Wilson v. Turnbull et al., (2002) 319 A.R. 167 (QB)

• Judge: Forsyth, J.
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta (Canada)
• Case Date: April 24, 2002
• Citations: (2002), 319 A.R. 167 (QB);2002 ABQB 539

Wilson v. Turnbull (2002), 319 A.R. 167 (QB)

MLB headnote and full text

Temp. Cite: [2002] A.R. TBEd. JN.105

Donald S. Wilson (plaintiff/appellant) v. Dr. John G. Turnbull, Calgary Regional Health Authority, carrying on business under the name and style of Rockyview General Hospital and Rockyview General Hospital, and John Does I to X (defendants/respondents)

(No. 9601-02782; 2002 ABQB 539)

Indexed As: Wilson v. Turnbull et al.

Alberta Court of Queen's Bench

Judicial District of Calgary

Forsyth, J.

June 6, 2002.

Summary:

The plaintiff applied for leave to make "significant amendments" to a statement of claim that had been filed over five and one half years earlier.

A Master of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench allowed an amendment that had been agreed to between the parties but denied the remaining amendments. The plaintiff appealed.

The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench dismissed the appeal. The proposed amendments constituted new causes of action, which were statute barred. Also, the plaintiff failed to establish special circumstances that would have justified allowing the amendments despite the statutory limitations.

Limitation of Actions - Topic 9616

Enlargement of time period - Application for - Special circumstances - [See Practice - Topic 2111 ].

Practice - Topic 653

Parties - Adding or substuting parties - Adding plaintiffs - Application of limitation periods - [See Practice - Topic 2111 ].

Practice - Topic 2110

Pleadings - Amendment of pleadings - Adding new cause of action - [See Practice - Topic 2111 ].

Practice - Topic 2111

Pleadings - Amendment of pleadings - Prohibition against adding new action which is statute barred - In June 2001, the plaintiff applied for leave to amend the statement of claim filed in 1996 to add dependants as plaintiffs and to add claims under the Fatal Accidents Act and the Survival of Actions Act - The Limitations of Actions Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. L-15, made April 10, 1999, the last day to amend the statement of claim to add these new plaintiffs and new claims -The Alberta Court of Queen's Bench affirmed the denial of leave to amend - The proposed amendments constituted new causes of action and the applicable limitation periods had expired - Also, the plaintiff did not show special circumstances that would have justified allowing the amendments despite the statutory limitations.

Cases Noticed:

Austec Electronic Systems Ltd. v. Mark IV Industries Ltd. et al. (2001), 285 A.R. 154 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 15].

Builders Holdings Ltd. et al. v. Gasland Properties Ltd. et al. (2001), 306 A.R. 163 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 15]

Milfive Investments Ltd. et al. v. Sefel et al. (1998), 216 A.R. 196; 175 W.A.C. 196; 1998 CarswellAlta 452 (C.A.), consd. [para. 18].

Basarsky v. Quinlan, [1972] S.C.R. 380, refd to. [para. 19].

Clark Estate et al. v. Lee (1997), 214 A.R. 109 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 22].

Weiss et al. v. Czarniecki, [2001] 3 W.W.R. 555; 296 A.R. 347 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 22].

Shtitz v. Canadian National Railway, [1927] 1 D.L.R. 951 (Sask. C.A.), refd to. [para. 22].

Stace Estate v. Larson (2000), 256 A.R. 329 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 22].

Tardif Estate et al. v. Wong et al., [2000] 10 W.W.R. 128; 268 A.R. 113 (Q.B.), refd to. [para. 23].

Crothers v. O'Byrne et al., [1999] A.R. Uned. 278 (Q.B.), consd. [para. 25].

Crothers (Next friend of) v. Campbell Estate - see Crothers v. O'Byrne et al.

Cunningham v. Irvine-Adams et al. (2001), 277 A.R. 115; 242 W.A.C. 115 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 26].

Madill v. Alexander Consulting Group Ltd. et al. (1999), 237 A.R. 307; 197 W.A.C. 307; 176 D.L.R.(4th) 309 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

Neis v. Yancey et al. (1999), 250 A.R. 19; 213 W.A.C. 19; 180 D.L.R.(4th) 463 (C.A.), refd to. [para. 28].

Statutes Noticed:

Fatal Accidents Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. F-5, sect. 3(1)(a) [para. 21].

Limitations Act, R.S.A. 2000, c. L-12, sect. 2 [para. 14].

Survival of Actions Act, R.S.A. 1980, c. S-30, sect. 2 [para. 24].

Counsel:

R.J. McRae, for the plaintiff/appellant;

J.L. Townley, for the defendant, Dr. John Turnbull;

B.R. Carbert, for the defendant, Calgary Regional Health Authority.

Forsyth, J., of the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, Judicial District of Calgary, heard this appeal on April 24, 2002, and delivered the following reasons for judgment on June 6, 2002.