2000), 252 N.R. 83 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

Pompey (Z.I.) Industrie et al. v. Ecu-Line N.V. et al., [2003] 1 S.C.R. 450; 303 N.R. 201, refd to. [para. 55].

Ship Eleftheria, Re, [1969] 2 All E.R. 641 (Adm. Div.), refd to. [para. 55].

ECS Educational Consulting Services Canada Ltd. v. Sheikh Al Nahyan et al., [2000] O.T.C. Uned. 137; 44 C.P.C.(4th) 111 (Sup. Ct.), affd. [2000] O.A.C. Uned. 274; 3 C.P.C.(5th) 76 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 61].

ECS Educational Consulting Services Canada Ltd. v. United Arab Emirates Armed Forces - see ECS Educational Consulting Services Canada Ltd. v. Sheikh Al Nahyan et al.

Beals v. Saldanha et al., [2003] 3 S.C.R. 416; 314 N.R. 209; 182 O.A.C. 201, refd to. [para. 65].

Bouzari et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran (2004), 71 O.R.(3d) 675 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 69].

Buttes Gas and Oil Co. v. Hammer (No. 3), [1982] A.C. 888 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 69].

Bouzari et al. v. Islamic Republic of Iran (2004), 71 O.R.(3d) 71 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

Walker et al. v. Bank of New York Inc. et al. (1994), 69 O.A.C. 153; 16 O.R.(3d) 504 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 72].

Lorac Transport Ltd. v. Iran (1986), 69 N.R. 183; 9 D.L.R.(4th) 129 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 75].

Cargo Ex the Ship Atra v. Lorac Transport Ltd. - see Lorac Transport Ltd. v. Iran.

Corriveau v. Cuba (Republic) (1979), 26 O.R.(2d) 674; 15 C.P.C. 177; 103 D.L.R.(3d) 520 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 75].

Luther v. Sagor & Co., [1921] 3 K.B. 532 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 78].

Juelle v. Trudeau, [1972] R.J. No. 870 (Que. C.A.), reving. (1968), 7 D.L.R.(3d) 82 (Que. S.C.), refd to. [para. 78].

Kuwait Airways Corp. v. Iraqi Airways Co. et al., [2002] 2 A.C. 883; 291 N.R. 1 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 80].

Laane and Balster v. Estonian State Cargo and Passenger Steamship Line, [1949] S.C.R. 530, refd to. [para. 82].

Counsel:

Stephen M. Turk and Keith M. Landy, for the plaintiffs in both actions/responding parties on the motion;

Markus Koehnen and Karen S. Kuzmowich, for the defendants in both actions/moving party on the motion.

This motion was heard on June 8-10, 2005, by Greer, J., of the Ontario Superior Court, who released the following decision on September 14, 2005.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.