Dashwood v. Pillars Club & Lounge Inc., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 32 (TD)

• Judge: Glennie, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Case Date: March 19, 2002
• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Citations: [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 32 (TD);2002 NBQB 92

Dashwood v. Pillars Club, [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 32 (TD)

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[English language version only]

[Version en langue anglaise seulement]

Temp. Cite: [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) TBEd. MR.022

Renvoi temp.: [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) TBEd. MR.022

Cara Dashwood (plaintiff) v. Pillars Club & Lounge Inc. (defendant)

(S/C/705/00; 2002 NBQB 92)

Indexed As: Dashwood v. Pillars Club & Lounge Inc.

Répertorié: Dashwood v. Pillars Club & Lounge Inc.

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Saint John

Glennie, J.

March 19, 2002.

Summary:

Résumé:

The plaintiff slipped and fell in the washroom of a nightclub. She sued the nightclub for damages.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, held that the nightclub was negligent and, therefore, liable for the plaintiff's injuries. The court assessed damages.

Damage Awards - Topic 31

Injury and death - Arm and hand injuries - Elbow - The plaintiff aggravated a pre-existing elbow injury in a slip and fall - She could not flex her elbow beyond 90 degrees extension - She wore a half cast for four days - She underwent surgery to remove loose fragments from her elbow joint and further surgery to treat recurring instability in her elbow - The surgery also resolved pre-existing locking and instability problems - The plaintiff wore a brace for four months after surgery - The fall disabled her for 10 months - She regained full movement in her elbow - However, she was at risk of developing post-traumatic arthritis and had some restrictions on the use of her arm - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, held that the plaintiff was in a better position respecting her elbow than she was prior to her fall because she was unlikely to experience further instability or locking problems - The court awarded her $15,000 general damages - See paragraphs 39 to 120.

Torts - Topic 3572

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dangerous premises - Negligence of occupier - Duty of care - At approximately 12:30 a.m., the plaintiff slipped and fell in the washroom of a nightclub - There was water and urine on the washroom floor - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, held that the nightclub was negligent and solely liable for the plaintiff's injuries - The night club owed a duty of care to its customers to maintain its washrooms in a safe condition - The accumulation of water and urine on the floor constituted a danger to users - The nightclub did not have an adequate system in place to inspect washrooms at the time of the plaintiff's fall - There was no written policy or guidelines and no schedules or logs were kept - See paragraphs 1 to 38.

Torts - Topic 3574

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dangerous premises - Negligence of occupier - Standard of care - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, stated that "in order for the owner or operator of premises used by the public to show that the standard of care to be expected with respect to the maintenance and inspection of the premises has been met, it is necessary to show that a reasonable and adequate cleaning and maintenance program or policy is in place and in order to show that it is in effect at the time of a slip and fall accident, the program or policy should be in writing with time periods or schedules for cleaning and inspecting clearly set forth and a log or journal should be kept to clearly indicate the program or system of maintenance and inspection is being carried out at all relevant times, and in particular while the premises are being used by members of the public or customers attending on the premises." - See paragraph 35.

Torts - Topic 3577

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dangerous premises - Negligence of occupier - Floors - [See Torts - Topic 3572 ].

Torts - Topic 3707

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dangerous premises - Invitees - Liability of particular owners (incl. duty and standard of care) - Dance halls, clubs and bars - [See Torts - Topic 3572 ].

Délits civils - Cote 3572

Responsabilité ou négligence de l'occupant pour des lieux dangereux - Négligence de l'occupant - Devoir de diligence - [Voir Torts - Topic 3572 ].

Délits civils - Cote 3574

Responsabilité ou négligence de l'occupant pour des lieux dangereux - Négligence de l'occupant - Norme de conduite - [Voir Torts - Topic 3574 ].

Délits civils - Cote 3577

Responsabilité ou négligence de l'occupant pour des lieux dangereux - Négligence de l'occupant - Planchers - [Voir Torts - Topic 3577 ].

Délits civils - Cote 3707

Responsabilité ou négligence de l'occupant pour des lieux dangereux - Invités - Responsabilité des occupants particuliers (y compris devoir et degré de diligence) - Salles de danse, clubs et bars - [Voir Torts - Topic 3707 ].

Évaluation des dommages-intérêts - Cote 31

Blessures et décès - Blessures aux bras et aux mains - Coude - [Voir Damage Awards - Topic 31 ].

Cases Noticed:

Cole v. Gargoyles Lounge Inc. (1998), 205 N.B.R.(2d) 270; 523 A.P.R. 270 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 12].

McAllister v. Wal-Mart Canada Inc. (2000), 228 N.B.R.(2d) 230; 588 A.P.R. 230 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 14].

