Spika v. Port Alberni (City), 2002 BCSC 700

• Judge: Wong, J.
• Court: Supreme Court of British Columbia (Canada)
• Case Date: April 08, 2002
• Jurisdiction: British Columbia
• Citations: 2002 BCSC 700;[2002] B.C.T.C. 700 (SC)

Spika v. Port Alberni, [2002] B.C.T.C. 700 (SC)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] B.C.T.C. TBEd. MY.092

Peter Spika (plaintiff) v. City of Port Alberni (defendant)

(9960; 2002 BCSC 700)

Indexed As: Spika v. Port Alberni (City)

British Columbia Supreme Court

Port Alberni

Wong, J.

May 8, 2002.

Summary:

This headnote contains no summary.

Municipal Law - Topic 1807

Liability of municipalities - Negligence - Standard of care - Construction and maintenance of water lines, sewers and drains - See paragraphs 61 to 67.

Municipal Law - Topic 1818

Liability of municipalities - Negligence - Defences - Statutory immunity or exemption - See paragraphs 34 to 42.

Municipal Law - Topic 1865

Liability of municipalities - Nuisance - Water and sewerage system - General - See paragraphs 29 to 33.

Municipal Law - Topic 1875

Liability of municipalities - Nuisance - Defences - Statutory immunity or authority - See paragraphs 34 to 42.

Torts - Topic 1266

Nuisance - Particular nuisances - Particular nuisances - General - Escape of water - See paragraphs 29 to 33.

Torts - Topic 1800

Nuisance - Defences - Statutory authority - See paragraphs 43 to 61.

Torts - Topic 2004

Strict liability - General - Application of rule in Rylands v. Fletcher - See paragraphs 20 to 28.

Cases Noticed:

Rylands v. Fletcher (1868), L.R. 3 H.L. 330, refd to. [para. 11].

Campbell (John) Law Corp. v. Strata Plan 1350, Owners, [2001] B.C.T.C. 1342 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 20].

Tock and Tock v. St. John's Metropolitan Area Board, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1181; 104 N.R. 241; 82 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 181; 257 A.P.R. 181, refd to. [para. 22].

Legault v. Adams, [1988] O.J. No. 2043 (Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 32].

Medomist Farms Ltd. et al. v. Surrey (District) (1991), 8 B.C.A.C. 189; 17 W.A.C. 189; 62 B.C.L.R.(2d) 168 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 36].

Moffat v. White Rock (City) (1992), 13 M.P.L.R.(2d) 283 (B.C.S.C.), refd to. [para. 37].

Kerlenmar Holdings Ltd. v. Matsqui (District) et al. (1989), 40 B.C.L.R.(2d) 230 (S.C.), revd. in part (1991), 1 B.C.A.C. 180; 1 W.A.C. 180; 56 B.C.L.R.(2d) 377 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 37].

Moyer v. Port Alberni (City) (1999), 6 B.C.T.C. 183; 65 B.C.L.R.(3d) 352 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 38].

Ryan v. Victoria (City) et al., [1999] 1 S.C.R. 201; 234 N.R. 201; 117 B.C.A.C. 103; 191 W.A.C. 103; 168 D.L.R.(4th) 513; 59 B.C.L.R.(3d) 81, refd to. [para. 45].

Vergamini v. Hamilton-Wentworth (Regional Municipality) (1986), 54 O.R.(2d) 494 (Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 46].

Krohnert v. Halton (Regional Municipality) (1986), 70 O.R.(2d) 430 (Dist. Ct.), refd to. [para. 46].

Anns v. Merton London Borough Council, [1978] A.C. 728 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 55].

Brown v. British Columbia (Minister of Transportation and Highways), [1994] 1 S.C.R. 420; 164 N.R. 161; 42 B.C.A.C. 1; 67 W.A.C. 1; 112 D.L.R.(4th) 1; 19 C.C.L.T.(2d) 268; 89 B.C.L.R.(2d) 1, refd to. [para. 56].

Statutes Noticed:

Local Government Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 323, sect. 288 [para. 35]; sect. 517(1), sect. 540 [para. 44].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Thomson Rogers on Municipal Liability (1996), pp. 111 [para. 43]; 137 [para. 21].

Counsel:

R.A. Scoffield, for the plaintiff;

J.D. Martin, for the defendant.

This application was heard on April 8, 2002, before Wong, J., of the British Columbia Supreme Court, who delivered the following decision on May 8, 2002.

Please note: The following judgment has not been edited.