Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. et al., 2003 BCSC 557
| Judge | Gray, J. |
| Court | Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada) |
| Case Date | April 11, 2003 |
| Jurisdiction | British Columbia |
| Citations | 2003 BCSC 557;[2003] B.C.T.C. 557 (SC) |
Litster v. B.C. Ferry Corp., [2003] B.C.T.C. 557 (SC)
MLB headnote and full text
Temp. Cite: [2003] B.C.T.C. TBEd. AP.096
Elaine Litster (plaintiff) v. British Columbia Ferry Corporation and Trafford Taylor (defendants)
(01-1796; 2003 BCSC 557)
Indexed As: Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. et al.
British Columbia Supreme Court
Victoria
Gray, J.
April 11, 2003.
Summary:
This headnote contains no summary.
Libel and Slander - Topic 642
The statement - What constitutes defamatory statements - General principles - Examples of defamatory words - See paragraphs 121 to 133.
Libel and Slander - Topic 2861
Defences - Justification or truth - General - See paragraphs 121 to 133.
Libel and Slander - Topic 2987
Defences - Qualified privilege - Employment relationship - See paragraphs 121 to 133.
Master and Servant - Topic 7563
Dismissal of employees - Grounds - Dishonesty (incl. misrepresentation of qualifications) - See paragraphs 85 to 102.
Master and Servant - Topic 7582.1
Dismissal of employees - Grounds - Personal use of company property (incl. computers) - See paragraphs 85 to 102.
Master and Servant - Topic 8000
Dismissal without cause - Notice of dismissal - What constitutes reasonable notice - See paragraphs 103 to 111.
Master and Servant - Topic 8003
Dismissal without cause - Notice of dismissal - Reasonable notice - Considerations affecting (incl. bad faith) - See paragraphs 103 to 111.
Master and Servant - Topic 8064
Dismissal without cause - Damages - Mitigation - See paragraphs 112 to 117.
Cases Noticed:
McKinley v. BC Tel et al., [2001] 2 S.C.R. 161; 271 N.R. 16; 153 B.C.A.C. 161; 251 W.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 86].
Wallace v. United Grain Growers Ltd., [1997] 3 S.C.R. 701; 219 N.R. 161; 123 Man.R.(2d) 1; 159 W.A.C. 1; 152 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 36 C.C.E.L.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 103].
Ansari v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (1986), 2 B.C.L.R.(2d) 33 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 106].
Bonneville v. Unisource Canada Inc. (2002), 222 Sask.R. 107 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 107].
Candy v. CHE Pharmacy Inc., [1995] B.C.J. No. 178 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Dey v. Valley Forest Products Ltd. (1995), 162 N.B.R.(2d) 207; 415 A.P.R. 207 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].
Dickinson v. Radio Atlantic (CFNB) Ltd. (1991), 123 N.B.R.(2d) 361; 310 A.P.R. 361 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 107].
Durand v. Quaker Oats Co. Canada, [1988] B.C.J. No. 734 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Elderfield v. Aetna Life Insurance Co. of Canada (1996), 79 B.C.A.C. 297; 129 W.A.C. 297 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].
Lee v. Parking Corp. of Vancouver, [1998] B.C.T.C. Uned. A05 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
MacDonald v. Woodward Stores Ltd., [1991] B.C.J. No. 2576 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
McGeady v. Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (1998), 174 Sask.R. 110 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 107].
Michalchuk v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, [1987] B.C.J. No. 845 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Millham v. B.C. Transit, [1995] B.C.J. No. 1161 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Porta v. Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd., [2001] B.C.T.C. 1480 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Russell v. Molson Breweries (Ontario) Ltd., [1995] O.J. No. 753 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 107].
Singh v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (2001), 161 B.C.A.C. 53; 263 W.A.C. 53 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].
Starr v. Woodward Stores Ltd., [1991] B.C.J. No. 4011 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Webster v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (1994), 51 B.C.A.C. 79; 84 W.A.C. 79; 66 B.C.L.R.(2d) 129 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 107].
Wood v. Owen De Bathe Ltd., [1998] B.C.T.C. Uned. 124 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 107].
Michaels et al. v. Red Deer College, [1976] 2 S.C.R. 324; 5 N.R. 99; [1975] 5 W.W.R. 575; 57 D.L.R.(3d) 386, refd to. [para. 112].
Forshaw v. Aluminex Extrusions Ltd. (1989), 39 B.C.L.R.(2d) 140 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 113].
Allen v. CP Express and Transport Ltd., [1989] B.C.J. No. 2074 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 114].
Tennant v. Greyhound Lines of Canada Ltd., [1988] B.C.J. No. 1573 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 114].
Ferguson v. Spalding Co-Operative Association Ltd. (1980), 9 Sask.R. 303 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 114].
Kozak v. Hallmark Engineering Ltd. (1983), 1 C.C.E.L. 113 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 115].
Harris v. Eastern Provincial Airways (1963) Ltd. (1982), 35 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 152; 99 A.P.R. 152 (Nfld. T.D.), refd to. [para. 115].
