Rollinson v. Canada, (1994) 73 F.T.R. 16 (TD)

• Judge: Muldoon, J.
• Court: Federal Court (Canada)
• Case Date: January 24, 1994
• Jurisdiction: Canada (Federal)
• Citations: (1994), 73 F.T.R. 16 (TD)

Rollinson v. Can. (1994), 73 F.T.R. 16 (TD)

MLB headnote and full text

George Gordon Rollinson (plaintiff) v. Her Majesty The Queen (defendant)

(T-560-84)

Indexed As: Rollinson v. Canada

Federal Court of Canada

Trial Division

Muldoon, J.

January 24, 1994.

Summary:

Canada Customs officials seized a yacht from Rollinson. Rollinson sued the federal Crown for declaratory relief and damages, alleging, inter alia, numerous Charter vio­lations.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Divi­sion, in a decision reported 40 F.T.R. 1, allowed the action, with damages to be as­sessed later.

The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Divi­sion, in the decision reported below, as­sessed damages accordingly.

Civil Rights - Topic 8375

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Denial of rights - Remedies - Damages - [See Damage Awards - Topic 523 ].

Courts - Topic 102

Stare decisis - Authority of judicial deci­sions - English and American decisions - English decisions - House of Lords - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, held that decisions of the English House of Lords are not binding on Canadian courts - See paragraphs 6 to 20.

Damage Awards - Topic 523

Torts - Injury to goods - Wrongful sei­zure or detention - The plaintiff and his wife were pensioners, who lived on a yacht - The yacht was wrongly seized by Customs officials in violation of Char­ter rights and in a tortious man­ner (i.e. the officials' conduct constituted cruel treat­ment) - While under seizure the yacht deteriorated - The plaintiff's health was affected by the stress - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, awarded $58,400 aggravated general damages, $8000 for infringement of Charter rights, $20,000 for punitive damages and $137,710 for special damages - See para­graphs 23 to 67.

Damage Awards - Topic 637

Torts - Injury to the person - Cruel treat­ment - [See Damage Awards - Topic 523 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 2025.1

Exemplary or punitive damages - Malicious enforcement of customs legisla­tion - [See Damage Awards - Topic 523 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 2029

Exemplary or punitive damages - Wrong­ful seizure, detention or conversion of goods - [See Damage Awards - Topic 523 ].

Damage Awards - Topic 2409

Aggravated damages - Malicious or cruel treatment by Crown officials - [See Dam­age Awards - Topic 523 ].

Damages - Topic 537

Limits of compensatory damages - Re­moteness - Torts - Nonrecoverable dam­ages - In­direct consequences of fault - Impecuniosity - The Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, discussed whether the impecuniosity of a plaintiff is a factor to be considered in assessing damages - See paragraphs 6 to 20.

Cases Noticed:

Rollinson v. Canada, [1991] 3 F.C. 70; 40 F.T.R. 1 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 5].

Entick v. Carrington (1765), 95 E.R. 807 (K.B.), refd to. [para. 5].

Southam Inc. v. Hunter, [1984] 2 S.C.R. 145; 55 N.R. 241; 55 A.R. 291; 9 C.R.R. 355; 14 C.C.C.(3d) 97; 41 C.R.(3d) 97; [1984] 6 W.W.R. 577; 33 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 27 B.L.R. 297; 84 D.T.C. 6467; 2 C.P.R.(3d) 1; 11 D.L.R.(4th) 641, refd to. [para. 5].

Dredger Liesbosch v. Steamship Edison (Owners), [1933] A.C. 449 (H.L.), dist. [para. 6 et seq.].

Kuruma v. R., [1955] A.C. 197 (P.C.), refd to. [para. 15].

Anns v. Merton London Borough Coun­cil, [1978] A.C. 728; [1977] 2 W.L.R. 1024; [1977] 2 All E.R. 492 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 15].

Murphy v. Brent­wood District Coun­cil, [1991] 1 A.C. 398; [1990] 2 All E.R. 908; 113 N.R. 81 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 15].

Canadian Na­tional Railway Co. et al. v. Norsk Pacific Steam­ship Co. and Tug Jervis Crown et al., [1992] 1 S.C.R. 1021; 137 N.R. 241; 91 D.L.R.(4th) 289, refd to. [para. 19].

Shaikh v. R., [1982] 4 C.E.R. 123 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 22].

Glisic v. R., [1984] 1 F.C. 797 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 22].

J.L.N. v. A.M.L. (1988), 56 Man.R.(2d) 161; 47 C.C.L.T. 65 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 51].

Norberg v. Wynrib, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 226; 138 N.R. 81; 9 B.C.A.C. 1; 19 W.A.C. 1, refd to. [para. 51].

LeBar v. Canada, [1989] 1 F.C. 603; 90 N.R. 5; 46 C.C.C.(3d) 103 (F.C.A.), refd to. [para. 57].

Peeters v. Canada (1992), 54 F.T.R. 289 (F.C.T.D.), refd to. [para. 61].

Statutes Noticed:

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 1982, sect. 7, sect. 8, sect. 12, sect. 15 [para. 5].

Crown Liability Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-50, sect. 3(a), sect. 3(b) [para. 67].

Federal Court Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-7, sect. 36(1) [para. 67].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Fridman, G.H.L., Torts (1st Ed. 1990), p. 338 [para. 18].

Linden, Allen M., Canadian Tort Law (4th Ed. 1988), generally [para. 18].

Linden, Allen M., Canadian Tort Law, (5th Ed. 1993), p. 382 [para. 18].

Wexler, S.M., The Impecunious Plaintiff: Liesbosch Reconsidered (1987), 66 Can. Bar Rev. 129, generally [para. 14]; pp. 130, 132, 133, 137 [para. 17].

Counsel:

John C. Blewett, for the plaintiff;

Gunnar O. Eggertson and John Mostowich, for the defendant.

Solicitors of Record:

John C. Blewett, White Rock, British Columbia, for the plaintiff;

John C. Tait, Q.C., Deputy Attorney Gen­eral of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, for the defendant.

This matter was heard in Vancouver, British Columbia, on November 24 to 27, 1993, before Muldoon, J., of the Federal Court of Canada, Trial Division, who delivered the following judgment on January 24, 1994.