Stewart v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al., (1997) 32 O.T.C. 321 (GD)

• Judge: J. MacDonald, J.
• Court: Ontario Court of Justice General Division (Canada)
• Case Date: June 03, 1997
• Jurisdiction: Ontario
• Citations: (1997), 32 O.T.C. 321 (GD)

Stewart v. CBC (1997), 32 O.T.C. 321 (GD)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [1997] O.T.C. TBEd. JN.098

Robert C. Stewart (plaintiff) v. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Scales of Justice Enterprises Inc. and Edward Leonard Greenspan (defendants)

(File No. 92-CQ-25041)

Indexed As: Stewart v. Canadian Broadcasting Corp. et al.

Ontario Court of Justice

General Division

Toronto

J. MacDonald, J.

June 3, 1997.

Summary:

In 1978, Stewart ran over a woman and dragged her to death. He was convicted of criminal negligence causing death. After the conviction, Stewart discharged his counsel and retained Greenspan to represent him during sentencing and on appeal. The appeal was dismissed. Stewart received a three year sentence. In 1991, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) broadcasted a re-enactment of Stewart's crime on a one hour episode of the program "The Scales of Justice". Greenspan appeared as the host and narrator of the episode. Stewart sued Greenspan, CBC and Scales of Justice Enterprises Inc. (Scales). He pleaded that Greenspan breached implied terms of his contract that he would keep in confidence any information provided to him by virtue of his representation of Stewart and that he would act in Stewart's best interests in relation to any transaction touching upon the subject of the sentencing or appeal. He also pleaded that Greenspan breached his fiduciary duty of loyalty to Stewart to act in Stewart's best interests in relation to any transaction relating in any way to the sentencing or appeal. He pleaded that CBC and Scales were liable because they knew or should have known that Greenspan was breaching his duties to Stewart. Stewart also requested a permanent injunction against all the defendants restraining re-broadcast of the episode.

The Ontario Court (General Division) allowed the action against Greenspan only, on the basis that he breached his ongoing fiduciary duty of loyalty to Stewart, his former client. The court awarded Stewart $2,500 damages and ordered Greenspan to disgorge $3,250 profit, but rejected a claim for punitive damages. The court held that there was no breach of contract. The court refused to order an injunction where the rights to the episode had been sold to a non-party.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 1548

Relationship with client - Duty to client - General - Fiduciary duty - See paragraphs 1 to 395.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 1661

Relationship with client - Contracts with client - General - See paragraphs 249 to 256.

Barristers and Solicitors - Topic 5104

Discipline - General - Rules of professional conduct - Status of - See paragraphs 191 to 248.

Company Law - Topic 4052

Directors - Appointment or election - Resignation - See paragraphs 64 to 80.

Damage Awards - Topic 201

Injury and death - Psychological injuries - Emotional reaction causing mental or physical symptoms - See paragraphs 330 to 345.

Damage Awards - Topic 643

Torts - Injury to the person - Breach of fiduciary duty - See paragraphs 328 to 364.

Damages - Topic 1309.1

Exemplary or punitive damages - Breach of fiduciary duty - See paragraphs 350 to 354.

Equity - Topic 3652

Fiduciary or confidential relationships - Breach of fiduciary relationship - Liability as an accessory to breach - See paragraph 354, 364.

Evidence - Topic 4726

Witnesses - Examination - Impeaching credit - Duty to give witness opportunity to explain - See paragraphs 365 to 392.

Injunctions - Topic 784

Granting an injunction - Persons against whom an injunction will be granted - Parties to the action - See paragraph 355.

Words and Phrases

Act against - The Ontario Court (General Division) discussed the meaning of this phrase as found in commentary 13 of the Ontario Professional Conduct Handbook - See paragraphs 221 to 223.

Words and Phrases

Code - The Ontario Court (General Division) discussed the meaning of this word as found in s. 63.4 of the Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L-8 - See paragraph 201.