Farrugia v. Wabco-Standard Inc., [1984] O.J. No. 409 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 115].
Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto and Manning, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130; 184 N.R. 1; 84 O.A.C. 1; 126 D.L.R.(4th) 129, refd to. [para. 124].
Peck v. Canada, [1964] Ex. C.R. 966, refd to. [para. 125].
Ramsey v. Southam Inc. et al. [2000] B.C.T.C. 936 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 130].
Queen (D.J.) v. Cognos Inc., [1993] 1 S.C.R. 87; 147 N.R. 169; 60 O.A.C. 1; 99 D.L.R.(4th) 626; 45 C.C.E.L. 153; 14 C.C.L.T.(2d) 113, refd to. [para. 136].
Counsel:
C. Lott and P. Bower, for the plaintiff;
E. Marion and M. McCreary, for the defendants.
This case was heard on September 10-12 and 16-19, 2002, with written submissions received on February 19 and March 3 and 7, 2003, before Gray, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on April 11, 2003.
Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.
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Table of cases
...(1978), 99 D.L.R. (3d) 266 (B.C.C.A.), aff'g (1978), 86 D.L.R. (3d) 546 (B.C.S.C.) 685 Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corporation, 2003 BCSC 557 380 Littleton v. Hamilton (1974), 4 O.R. (2d) 283 (C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. denied (1974), 4 O.R. (2d) 283n (S.C.C.) 377 , 395 , 401 , ......
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Table of Cases
...501 Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. (2003), 24 C.C.E.L. (3d) 95, [2003] B.C.J. No. 817, 2003 BCSC 557 ................................................................. 416 Lloyd v. Imperial Parking Ltd. (1996), 192 A.R. 190, 25 C.C.E.L. (2d) 97, [1996] A.J. No. 1087 (Q.B.) ...............
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Qualified and Statutory Privilege
...employees who had an interest in hearing the company treated certain things as misconduct.] Ulster v. British Columbia Ferry Corporation, 2003 BCSC 557, per Gray J. at paras. 12428 [plaintiff terminal manager sued over letter of termination sent to five employees, all involved in administra......
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Strauss v. Albrico Services (1982) Ltd., [2007] B.C.T.C. Uned. 94
...and compelling evidence (see Porta v. Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd ., 2001 BCSC 1480 at para. 8; Lister v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. , 2003 BCSC 557 at para. 86; Gibbons v. West Fraser Home Centre Inc ., 2004 BCSC 888 at para. 56). The court is required to vigorously assess the evidence when ......
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Poirier v. Wal-Mart Canada Corp., [2006] B.C.T.C. 1138 (SC)
...consider in assessing whether an employee was wrongfully dismissed: Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. (2003), 24 C.C.E.L. (3d) 95, 2003 BCSC 557. However, the extent to which a personal gain on the part of an employee may constitute just cause is uncertain. [64] In Day v. Wal-Mart Can......
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Strauss v. Albrico Services (1982) Ltd., [2007] B.C.T.C. Uned. 94
...and compelling evidence (see Porta v. Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd ., 2001 BCSC 1480 at para. 8; Lister v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. , 2003 BCSC 557 at para. 86; Gibbons v. West Fraser Home Centre Inc ., 2004 BCSC 888 at para. 56). The court is required to vigorously assess the evidence when ......
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Kerr v. Arpac Storage Systems Corporation, 2018 BCSC 704
...gain is also a factor to consider is assessing whether an employee was wrongfully dismissed Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp., 2003 BCSC 557. [82] Viewed from the perspective of a reasonable employer taking account of all the relevant circumstances, I conclude Penta has not establishe......
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Lewis v. M3 Steel Ltd., 2006 BCSC 681
...in judgment may not amount to just cause for summary dismissal ( Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp (2003), 24 C.C.E.L. (3d) 95, 2003 BCSC 557). Application to the Facts [33] The hierarchy of command at M3 Steel was not clear. While Mr. Doutaz and Mr. Mesluk said it was clear, they coul......
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Table of cases
...(1978), 99 D.L.R. (3d) 266 (B.C.C.A.), aff'g (1978), 86 D.L.R. (3d) 546 (B.C.S.C.) 685 Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corporation, 2003 BCSC 557 380 Littleton v. Hamilton (1974), 4 O.R. (2d) 283 (C.A.), leave to appeal to S.C.C. denied (1974), 4 O.R. (2d) 283n (S.C.C.) 377 , 395 , 401 , ......
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Table of Cases
...501 Litster v. British Columbia Ferry Corp. (2003), 24 C.C.E.L. (3d) 95, [2003] B.C.J. No. 817, 2003 BCSC 557 ................................................................. 416 Lloyd v. Imperial Parking Ltd. (1996), 192 A.R. 190, 25 C.C.E.L. (2d) 97, [1996] A.J. No. 1087 (Q.B.) ...............
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Qualified and Statutory Privilege
...employees who had an interest in hearing the company treated certain things as misconduct.] Ulster v. British Columbia Ferry Corporation, 2003 BCSC 557, per Gray J. at paras. 12428 [plaintiff terminal manager sued over letter of termination sent to five employees, all involved in administra......