Phillip v. Whitecourt General Hospital et al., 2003 ABQB 247

• Judge: Watson, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: March 10, 2003
• Citations: 2003 ABQB 247;(2003), 337 A.R. 39 (QB)

Phillip v. Whitecourt Hospital (2003), 337 A.R. 39 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2003] A.R. TBEd. AP.026

Montana Niketa Phillip, a minor by her next friend Yvonne Bertha Phillip, Yvonne Bertha Phillip, and Jay Bernard Phillip (plaintiffs) v. The Whitecourt General Hospital, Whitecourt Health Care Centre, Aspen Regional Health Authority #11, Harvey A. Bablitz, Pierre Morrissette, University of Alberta Hospital, University of Alberta Hospitals Board, Capital Health Authority, Douglas K. Still, Linda M. Casey and the Estate of David Schiff (defendants)

(Action No. 9603-01800; 2003 ABQB 247)

Indexed As: Phillip v. Whitecourt General Hospital et al.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Watson, J.

March 14, 2003.

Summary:

The defendants applied to read in portions of the examination for discovery of Schiff, one of the defendants. Schiff had died before the trial commenced.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the read-ins.

Practice - Topic 4499

Discovery - Use of examination in court - Deponent deceased, unable or unavailable to attend or testify - The defendants applied to read in portions of the examination for discovery of Schiff, one of the defendants - Schiff had died before the trial commenced - The defendants did not suggest that the read-in evidence should be evidence in the identical sense as would apply to read-ins of an opposing party under rule 214(1) - The plaintiffs had read in parts of Schiff's examination under rule 214(1) - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the read-ins - A number of the read-ins were admissible under rule 214(4) because they were so connected with the plaintiff's read-ins - Those that were not could be "admitted under the common law of evidence" where they met the criteria of necessity and putative or triable reliability at common law - Further, they could be admitted under rule 214(3) (where person examined unable to attend).

Practice - Topic 4500

Discovery - Use of examination in court - Reading of discovery evidence into the record - [See Practice - Topic 4499 ].

Cases Noticed:

Foley v. Administrator, Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act (Alta.) et al. (2002), 330 A.R. 1; 299 W.A.C. 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 3, footnote 1].

Mallett and Mallett v. Alberta (Administrator of Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act) et al. - see Foley v. Administrator, Motor Vehicle Accident Claims Act (Alta.) et al.

Paquin v. Gainers Inc., [1990] 2 W.W.R. 378; 101 A.R. 290; 71 Alta. L.R.(2d) 74; 64 D.L.R.(4th) 735; 41 C.P.C.(2d) 97 (C.A.); affing. (1989), 98 A.R. 39; 69 Alta. L.R.(2d) 384; 35 C.P.C.(2d) 140 (Q.B.), consd. [para. 4, footnote 2].

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce v. Ohlson et al. (1996), 180 A.R. 248 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 19, footnote 3].

R. v. Potvin, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 525; 93 N.R. 42; 21 Q.A.C. 58; 47 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 68 C.R.(3d) 193; 42 C.R.R. 44, refd to. [para. 24, footnote 5].

R. v. Kaddoura, [1988] 1 W.W.R. 693; 82 A.R. 347; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 371; 60 C.R.(3d) 393; 56 Alta. L.R.(2d) 126 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 24, footnote 6].

R. v. Toribio (J.) (2002), 171 Man.R.(2d) 86 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 25, footnote 7].

R. v. Fash (D.M.), [2000] 1 W.W.R. 724; 244 A.R. 146; 209 W.A.C. 146; 139 C.C.C.(3d) 144 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 25, footnote 8].

Watkins v. Olafson et al., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 750; 100 N.R. 161; 61 Man.R.(2d) 81; [1989] 6 W.W.R. 481; 39 B.C.L.R.(2d) 294; 61 D.L.R.(4th) 577, refd to. [para. 26, footnote 9].

R. v. Monkhouse, [1988] 1 W.W.R. 725; 83 A.R. 62; 61 C.R.(3d) 343; 56 Alta. L.R.(2d) 97 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 27, footnote 10].

Myers v. Director of Public Prosecutions, [1964] A.C. 1001; [1964] 2 All E.R. 881; 48 Cr. App. Rep. 348 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 27, footnote 11].

R. v. Streu, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1521; 96 N.R. 58; 97 A.R. 356; 48 C.C.C.(3d) 321; 70 C.R.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 28, footnote 12].

Ares v. Venner, [1970] S.C.R. 608; 12 C.R.N.S. 349; 14 D.L.R.(3d) 4; 73 W.W.R.(N.S.) 349, refd to. [para. 28, footnote 13].

R. v. Khan, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 531; 113 N.R. 53; 41 O.A.C. 353; 79 C.R.(3d) 1; 59 C.C.C.(3d) 92, refd to. [para. 28, footnote 14].

Khan v. College of Physicians and Surgeons (Ont.) (1992), 57 O.A.C. 115; 9 O.R.(3d) 641; 94 D.L.R.(4th) 193; 76 C.C.C.(3d) 10; 11 Admin. L.R.(2d) 147 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28, footnote 15].

R. v. Corbett, [1988] 1 S.C.R. 670; 85 N.R. 81; 64 C.R.(3d) 1; [1988] 4 W.W.R. 481; 28 B.C.L.R.(2d) 145; 41 C.C.C.(3d) 385; 34 C.R.R. 54, refd to. [para. 29, footnote 16].

