Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al., (1991) 1 B.C.A.C. 180 (CA)

JudgeAnderson, Hutcheon and Hollinrake, JJ.A.
CourtCourt of Appeal (British Columbia)
Case DateJune 06, 1991
JurisdictionBritish Columbia
Citations(1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180 (CA)

Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180 (CA);

    1 W.A.C. 180

MLB headnote and full text

Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. (plaintiff/respondent) v. The Corporation of the District of Matsqui and the Corporation of the District of Abbotsford (defendants/appellants)

(CA011384)

Indexed As: Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al.

British Columbia Court of Appeal

Anderson, Hutcheon and Hollinrake, JJ.A.

June 6, 1991.

Summary:

The defendant districts developed certain lands. The plaintiff commenced an action against the defendants for damages, alleging that the urbanization caused flooding on the plaintiff's adjacent land (i.e., a nuisance).

The British Columbia Supreme Court, per Toy, J., in a decision reported 40 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230, allowed the plaintiff's action and assessed damages. The court also issued a mandatory injunction directing the defendants to construct dykes on the plaintiff's land to prevent further flooding. The defendant districts appealed the finding of liability and the injunctive relief granted. The plaintiff cross-appealed respecting the injunction and also sought damages for loss of income.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal dismissed the districts' appeal against liability. The appeal and cross-appeal respecting the mandatory injunction requiring construction of dykes was allowed. Rather, the court issued a mandatory injunction requiring the defendants to purchase the plaintiff's land at a set price. The court also awarded damages for loss of income.

Damage Awards - Topic 545

Torts - Injury to land and buildings - Nuisance - Urbanization by two districts caused flooding on an adjacent landowner's property, rendering the land unfit for agricultural purposes - The British Columbia Court of Appeal awarded $100,000 for lost income from the 107 acres from 1986 to 1991 - See paragraphs 29 to 32.

Injunctions - Topic 2303

Mandatory injunctions - When available - A landowner (the plaintiff) alleged that urbanization projects by two districts caused flooding on the plaintiff's land (i.e., a nuisance) - The trial judge granted a mandatory injunction directing the districts to construct dykes on the plaintiff's land to prevent further flooding - No injunctive relief was asked for by the plaintiff at trial - The British Columbia Court of Appeal set aside the injunction because the trial judge erred in granting relief which was not sought by the plaintiff - The court, however, granted a mandatory injunction ordering the districts to purchase the plaintiff's land where the plaintiff sought this relief during the course of the appeal - See paragraphs 17 to 28.

Injunctions - Topic 2305

Mandatory injunctions - To remedy a nuisance - [See Injunctions - Topic 2303 ].

Limitation of Actions - Topic 3148

Actions in tort - Tortious acts of a continuing nature - Nuisance - Two districts carried on urbanization projects since 1971 - In 1987 an adjacent landowner (the plaintiff) sought damages, alleging that flooding because of the urbanization projects created a nuisance on the plaintiff's land - The districts argued that the plaintiff's action was statute barred by the six year limitation period in s. 3(4) of the Limitation Act - The trial judge rejected the districts' argument, holding that the plaintiff was entitled to recover damages from the date of issuing the writ as far back in time as the prescribed limitation period, because a new cause of action arose each day the nuisance remained unabated - The British Columbia Court of Appeal agreed - See paragraphs 12 to 15.

Cases Noticed:

Chaudiere Machine and Foundry Co. v. Canadian Atlantic Railway Co. (1903), 33 S.C.R. 11, refd to. [para. 15].

Roberts v. City of Portage La Prairie (1971), 17 D.L.R.(3d) 722 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 15].

Miller v. Jackson, [1977] 1 Q.B. 966, appld. [para. 18].

Statutes Noticed:

Limitation Act, R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 236, sect. 3(4) [para. 13].

Counsel:

G. James Killam and W.G. Neen, for Matsqui (District);

   B.J.H. Crawford, for Abbotsford (District);

J.N. Cram, for Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd.

This appeal was heard in Vancouver, B.C., on April 15-19, 1991, before Anderson, Hutcheon and Hollinrake, JJ.A., of the British Columbia Court of Appeal. The following decision was delivered by the court on June 6, 1991.

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4 practice notes
  • Spika v. Port Alberni (City), 2002 BCSC 700
    • Canada
    • British Columbia Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • April 8, 2002
    ...refd to. [para. 37]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1989), 40 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230 (S.C.), revd. in part (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 56 B.C.L.R.(2d) 377 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37]. Moyer v. Port Alberni (City) (1999), 6 B.C.T.C. 183; 65 B.C.L.R.(3d) 352 (S.C.),......
  • Pitre et al. v. Law Society of Prince Edward Island et al., (2000) 191 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1 (PEICA)
    • Canada
    • June 28, 2000
    ...189 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 286; 571 A.P.R. 286 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 6]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 47 C.P.C.(2d) 50 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 6]. Prince Edward Island Public Service Association v. Holland College (1986), 6......
  • Maughan v. University of British Columbia et al., (2008) 262 B.C.A.C. 70 (CA)
    • Canada
    • British Columbia Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
    • October 30, 2008
    ...Sandau (2004), 201 B.C.A.C. 1; 328 W.A.C. 1; 2004 BCCA 90, refd to. [para. 14]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 47 C.P.C.(2d) 50 (C.A.), refd to. [para. Statutes Noticed: Rules of Court (B.C.), Court of Appeal Rules, rule 22(2)(c) [......
  • Bavelas v. Copley et al., (1999) 10 B.C.T.C. 371 (SC)
    • Canada
    • British Columbia Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • April 17, 1998
    ...860 (S.C.), dist. [para. 122]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1989), 40 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230 (S.C.), revd. in part (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 56 B.C.L.R.(2d) 377 (C.A.), refd to. [para. Peace Portal Properties Ltd. v. Surrey (District) (1990), 70 D.L.R.(4th) 52......
4 cases
  • Spika v. Port Alberni (City), 2002 BCSC 700
    • Canada
    • British Columbia Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • April 8, 2002
    ...refd to. [para. 37]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1989), 40 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230 (S.C.), revd. in part (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 56 B.C.L.R.(2d) 377 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37]. Moyer v. Port Alberni (City) (1999), 6 B.C.T.C. 183; 65 B.C.L.R.(3d) 352 (S.C.),......
  • Maughan v. University of British Columbia et al., (2008) 262 B.C.A.C. 70 (CA)
    • Canada
    • British Columbia Court of Appeal (British Columbia)
    • October 30, 2008
    ...Sandau (2004), 201 B.C.A.C. 1; 328 W.A.C. 1; 2004 BCCA 90, refd to. [para. 14]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 47 C.P.C.(2d) 50 (C.A.), refd to. [para. Statutes Noticed: Rules of Court (B.C.), Court of Appeal Rules, rule 22(2)(c) [......
  • Pitre et al. v. Law Society of Prince Edward Island et al., (2000) 191 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1 (PEICA)
    • Canada
    • June 28, 2000
    ...189 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 286; 571 A.P.R. 286 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 6]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 47 C.P.C.(2d) 50 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 6]. Prince Edward Island Public Service Association v. Holland College (1986), 6......
  • Bavelas v. Copley et al., (1999) 10 B.C.T.C. 371 (SC)
    • Canada
    • British Columbia Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
    • April 17, 1998
    ...860 (S.C.), dist. [para. 122]. Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1989), 40 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230 (S.C.), revd. in part (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 56 B.C.L.R.(2d) 377 (C.A.), refd to. [para. Peace Portal Properties Ltd. v. Surrey (District) (1990), 70 D.L.R.(4th) 52......

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