Hare v. Onofrychuk, (1999) 252 A.R. 279 (ProvCt)

• Judge: Jacobson, P.C.J.
• Court: Provincial Court of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: October 08, 1999
• Citations: (1999), 252 A.R. 279 (ProvCt)

Hare v. Onofrychuk (1999), 252 A.R. 279 (ProvCt)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] A.R. TBEd. NO.044

David Hare (plaintiff) v. Darryl Onofrychuk and Kaylene Onofrychuk

(defendants)

Indexed As: Hare v. Onofrychuk

Alberta Provincial Court

Jacobson, P.C.J.

October 8, 1999.

Summary:

The plaintiff was bit on the cheek by the defendants' dog. The plaintiff sued the de­fendants. The quantum of damages was agreed upon.

The Alberta Provincial Court held that the male defendant was liable in negligence and under the Occupiers' Liability Act.

Torts - Topic 251

Negligence - Animals - Duty of possessor of domestic animals - Onofrychuk invited Hare into his backyard to see his new puppy - Onofrychuk's other dog, Boomer, reacted hostilely towards Hare - Ono­frychuk, who was standing between Hare and Boomer, told Boomer to go back twice - He also took Boomer by the collar and compelled him to sit, but did not continue to hold onto the collar - Hare bent down to pet the puppy and asked if Boomer was "okay with us" - Onofrychuk said that he was - Boomer growled - Hare stood up - Boomer lunged forward and bit Hare on the cheek - Hare sued Onofrychuk and his wife - The Alberta Provincial Court held that Onofrychuk was negligent in the circumstances for failing to control Boomer and keep him away from Hare - Further, Onofrychuk was liable under the Occu­piers' Liability Act for failure to ensure Hare's safety.

Torts - Topic 261

Negligence - Animals - Duty to control - [See Torts - Topic 251 ].

Torts - Topic 3575

Occupiers' liability or negligence for dan­gerous premises - Negligence of occupier -Animals - [See Torts - Topic 251 ].

Cases Noticed:

Caine Fur Farms Ltd. v. Kokolsky, [1963] S.C.R. 315, refd to. [para. 31].

Bates v. Horkoff et al. (1991), 119 A.R. 270 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 31].

Acheson v. Dory (1993), 138 A.R. 241 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 31].

Lay v. Jaffary (1995), 168 A.R. 360 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 31].

Gulash v. Meier (1997), 207 A.R. 202 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 31].

Alchimowicz v. Schram et al. (1999), 116 O.A.C. 287 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 31].

Wade v. Canadian National Railway, [1978] 1 S.C.R. 1064; 17 N.R. 378; 22 N.S.R.(2d) 540; 31 A.P.R. 540; 80 D.L.R.(3d) 214, refd to. [para. 31].

Nasser v. Rumford and Rumford (1977), 7 A.R. 459; 5 Alta. L.R.(2d) 84; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 208 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

Kirk v. Trerise et al., [1981] 4 W.W.R. 677 (B.C.C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1981), 39 N.R. 538 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 32].

Ouellet v. Cloutier, [1947] S.C.R. 521, refd to. [para. 49].

Lorenz v. Ed-Mon Developments Ltd. (1991), 118 A.R. 201; 79 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 52].

Fardon v. Harcourt-Rivington (1932), 146 L.T. 391; 48 T.L.R. 215 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 56].

Draper v. Hodder, [1972] 2 All E.R. 210; [1972] 2 Q.B. 556 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 57].

Searle v. Wallbank, [1947] 1 All E.R. 12 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 58].

Ellis v. Johnstone, [1963] 1 All E.R. 286 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 59].

Sgro v. Verbeek (1980), 28 O.R.(2d) 712; 111 D.L.R.(3d) 479 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 61].

Gill v. MacDonald et al. (1977), 14 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 438; 33 A.P.R. 438; 2 C.C.L.T. 249 (P.E.I.S.C.), refd to. [para. 62].

Statutes Noticed:

Occupiers' Liability Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. O-3, sect. 5, sect. 6, sect. 7, sect. 8, sect. 9 [para. 43].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Ames, Janet, Occupiers Liability, in Rainaldi, Linda A., Remedies in Tort (1987), vol. 3, c. 18, pp. 18.21 #1 [para. 44]; 18.22.1 #4 [para. 45]; 18.24 #6 [para. 46]; 18.79 #76 [para. 47].

Rainaldi, Linda A., Remedies in Tort (1987), vol. 3, c. 18, pp. 18.21 #1 [para. 44]; 18.22.1 #4 [para. 45]; 18.24 #6 [para. 46]; 18.79 #76 [para. 47].

Counsel:

Neil Dobson, for the plaintiff;

Jeff Weidman, for the defendants.

This action was heard by Jacobson, P.C.J., of the Alberta Provincial Court, who deliv­ered the following judgment on October 8, 1999.