R. v. Multitech Warehouse Direct Inc., (1993) 124 N.S.R.(2d) 378 (SC)

• Judge: Saunders, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of Nova Scotia (Canada)
• Case Date: September 10, 1993
• Jurisdiction: Nova Scotia
• Citations: (1993), 124 N.S.R.(2d) 378 (SC)

R. v. Multitech Warehouse Direct (1993), 124 N.S.R.(2d) 378 (SC);

  345 A.P.R. 378

MLB headnote and full text

Her Majesty The Queen by her Attorney General of Canada (appellant) v. Multitech Warehouse Direct Inc. (respondent)

(C.H. No. 80532)

Indexed As: R. v. Multitech Warehouse Direct Inc.

Nova Scotia Supreme Court

Saunders, J.

September 22, 1993.

Summary:

The respondent was acquitted on two charges of misleading advertising (119 N.S.R.(2d) 52; 330 A.P.R. 52). The Crown appealed.

The Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the appeal.

Trade Regulation - Topic 645

Competition - Advertising - False or misleading advertising - Multitech pro­moted merchandise by offering free flights to tropical destinations, conditional on the customer purchasing luxury accommoda­tions - The original disclaimer was con­fusing, so it was changed after the first publication - The trial judge acquitted Multitech on the basis that it exercised due diligence by changing the disclaimer at the first opportunity - The Crown appealed - The Nova Scotia Supreme Court dismissed the appeal - The court stated that the trial judge correctly considered the defence of due diligence and the evidence supported his findings of fact - See paragraphs 22 to 29.

Cases Noticed:

R. v. Giles and Ash (1990), 81 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 1; 255 A.P.R. 1; 54 C.C.C.(3d) 66 (Nfld. C.A.), refd to. [para. 18].

R. v. Wright (1984), 3 O.A.C. 293 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Backman (1982), 53 N.S.R.(2d) 39; 109 A.P.R. 39 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 19].

R. v. Gillis (1981), 45 N.S.R.(2d) 137; 86 A.P.R. 137 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 20].

R. v. Starvish (1987), 79 N.S.R.(2d) 136; 196 A.P.R. 136 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 21].

R. v. Wholesale Travel Group Inc. and Chedore (1991), 130 N.R. 1; 49 O.A.C. 161; 67 C.C.C. 193 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 26].

Statutes Noticed:

Competition Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-34, sect. 52(1)(a), sect. 52(5)(b) [para. 4]; sect. 60(2)(a), sect. 60(2)(b) [para. 14].

Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, sect. 686(4)(b) [para. 17].

Counsel:

Paula R. Taylor, for the appellant;

Thomas Dunne, Q.C., for the respondent.

This appeal was heard on September 10, 1993, by Saunders, J., of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on September 22, 1993.