MacKay Estate v. Smith, 2003 PESCAD 27

• Judge: Mitchell, C.J.P.E.I., McQuaid and Webber, JJ.A.
• Case Date: October 06, 2003
• Jurisdiction: Prince Edward Island
• Citations: 2003 PESCAD 27;(2003), 230 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 178 (PEICA)

MacKay Estate v. Smith (2003), 230 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 178 (PEICA);

    682 A.P.R. 178

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] Nfld. & P.E.I.R. TBEd. OC.013

Alexander B. MacKay, Administrator of the Estate of Julie Ann MacKay, Deceased, on Behalf of the Said Estate and on Behalf of the Dependents and/or Claimants Therein Named, and the Estate of Julie Ann MacKay (appellants) v. Charles Smith (respondent)

(S1-AD-0985; 2003 PESCAD 27)

Indexed As: MacKay Estate v. Smith

Prince Edward Island Supreme Court

Appeal Division

Mitchell, C.J.P.E.I., McQuaid and Webber, JJ.A.

October 20, 2003.

Summary:

A motion was commenced for a determina­tion of the following question: "Do the words 'only damages in respect of actual pecuniary loss to the deceased person or his estate' in Section 5 of the Survival of Actions Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, Cap. S-11 include damages for loss of future earning capacity or future loss of income?"

The Prince Edward Island Supreme Court, Trial Division, in a decision reported at 210 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 258; 655 A.P.R. 258, answered the question in the negative. The estate et al. appealed.

The Prince Edward Island Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

Damages - Topic 2384

Torts causing death - Particular damage claims - Loss of future income - The Prince Edward Island Court of Appeal affirmed that the words " only damages in respect of actual pecuniary loss to the deceased person or his estate" in s. 5 of the Survival of Actions Act did not include damages for loss of future earning capacity or future loss of income - Plaintiffs could not ground a claim for loss of future earn­ing capacity or future loss of income in the Survival of Actions Act.

Torts - Topic 7905

Survival of actions - General - Injuries resulting in death - [See Damages - Topic 2384 ].

Cases Noticed:

Duncan Estate v. Baddeley et al. (1997), 196 A.R. 161; 141 W.A.C. 161; 145 D.L.R.(4th) 708 (C.A.), not folld. [para. 5].

MacLean et al. v. MacDonald (2002), 201 N.S.R.(2d) 237; 629 A.P.R. 237 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

Andrews et al. v. Grand & Toy (Alberta) Ltd. et al., [1978] 2 S.C.R. 229; 19 N.R. 50; 8 A.R. 182; 83 D.L.R.(3d) 452, refd to. [para. 12].

Rayner v. Knickle and Kingston (1991), 88 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 214; 274 A.P.R. 214 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

James Estate v. Rentz (1986), 69 A.R. 198; 27 D.L.R.(4th) 724 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

Balkos Estate v. Cook et al. (1990), 41 O.A.C. 151; 75 O.R.(2d) 593 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

Grennan Estate v. Reddoch et al. (2002), 176 B.C.A.C. 83; 290 W.A.C. 83 (Yuk. C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

Price Estate v. Howse Estate, 2002 NFCA 60 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

Statutes Noticed:

Survival of Actions Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. S-11, sect. 5 [para. 5].

Counsel:

John W. Hennessey, Q.C., and D. Shannon Farrell, for the appellants;

Keith W. Boswell and Jennifer S. MacPherson, for the respondent.

This appeal was heard at Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on October 6, 2003, by Mitchell, C.J.P.E.I., McQuaid and Webber, JJ.A., of the Prince Edward Island Court of Appeal. Mitchell, C.J.P.E.I., delivered the following judgment for the court on October 20, 2003.