Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. v. Taskar et al., (1993) 146 A.R. 301 (QBM)

• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: November 16, 1993
• Citations: (1993), 146 A.R. 301 (QBM)

Wawanesa Mutual v. Taskar (1993), 146 A.R. 301 (QBM)

MLB headnote and full text

Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company (plaintiff) v. Paula Taskar and Milan Taskar (defendants)

(Action No. 9303 02568)

Indexed As: Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Co. v. Taskar et al.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Edmonton

Funduk, Master in Chambers

November 16, 1993.

Summary:

Mortgage premises were destroyed by fire. The mortgagors defaulted on the mortgage. The mortgagee sued for foreclosure. The mortgagors filed a demand of notice and sued their insurer for coverage. The insurer (1) paid out the mortgage; (2) obtained an as­sign­ment of the mortgage; (3) was granted an order substituting itself as plaintiff in the foreclos­ure action; and (4) defended the insur­ance action. The mort­gagors applied to file a statement of defence in the foreclosure action and to consolidate the actions. The insurer applied for a Rice order.

A Master of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the mortgagors' application. The court declined to consider the insurer's ap­plication.

Practice - Topic 1730

Pleadings - Demand notice - Withdrawal - Mortgagors insured their premises with a loss payable endorsement in favour of the mortgagee - The premises were dam­aged by fire - The mortgagors defaulted on the mortgage - The mortgagee com­menced a foreclosure action - The mort­gagors filed a demand of notice, admitting liability - The mortgagors sued the insurer for coverage - The insurer paid out the mortgage, obtained an assignment of the mortgage, was granted an order substitut­ing itself as plaintiff in the foreclosure action and defended the insurance action - The owners applied to file a statement of defence, raising insurance coverage as a defence, and to consolidate the two actions - A Master of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed the application.

Practice - Topic 4122

Joinder of causes and consolidations - Consolidation of actions - When available - [See Practice - Topic 1730 ].

Practice - Topic 5250

Trials - Consolidation of actions - [See Practice - Topic 1730 ].

Cases Noticed:

Bell et al. v. Grande Mountain Apartments Ltd. et al. (1983), 50 A.R. 372; 29 Alta. L.R.(2d) 270 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 13].

Canada Permanent Trust Co. v. King Art Development Ltd. et al. (1984), 52 A.R. 139 (C.A.), consd. [para. 13].

K.F.L. Holdings Ltd. v. Stewart (William) Properties Ltd. et al. (1982), 44 A.R. 200; 23 Alta. L.R.(2d) 248 (Q.B. Mas­ter), refd to. [para. 25].

R. v. Duhamel (1981), 33 A.R. 271 (C.A.), consd. [para. 33].

Abacus Cities Ltd. (Bankrupt) v. Bank of Montreal et al. (1987), 80 A.R. 254 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 34].

Skagos v. Jamieson (Emery) et al. (1986), 72 A.R. 231 (Q.B. Master), refd to. [para. 37].

Farmers' Union Mutual Fire Insurance Co. v. Hanrahan, [1941] 3 D.L.R. 405 (Ont. C.A.), dist. [para. 38].

Canadian General Insurance Co. v. Phillips and Phillips (1975), 20 N.S.R.(2d) 436; 27 A.P.R. 436 (T.D.), dist. [para. 38].

Telford v. Holt, [1987] 2 S.C.R. 193; 78 N.R. 321; 81 A.R. 385; 54 Alta. L.R.(2d) 193; 21 C.P.C.(2d) 1; 46 R.P.R. 234; 41 D.L.R.(4th) 385; 37 B.L.R. 241, refd to. [para. 64].

Abacus Cities Ltd. v. Aboussafy (1981), 29 A.R. 607 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 66].

Statutes Noticed:

Law of Property Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. L-8, sect. 41(1)(a) [para. 64].

Rules of Court (Alta.), rule 109 [para. 57]; rule 110 [para. 24]; rule 229 [para. 68].

Counsel:

D.P. Gahn (Duncan & Craig), for the plaintiff;

D. Rowland (Zalapski Pahl), for the de­fendants.

This application was heard before Funduk, Master in Chambers, of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Edmon­ton, who delivered judgment on November 16, 1993.