Martin v. Michaud, 2008 NBQB 316

• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Judge: LaVigne, J.
• Neutral Citation: 2008 NBQB 316
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Citation: 2008 NBQB 316,(2008), 336 N.B.R.(2d) 210 (TD)
• Date: 01 October 2008

Martin v. Michaud (2008), 336 N.B.R.(2d) 210 (TD);

    336 R.N.-B.(2e) 210; 862 A.P.R. 210

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Temp. Cite: [2008] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. OC.013

Renvoi temp.: [2008] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. OC.013

Guy Martin (demandeur) v. Clarence Michaud (défendeur)

(E/C/99/06; 2008 NBBR 316; 2008 NBQB 316)

Indexed As: Martin v. Michaud

Répertorié: Martin v. Michaud

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Edmundston

LaVigne, J.

October 6, 2008.

Summary:

Résumé:

The defendant assaulted the plaintiff. In the altercation, the plaintiff suffered facial and wrist injuries. The defendant admitted liability in respect of the facial injuries. Summary judgment was issued against him. At issue now was damages.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, awarded the plaintiff compensatory general damages for the facial injuries but declined a request for punitive damages. The court also stated that there was no causal link between the assault by the defendant and the plaintiff's wrist injuries.

Damage Awards - Topic 117

Injury and death - Head injuries - Facial injuries (incl. scarring) - The angry defendant assaulted the plaintiff after he found the plaintiff asleep in a bed with his former girlfriend - The plaintiff suffered facial injuries - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, awarded the plaintiff $2,000 in general damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life - See paragraphs 27 to 29.

Damages - Topic 1302

Exemplary or punitive damages - Assault and battery - The angry defendant assaulted the plaintiff after he found the plaintiff asleep in a bed with his former girlfriend - The plaintiff suffered facial injuries - The defendant pleaded guilty to a criminal assault causing bodily harm charge - He was fined $750, put on probation for 12 months and ordered to follow an anger management course - The plaintiff sued the defendant in the civil courts for assault - The defendant admitted liability - The plaintiff claimed both compensatory and punitive damages - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, awarded the plaintiff compensatory general damages of $2,000 but declined the request for punitive damages - The defendant's conduct was not so outrageous as to justify punitive damages - The defendant's criminal record, the fine, the probation order and the general damages were sufficient to punish the defendant and deter him or any one who would be tempted to commit such acts - See paragraphs 27 to 38.

Dommages-intérêts - Cote 1302

Dommages-intérêts exemplaires ou punitifs - Voies de fait et batterie - [Voir Damages - Topic 1302 ].

Évaluation des dommages-intérêts - Cote 117

Blessures et décès - Blessures à la tête - Blessures au visage (y compris les cicatrices) - [Voir Damage Awards - Topic 117 ].

Cases Noticed:

Roundall v. Brodie (1972), 7 N.B.R.(2d) 486 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 32].

Allard v. Flann (1983), 48 N.B.R.(2d) 178; 126 A.P.R. 178 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 32]

Cormier v. Basque (1999), 215 N.B.R.(2d) 370; 551 A.P.R. 370 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 32].

Martin v. Martin et al. (1995), 159 N.B.R.(2d) 81; 409 A.P.R. 81 (T.D.); varied on the liability issue 176 N.B.R.(2d) 178; 447 A.P.R. 178 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32].

Hill v. Church of Scientology of Toronto and Manning, [1995] 2 S.C.R. 1130; 184 N.R. 1; 84 O.A.C. 1, consd. [para. 34].

Delphinium ltée et al. v. 512842 N.B. Inc. et al. (2008), 333 N.B.R.(2d) 291; 855 A.P.R. 291 (C.A.), consd. [para. 35].

Counsel:

Avocats:

François Poitras, for the plaintiff, Martin;

Clarence Michaud, per se.

This matter was heard on October 1, 2008, by LaVigne, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Edmundston, who delivered the following decision on October 6, 2008.