Talisman Energy Inc. v. Flo-Dynamics Systems Inc. et al., (2015) 613 A.R. 1 (QB)

• Judge: Tilleman, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: January 07, 2015
• Citations: (2015), 613 A.R. 1 (QB);2015 ABQB 100

Talisman Energy v. Flo-Dynamics Systems (2015), 613 A.R. 1 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2015] A.R. TBEd. MR.076

Talisman Energy Inc. (plaintiff) v. Flo-Dynamics Systems Inc., Flo-Dynamics Water Management Inc., Tryon North Surveying Ltd., Tryon Engineering Inc., David John Elliott, Andrew William Hall, Gentian Toska, Elena Toska, 1634644 Alberta Inc., A. Hall Land Surveying Inc., 0847047 BC Ltd., John Doe and ABC Company Ltd. (defendants)

(1301 11549; 2015 ABQB 100)

Indexed As: Talisman Energy Inc. v. Flo-Dynamics Systems Inc. et al.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Calgary

Tilleman, J.

February 9, 2015.

Summary:

The plaintiff, Talisman Energy Inc., sued the defendants, alleging, inter alia, breaches of contract, breaches of fiduciary duties, misappropriation, conversion and conspiracy. In that context, a Master denied the plaintiff's request for access to personal tax records of individual defendants. The plaintiff appealed.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the appeal.

Practice - Topic 4573

Discovery - What documents must be produced - Documents related to or relevant and material to matters in issue - The plaintiff, Talisman Energy Inc., sued the defendants, alleging, inter alia, breaches of contract and fiduciary duties, misappropriation, conversion and conspiracy - In that context, a Master denied the plaintiff's request for access to personal tax records of individual defendants on the basis that the information was not relevant or material - The plaintiff appealed - The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, considering the matter de novo, allowed the appeal - The court held that the test of relevance and materiality applied to all records in an action, including tax records - Here, the plaintiff had adequately demonstrated relevance and materiality - However, to protect the defendants' privacy the court ordered that the personal tax records be provided in the first instance to the individual defendants' counsel, who could redact information that was both private and irrelevant to the plaintiff's claims and then provide the redacted records to the plaintiff.

Practice - Topic 4599

Discovery - What documents must be produced - Particular matters - Tax returns - [See Practice - Topic 4573 ].

Cases Noticed:

Bahcheli v. Yorkton Securities Inc. et al. (2012), 524 A.R. 382; 545 W.A.C. 382; 2012 ABCA 166, refd to. [para. 15].

Dow Chemical Canada ULC et al. v. Nova Chemicals Corp. (2014), 577 A.R. 335; 613 W.A.C. 335; 2014 ABCA 244, refd to. [para. 17].

D'Elia v. Dansereau (2000), 267 A.R. 157; 2000 ABQB 425, refd to. [para. 18].

NAC Constructors Ltd. v. Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission (2006), 412 A.R. 272; 404 W.A.C. 272; 2006 ABCA 246, refd to. [para. 19].

Weatherill Estate v. Weatherill et al. (2003), 337 A.R. 180; 2003 ABQB 69, refd to. [para. 20].

Churchill (Richard J.) Ltd. v. Westhill Resources Ltd., [2002] A.R. Uned. 185; 2002 ABQB 189, refd to. [para. 23].

Tamri Orchards Ltd. et al. v. Johnston, Meier Insurance Agencies Ltd. et al., [2006] B.C.T.C. Uned. 264; 2006 BCSC 558, refd to. [para. 23].

Rachansky v. Walker (1993), 146 A.R. 151 (Q.B. Master), refd to. [para. 23].

Janhevich v. Thomas, [1977] O.J. No. 2227 (S.C.), refd to. [para. 24].

Tirecraft Group Inc. v. High Park Holdings ULC et al. (2010), 511 A.R. 17; 2010 ABQB 653, refd to. [para. 32].

Statutes Noticed:

Alberta Rules of Court - see Rules of Court (Alta.).

Rules of Court (Alta.), rule 5.2(1) [para. 16].

Counsel:

Timothy Ellam, Q.C., Laurie Baptiste, Lyndsey Delamont and Sara Babich, for the plaintiff;

Allan Guty, Scott Watson, Megan Stoker, Shanna Kelley, Joseph Groia and Christine Dowling, for the defendants.

This appeal was heard in Calgary, Alberta, on January 7, 2015, before Tilleman, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, who delivered the following decision on February 9, 2015.