Korpiel v. Sanguinetti et al., (1999) 12 B.C.T.C. 37 (SC)

• Judge: Taylor, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
• Case Date: May 06, 1999
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: (1999), 12 B.C.T.C. 37 (SC)

Korpiel v. Sanguinetti (1999), 12 B.C.T.C. 37 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1999] B.C.T.C. TBEd. JN.016

Marilyn Korpiel and Joseph V. Korpiel (plaintiffs) v. Sonja P. Sanguinetti and Rosemarie Cook (defendants)

(C983846)

Indexed As: Korpiel v. Sanguinetti et al.

British Columbia Supreme Court

Vancouver

Taylor, J.

May 6, 1999.

Summary:

Harper died leaving a will. The plaintiffs, second cousins of Harper's wife, were dis­pleased with their relatively small legacy. The plaintiffs sued Harper's lawyer, alleging that she breached a fiduciary duty of care in giving advice and in preparation of the will. The plaintiffs also sued Harper's home­maker, alleging a breach of fiduciary duty by the home­maker in influencing Harper such that she benefited under the will to their detri­ment.

The British Columbia Supreme Court dismissed the plaintiffs' action against both defendants.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 2590.1

Negligence - Particular negligent acts - Wills - Disappointed beneficiary - Duty of care - See paragraphs 22 to 44.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 4446

Relations with third parties (incl. oppo­site parties) - Duty to third parties - Fiduciary duty - To will beneficiaries - See para­graphs 35 to 44.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 7608

Regulation - Law society practice notes or checklists - See paragraphs 35, 36 and 54.

Equity - Topic 3607

Fiduciary or confidential relationships - Relationships which are not fiduciary - Testator's homemaker and beneficiaries - See paragraphs 45 to 56.

Estoppel - Topic 386

Estoppel by record (res judicata) - Res judicata as a bar to subsequent proceedings - Issues decided in prior proceedings (incl. validity of statutes) - See paragraphs 57 to 66.

Cases Noticed:

Inspiration Management Ltd. v. McDermid St. Lawrence Ltd. (1989), 36 B.C.L.R.(2d) 202 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

Smolinski v. Mitchell, [1995] 10 W.W.R. 68 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 23].

Ross v. Caunters (a firm), [1979] 3 All E.R. 580; [1980] Ch. D. 297, refd to. [para. 23].

White et al. v. Jones et al., [1993] All E.R. 481 (C.A.), affd. [1995] 1 All E.R. 691; 179 N.R. 197 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 25].

Sutherland v. Public Trustee, [1980] 2 N.Z.L.R. 536 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 26].

Clarke v. Bruce Lance & Co., [1988] 1 All E.R. 364 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 27].

Trusted v. Clifford Chance et al., [1996] N.L.O.R. No. 3483 (H.C. Ch.D.), refd to. [para. 28].

Hill v. Van Erp (1997), 142 A.L.R. 687 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 29].

Biakanja v. Irving (1958), 320 P.2d 16 (Calif. S.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

Ward v. Arnold (1958), 328 P.2d 164 (Wash. S.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

Lucas v. Hamm (1961), 364 P.2d 685 (Calif. S.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

Heyer v. Flaig (1969), 449 P.2d 161 (Calif. S.C.), refd to. [para. 31].

McAbee v. Edwards (1976), 340 So.2d 1167 (D.C. Fld.), refd to. [para. 31].

Varcoe v. Sterling (1992), 7 O.R.(3d) 204 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 36].

International Corona Resources Ltd. v. LAC Minerals Ltd., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 574; 101 N.R. 239; 36 O.A.C. 57; 61 D.L.R.(4th) 14; 69 O.R.(2d) 287, refd to. [para. 37].

Gamache v. Megyesi, [1996] B.C.J. No. 2251 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 42].

Hodgkinson v. Simms et al., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 377; 171 N.R. 245; 49 B.C.A.C. 1; 80 W.A.C. 1; [1994] 9 W.W.R. 609, refd to. [para. 51].

Alberta (Treasury Branches) v. Hammond, [1997] 2 W.W.R. 260; 192 A.R. 353 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 55].

Aho v. Kelly et al., [1998] B.C.T.C. Uned. 792 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 60].

Angle v. Minister of National Revenue, [1975] 2 S.C.R. 248; 2 N.R. 397, refd to. [para. 60].

Henderson v. Henderson, [1843] 67 E.R. 313, refd to. [para. 62].

Fenerty v. Halifax (City) (1920), 50 D.L.R. 435 (N.S.C.A.), refd to. [para. 64].

Counsel:

J. Adelaar, for the plaintiffs;

W. MacLeod, for the defendant, Sangui­netti;

J. Dardi, for the defendant, Cook.

This matter was heard on March 24 and 25, 1999, at Vancouver, British Columbia, before Taylor, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following judgment on May 6, 1999.