Words and Phrases

Public interest - The Ontario Court (General Division) discussed the meaning of this phrase as found in s. 13(1) of the Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L-8 - See paragraph 196.

Cases Noticed:

Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada v. 401700 Ontario Ltd. et al. (1991), 3 O.R.(3d) 684 (Gen. Div.), refd to. [para. 8].

R. v. Jackson (1977), 21 N.S.R.(2d) 17; 28 A.P.R. 17 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

R. v. Darrach (1978), 18 Nfld. & P.E.I.R. 81; 47 A.P.R. 81 (P.E.I.C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

Neuzen v. Korn, [1995] 3 S.C.R. 674; 188 N.R. 161; 64 B.C.A.C. 241; 105 W.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 52].

Ford (G.) Homes Ltd. v. Draft Masonry (York) Co. (1983), 2 O.A.C. 231; 43 O.R.(2d) 401 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 52].

Parry-Jones v. Law Society et al., [1968] 1 All E.R. 177 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 53].

BG Checo International Ltd. v. British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, [1993] 1 S.C.R. 12; 147 N.R. 81; 20 B.C.A.C. 241; 35 W.A.C. 241, refd to. [para. 54].

Roman Hotels Ltd. v. Desrochers Hotels Ltd. (1976), 69 D.L.R.(3d) 126 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

Wilson v. Woollatt (1928), 62 O.L.R. 620 (C.A.), affd. [1929] S.C.R. 483, refd to. [para. 71].

Crawford v. Bathurst Land & Development Co. (1919), 59 S.C.R. 314, refd to. [para. 71].

Bartlett v. Bartlett Mines Ltd. (1911), 24 O.L.R. 419 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 71].

Rondel v. Worsley, [1969] 1 A.C. 191 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 141].

Batchelor v. Pattison and Mackersey (1876), 3 R (Ct. of Sess.), refd to. [para. 142].

Sherman and Brusil Holdings Ltd. v. Manley (1978), 19 O.R.(2d) 531 (C.A.), leave to appeal refused (1978), 23 N.R. 265 (S.C.C), refd to. [para. 144].

R. v. White (H.S.) and Sennet (S.) (1997), 99 O.A.C. 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 147].

R. v. Joanisse (R.) (1995), 85 O.A.C. 186; 102 C.C.C.(3d) 35 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 147].

International Corona Resources Ltd. v. LAC Minerals Ltd., [1989] 2 S.C.R. 574; 101 N.R. 239; 36 O.A.C. 57; 61 D.L.R.(4th) 14, refd to. [para. 149, footnote 4].

Jabour v. Law Society of British Columbia et al., [1982] 2 S.C.R. 307; 43 N.R. 451, refd to. [para. 157].

R. v. Lyons, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 309; 80 N.R. 161; 82 N.S.R.(2d) 271; 207 A.P.R. 271; 37 C.C.C.(3d) 1, refd to. [para. 161].

St. John (City) v. Irving Oil Co., [1966] S.C.R. 581, refd to. [para. 172].

R. v. Zundel (No. 2), [1992] 2 S.C.R. 731; 140 N.R. 1; 56 O.A.C. 161, refd to. [para. 196].

Winnipeg (City) v. Morguard Properties Ltd. et al., [1983] 2 S.C.R. 493; 50 N.R. 264; 25 Man.R.(2d) 302, refd to. [para. 197].

Nicholls and Robinson v. Cumming (1877), 1 S.C.R. 395, refd to. [para. 197].

R. v. Colet, [1981] 1 S.C.R. 2; 35 N.R. 227, refd to. [para. 197].

R. v. Riddle, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 380; 29 N.R. 91; 18 A.R. 525, refd to. [para. 197].

Pearlman v. Manitoba Law Society Judicial Committee, [1991] 2 S.C.R. 869; 130 N.R. 121; 75 Man.R.(2d) 81; 6 W.A.C. 81; [1991] 6 W.W.R. 289, refd to. [para. 199].