R. v. Salituro (P.), [1991] 3 S.C.R. 654; 131 N.R. 161; 50 O.A.C. 125; 9 C.R.(4th) 324; 68 C.C.C.(3d) 289; 8 C.R.R.(2d) 173, refd to. [para. 30, footnote 18].

Bow Valley Husky (Bermuda) Ltd. et al. v. Saint John Shipbuilding Ltd. et al., [1997] 3 S.C.R. 1210; 221 N.R. 1; 158 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 269; 490 A.P.R. 269, refd to. [para. 30, footnote 19].

R. v. Starr (R.D.), [2000] 2 S.C.R. 144; 258 N.R. 250; 148 Man.R.(2d) 161; 224 W.A.C. 161; 147 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 36 C.R.(5th) 1; 190 D.L.R.(4th) 591; [2000] 11 W.W.R. 1, refd to. [para. 31, footnote 20].

R. v. K.G.B., [1993] 1 S.C.R. 740; 148 N.R. 241; 61 O.A.C. 1; 79 C.C.C.(3d) 257; 19 C.R.(4th) 1, refd to. [para. 32, footnote 21].

R. v. Smith (A.L.), [1992] 2 S.C.R. 915; 139 N.R. 323; 55 O.A.C. 321; 75 C.C.C.(3d) 257; 94 D.L.R.(4th) 590; 15 C.R.(4th) 133, refd to. [para. 32, footnote 22].

R. v. W.J.F., [1999] 3 S.C.R. 569; 247 N.R. 62; 180 Sask.R. 161; 205 W.A.C. 161; 138 C.C.C.(3d) 1; 27 C.R.(5th) 169; [1999] 12 W.W.R. 587, refd to. [para. 32, footnote 23].

R. v. Nguyen (S.V.) (2001), 281 A.R. 91; 248 W.A.C. 91; 42 C.R.(5th) 35 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 32, footnote 24].

R. v. Parrott (W.), [2001] 1 S.C.R. 178; 265 N.R. 304; 198 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 260; 595 A.P.R. 260; 150 C.C.C.(3d) 449; 194 D.L.R.(4th) 427, affing. (1999), 175 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 89; 573 A.P.R. 89 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 32, footnote 25].

R. v. Rockey (S.E.), [1996] 3 S.C.R. 829; 204 N.R. 214; 95 O.A.C. 134; 110 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 2 C.R.(5th) 301, refd to. [para. 32, footnote 26].

R. v. Workman (R.J.) (1998), 228 A.R. 87; 188 W.A.C. 87 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34, footnote 27].

R. v. Merz (H.J.) (1999), 127 O.A.C. 1; 140 C.C.C.(3d) 259; 30 C.R.(5th) 313; 46 O.R.(3d) 161 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34, footnote 28].

R. v. Diu (A.B.) et al. (2000), 133 O.A.C. 201; 144 C.C.C.(3d) 481; 33 C.R.(5th) 203 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34, footnote 29].

R. v. R.R. (2003), 300 N.R. 230; 169 O.A.C. 180 (S.C.C.), affing. (2001), 151 O.A.C. 1; 159 C.C.C.(3d) 11 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34, footnote 30].

Esso Resources Canada Ltd. et al. v. Stearns Catalytic Ltd. et al. (1993), 156 A.R. 178; 20 Alta. L.R.(2d) 337 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 37, footnote 31].

Papadopoulos et al. v. Edmonton (City) (2000), 260 A.R. 223 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 37, footnote 32].

Edmonton (City) v. Lovat Tunnel Equipment Inc. et al. (2000), 262 A.R. 244 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 37, footnote 32].

155569 Canada Ltd. v. 248525 Alberta Ltd. et al. (1993), 147 A.R. 90; 21 C.P.C.(3d) 159 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 34, footnote 33].

R. v. Mitchell (W.F.) (1994), 162 A.R. 109; 83 W.A.C. 109; 9 M.V.R.(3d) 314 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 40, footnote 34].

R. v. Dean (1992), 127 A.R. 376; 20 W.A.C. 376; 2 Alta. L.R.(3d) 153; 37 M.V.R.(2d) 238 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 41, footnote 35].

Syncrude Canada Ltd. et al. v. Canadian Bechtel Ltd. et al. (1994), 149 A.R. 54; 63 W.A.C. 54 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 43, footnote 36].

Bacholo v. Robson et al. (1997), 116 Man.R.(2d) 178 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 45, footnote 37].

Chastko v. Chastko, [1982] 6 W.W.R. 427 (Man. Q.B.), refd to. [para. 45, footnote 38].

Bulwer v. Oberg (1997), 156 Sask.R. 288 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 45, footnote 39].

Statutes Noticed:

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 715 [para. 23].

Rules of Court (Alta.), Supreme Court Rules, rule 214 [para. 21].

Supreme Court Rules (Alta.) - see Rules of Court (Alta.), Supreme Court Rules.

Counsel:

Harold W. Veale, Q.C., and Rod J. Wasylyshyn, for the plaintiffs;

Richard B. Low, Q.C., James J. Heelan, Simon D. Johnson and Laurie Goldbach, for the defendants, Bablitz, Morrissette and Schiff Estate.

This application was heard on March 10, 2003, by Watson, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmonton, who delivered the following judgment on March 14, 2003.