Meredith & Finlayson v. Registrar of Trademarks et al., (1990) 38 F.T.R. 53 (TD)

• Judge: Dubé, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: September 11, 1990
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (1990), 38 F.T.R. 53 (TD)

Meredith & Finlayson v. Reg. of TM (1990), 38 F.T.R. 53 (TD)

MLB headnote and full text

Meredith & Finlayson (appellant) v. The Registrar of Trademarks and Berg Equipment Co. (Canada) Limited (respondents)

(T-1108-90)

Indexed As: Meredith & Finlayson v. Registrar of Trademarks et al.

Federal Court of Canada

Trial Division

Dubé, J.

October 4, 1990.

Summary:

Meredith & Finlayson applied to expunge Berg's registered trademark. The Registrar of Trademarks dismissed the application. Meredith & Finlayson appealed. Berg applied to strike affidavits filed by Meredith & Finlayson in support of its appeal and for an extension of time to file affidavits of its own. Meredith & Finlayson applied to cross-examine on Berg's affidavits filed before the Registrar.

The Associate Senior Prothonotary dismissed Berg's motion to strike the affidavits. Berg appealed. The Associate Senior Prothonotary also dismissed the application for cross-examination, but invited a further application. Meredith & Finlayson filed a further application, which Berg opposed.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, dismissed Berg's appeal respecting the affidavits. The court allowed Meredith & Finlayson's application to cross-examine.

Trademarks, Names and Designs - Topic 986

Trademarks - Registration - Appeals - Admissibility of supplementary affidavits on appeal - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, held that further affidavits may be tendered by either party on appeal of a Registrar of Trademarks' decision under s. 45 of the Trade Marks Act - See paragraphs 7 to 15.

Trademarks, Names and Designs - Topic 987

Trademarks - Registration - Appeals - Cross-examination on affidavits on appeal - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, held that cross-examination on an affidavit filed by, or on behalf of, the registered trademark owner may be ordered on an appeal of a s. 45 (of the Trade Marks Act) decision and the transcript thereof is admissible in court - See paragraph 21.

Trademarks, Names and Designs - Topic 987

Trademarks - Registration - Appeals - Cross-examination on affidavits on appeal - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, held that it had the discretion to grant leave to cross-examine any affiants on any affidavits filed at a hearing under s. 45 of the Trade Marks Act or for the purpose of appealing the Registrar's decision under that section - See paragraphs 16 to 22.

Cases Noticed:

Plough (Canada) Ltd. v. Aerosol Fillers Inc. (1980), 34 N.R. 39; 53 C.P.R.(2d) 62 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 11].

Borden Inc. v. Hostess Food Products Ltd., [1990] 1 F.C. 570; 30 F.T.R. 256 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 12].

Labatt's Ltd. v. Benson & Hedges (Canada) Ltd. (1983), 75 C.P.R.(2d) 287 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 13].

Marcus & Associates v. Quaker Oats Co. of Canada (1988), 90 N.R. 310; 20 C.P.R.(3d) 46, refd to. [para. 14].

Swabey, Mitchell et al. v. Ciba-Geigy Canada Ltd. (1987), 16 F.T.R. 312; 18 C.P.R.(3d) 242, refd to. [para. 14].

Benson & Hedges (Canada) Ltd. v. Kiewell-Pelissier Breweries Ltd. et al. (No. 1) (1972), 5 C.P.R.(2d) 212 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 14].

Statutes Noticed:

Federal Court Rules, rule 704 [paras. 7,9]; rule 704(1) [para. 7]; rule 704(3) [paras. 7, 9]; rule 704(6) [paras. 7, 9]; rule 704(7) [paras. 2, 21].

Trade Marks Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. T-13, sect. 45 [paras. 1, 8-10, 12, 21-22]; sect. 54(1) [para. 17]; sect. 56 [para. 9]; sect. 56(1) [para. 7]; sect. 56(5) [paras. 7, 9]; sect. 59 [paras. 7, 9]; sect. 59(1) [para. 7].

Counsel:

J. Guy Potvin, Adrian Zahl, for the appellant;

Terrance J. McManus, for the respondents.

Solicitors of Record:

Potvin & Co., Ottawa, Ontario, for the appellant;

Scott & Aylen, Toronto, Ontario, for the respondents.

This appeal and application were heard before Dubé, J., of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, at Ottawa, Ontario on September 11, 1990. The decision of Dubé, J., was delivered on October 4, 1990.