MacDonald Estate v. Martin and Rossmere Holdings (1970) Ltd., [1990] 3 S.C.R. 1235; 121 N.R. 1; 70 Man.R.(2d) 241; 77 D.L.R.(4th) 249, refd to. [para. 202].

Frame v. Smith and Smith, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 99; 78 N.R. 40; 23 O.A.C. 84; 42 D.L.R.(4th) 81, refd to. [para. 251].

Saltman Engineering Co., Ferotel and Monarch Engineering Co. (Mitcham) v. Campbell Engineering Co. (1948), 65 R.P.C. 203 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 260, footnote 5].

Schering Chemicals Ltd. v. Falkman Ltd., [1982] Q.B. 1 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 260, footnote 5].

Coco v. Clark (A.N.)(Engineers) Ltd., [1969] R.P.C. 41, refd to. [para. 260, footnote 5].

Canadian Aero Service Ltd. v. O'Malley et al. (1973), 40 D.L.R.(3d) 371 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 260].

Hodgkinson v. Simms et al., [1994] 3 S.C.R. 377; 171 N.R. 245; 49 B.C.A.C. 1; 80 W.A.C. 1; [1994] 9 W.W.R. 609; 22 C.C.L.T.(2d) 1; 117 D.L.R.(4th) 161, refd to. [para. 266].

Norberg v. Wynrib, [1992] 2 S.C.R. 226; 138 N.R. 81; 9 B.C.A.C. 1; 19 W.A.C. 1; 92 D.L.R.(4th) 449, refd to. [para. 268].

Allinson v. Clayhills (1907), 97 L.T. 709, refd to. [para. 278].

McMaster v. Byrne, [1952] 3 D.L.R. 337 (P.C.), refd to. [para. 279].

Korz v. St. Pierre, Woods and Martin (1987), 23 O.A.C. 226; 61 O.R.(2d) 609 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 282].

R. v. Speid (1983), 43 O.R.(2d) 596 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 285].

Tombill Gold Mines Ltd. v. Hamilton (City) et al., [1954] O.R. 871 (H.C.), affd. [1955] 5 D.L.R. 708 (C.A.), affd. (1956), 5 D.L.R.(2d) 561 (S.C.C.), refd to. [para. 285, footnote 10].

Sinclair v. Ridout, [1955] O.R. 167 (H.C.), refd to. [para. 285, footnote 10].

McLeod v. Sweezey, [1944] S.C.R. 111, refd to. [para. 286].

Pre-Cam Exploration & Development Ltd. v. McTavish, [1966] S.C.R. 551, refd to. [para. 286].

Edmonton Journal v. Alberta (Attorney General), [1989] 2 S.C.R. 1326; 102 N.R. 321; 103 A.R. 321; [1990] 1 W.W.R. 577; 64 D.L.R.(4th) 577; 71 Alta. L.R.(2d) 273; 45 C.R.R. 1, refd to. [para. 317].

K.M. v. H.M., [1992] 3 S.C.R. 6; 142 N.R. 321; 57 O.A.C. 321; 96 D.L.R.(4th) 289, refd to. [para. 330].

Athey v. Leonati et al., [1996] 3 S.C.R. 458; 203 N.R. 36; 81 B.C.A.C. 243; 132 W.A.C. 243, refd to. [para. 338].

Pryor v. Bains (1986), 69 B.C.L.R. 395 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 338].

Vorvis v. Insurance Corp. of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 1085; 94 N.R. 321; 58 D.L.R.(4th) 193; [1989] 4 W.W.R. 218; 36 B.C.L.R.(2d) 273; 90 C.L.L.C. 14,035; 25 C.C.E.L. 81, refd to. [para. 353].

Szarfer v. Chodos (1986), 54 O.R.(2d) 663 (H.C.), affd. (1988), 66 O.R.(2d) 350 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 353].

Browne v. Dunn (1893), 6 R. 67 (H.L.), refd to. [para. 365].