Legood v. Atlantic Wholesalers Ltd., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) ???; 2002 CarswellNB 58 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 14].

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. 18].

Kay v. Sobeys Inc. (1998), 205 N.B.R.(2d) 74; 523 A.P.R. 74; 1998 CarswellNB 375 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 21].

Atkins v. Pattison (Jim) Industries Ltd. (1997), 39 B.C.L.R.(3d) 365 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 21].

Rowley v. Sobeys Inc. (2000), 228 N.B.R.(2d) 56; 588 A.P.R. 56; 2000 CarswellNB 276 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 26].

Lanteigne v. New Brunswick Liquor Corp. et al., [2002] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 21 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 28].

Papadopoulos v. T.D.L. Group Ltd., [1997] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 114; 1997 CarswellNB 439 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 29].

Sebo v. Westfair Foods Ltd. (2000), 190 Sask.R. 271; 2000 CarswellSask 122 (Q.B.), refd to. [paras. 31, 57].

St. Peter v. Atlantic Shopping Centres Ltd. (1999), 180 N.S.R.(2d) 121; 557 A.P.R. 121; 1999 CarswellNS 340 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 34].

Mullin v. Northumberland Co-operative Ltd. (1999), 210 N.B.R.(2d) 304; 536 A.P.R. 304; 1999 CarswellNB 117 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 36].

Robinson et al. v. Pearlgate Lanes Ltd. (1995), 130 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 184; 405 A.P.R. 184; 1995 CarswellNfld 283 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 37].

Hildebrand v. Milne, 1996 CarswellBC 1699 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 56].

Brewer v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Moncton (1986), 73 N.B.R.(2d) 168; 184 A.P.R. 168 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 61].

Hunter v. Nattress (1997), 203 A.R. 59; 52 Alta. L.R.(3d) 137 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 62].

Tibbits v. Molloy (1989), 94 A.R. 176 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 65].

Maltais v. Coulombe et al. (1992), 124 N.B.R.(2d) 411; 312 A.P.R. 411 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 66].

Oakes and Lang v. Michaud and Michaud (1975), 13 N.B.R.(2d) 251; 13 A.P.R. 251; 1975 CarswellNB 252 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 67].

Doucette v. O'Brien (1972), 7 N.B.R.(2d) 153 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 67].

Athey v. Leonati, [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458; 203 N.R. 36; 81 B.C.A.C. 243; 132 W.A.C. 243, refd to. [para. 69].

Chapman v. Cameron (1991), 116 N.B.R.(2d) 301; 293 A.P.R. 301 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 98].

Cormier v. Fraser (1989), 93 N.S.R.(2d) 91; 238 A.P.R. 91 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 98].

Bourque v. Wells (1991), 118 N.B.R.(2d) 394; 296 A.P.R. 394 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 98].

Pugsley v. Albert (1995), 165 N.B.R.(2d) 267; 424 A.P.R. 267; 1995 CarswellNB 438 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 102].

Cameron v. Royal Insurance Co. of Canada (1996), 174 N.B.R.(2d) 266; 444 A.P.R. 266; 1996 CarswellNB 97 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 104].

Williamson v. Guitard and Shell Canada Products Ltd. (1993), 134 N.B.R.(2d) 305; 342 A.P.R. 305; 1993 CarswellNB 78 (T.D.), folld. [para. 119].

Dow v. Sullivan (1994), 148 N.B.R.(2d) 297; 378 A.P.R. 297; 1994 CarswellNB 341 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 122].

Scott v. Renton et al. (1999), 215 N.B.R.(2d) 263; 551 A.P.R. 263; 1999 CarswellNB 271 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 123].

Boucher v. Doiron (2000), 230 N.B.R.(2d) 247; 593 A.P.R. 247; 2000 CarswellNB 392 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 123].

Pasqualetto v. Head (1979), 24 N.B.R.(2d) 570; 48 A.P.R. 570 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 124].

Cooper v. McLeod (1996), 178 N.B.R.(2d) 276; 454 A.P.R. 276 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 127].

Kelly v. Garnett et al. (1997), 191 N.B.R.(2d) 150; 488 A.P.R. 150 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 128].

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. 134].

O'Neill v. Campbell (1995), 161 N.B.R.(2d) 1; 414 A.P.R. 1; 1995 CarswellNB 85 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 135].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Cooper-Stephenson and Saunders, Personal Injury Damages in Canada (2nd Ed.), pp. 84 [para. 130]; 151 [para. 126]; 788 [para. 99].

Counsel:

J. George Byrne, for the plaintiff;

Michael D. Brenton and Colin D. Feltham, for the defendant.

This action was heard on September 19 and 20, 2001, before Glennie, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queens Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Saint John, who delivered the following decision on March 19, 2002.