R. v. Palmer, [1980] 1 S.C.R. 759; 30 N.R. 181, refd to. [para. 371].

Sam v. Canadian Pacific Ltd. (1976), 63 D.L.R.(3d) 294 (B.C.C.A.), refd to. [para. 373].

Peters v. Perras (1909), 42 S.C.R. 244, refd to. [para. 373].

R. v. Verney (M.) (1993), 67 O.A.C. 279; 87 C.C.C.(3d) 363 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 375].

R. v. M.L.W. (1995), 82 O.A.C. 397 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 375].

Hurd et al. v. Hewitt and Trinity College et al. (1994), 75 O.A.C. 205; 20 O.R.(3d) 639 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 376].

Vaillancourt et al. v. Watson et al. (1994), 69 O.A.C. 227 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 377].

R. v. Pargelen (G.) (1996), 95 O.A.C. 200; 112 C.C.C.(3d) 263 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 379].

Blatch v. Archer (1774), 1 Cow. 63; 98 E.R. 969, refd to. [para. 383].

Snell v. Farrell, [1990] 2 S.C.R. 311; 110 N.R. 200; 107 N.B.R.(2d) 94; 267 A.P.R. 94; 72 D.L.R.(4th) 289; 4 C.C.L.T.(2d) 229, refd to. [para. 383].

R. v. Shayesteh (S.) (1996), 94 O.A.C. 81; 111 C.C.C.(3d) 225 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 386].

Statutes Noticed:

Business Corporations Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. B-16, sect. 19(b), sect. 19(d) [para. 76]; sect. 121(2) [para. 72]; sect. 262(3) [para. 76].

Canada Evidence Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. 5, sect. 10(1), sect. 11 [para. 379].

Evidence Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E-23, sect. 20, sect. 21 [para. 378].

Law Society Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. L-8, sect. 13(1) [para. 195]; sect. 63 [para. 193]; sect. 63.4 [para. 201].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Finn, Paul D., Conflicts of Interest and Professionals, in Legal Research Foundation Inc. Seminar, Professional Responsibility (1987), p. 15 [para. 309].

Goff, Robert and Jones, Gareth, The Law of Restitution (4th Ed. 1993), pp. 662 ff., 679 ff. [para. 261, footnote 6].

Gurry, Francis, Breach of Confidence (1984), p. 158 [para. 261, footnote 6].

Law Society of Upper Canada, Professional Conduct Handbook (1992), rule 4, commentaries 1 to 5, 8 [paras. 207, 208]; rule 5, commentaries 1 to 3, 13 [paras. 216, 217]; rule 11, commentary 1 [paras. 226, 227]; rule 17, commentaries 1, 3 [paras. 242, 243]; rule 21, commentaries 1 to 6 [paras. 230, 231].

Law Society of Upper Canada Special Lectures, Defence of a Criminal Case, "Problems in Ethics and Advocacy" (1969), p. 284 [para. 147, footnote 3].

Mackenzie, Gavin, Lawyers and Ethics: Professional Responsibility and Discipline (1993), generally [para. 205].

Maloney, Arthur, The Role of the Independent Bar, Law Society of Upper Canada Special Lectures on Abuse of Process (1979), pp. 49, 61, 62 [para. 143].

Martin, Goldwin Arthur, Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada, The Role of the Defence Advocate (1970), 12 Crim. L.Q. 376, pp. 383 [para. 142]; 384, 385 [para. 141].

Ontario (Attorney General), Professional Organizations Committee Report, generally [para. 199].

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary [para. 241].

Counsel:

Barry B. Swadron, Q.C., Susan Fraser and Christopher Waters, for the plaintiff;

Peter Southey and Michael Hughes, for CBC;

Harvey T. Strosberg, Q.C., for Scales of Justice Enterprises Inc.;

D.H. Jack, for Edward L. Greenspan.

This action was heard by J. MacDonald, J., of the Ontario Court (General Division), who released the following decision on June 3, 1997.