Rules: Parties, Consultation 12.4

This memorandum addresses issues concerning parties whose legal ability to conduct litigation can be problematic, including deceased persons without a personal representative, unincorporated entities, interveners, and persons under disability. The Committee found that for a deceased person without a personal representative, Rule 50 has ongoing usefulness, but proposes that further clarification be made to the general notice provision of Rule 384(1). Partnerships, sole proprietorships operating under a trade name, and other unincorporated associations were examined […]

March 4, 2003

Rules: Expert Evidence and “Independent” Medical Examinations, Consultation Memorandum 12.3

In matters calling for special or expert knowledge, the court may not have sufficient knowledge to draw proper inferences from the evidence such that it may adjudicate on the matters in issue. Regarding independent medical examinations, the Committee was of the view that the procedures under Rule 217 function quite well and should be retained subject to certain issues and proposals. The specific issues addressed by the Committee regarding expert evidence were the timelines for […]

February 4, 2003

Rules: Document Discovery and Examination for Discovery, Consultation Memorandum 12.2

Regarding the timeline for filing and serving an affidavit of records and the penalties for failing to comply with the rules in this regard, the Committee proposes that there be a specific onus on the party who failed to file the affidavit of records within the prescribed time to show why they should not incur a prescribed penalty. Regarding the appropriate scope of discovery of records the Committee proposes to keep the present test for […]

October 4, 2002

Rules: Commencement of Proceedings in Queen’s Bench, Consultation Memorandum 12.1

There are two basic types of court proceedings in the Court of Queen’s Bench: actions and applications. The General Rewrite Committee is of the view that the distinction between actions and applications should be retained. It favours having two ways to commence proceedings: one for actions and one for applications. It proposes to discard the archaic petition, and instead provide that in circumstances previously calling for the use of a petition, applications should be commenced […]

Class Actions, Consultation Memorandum 9

This report makes recommendations to reform the existing procedure for handling a class action and proposes that Alberta enact a modern class actions statute based on the Canadian model that has been enacted in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Primary recommendations would add a procedure to the existing procedural framework for handling litigation involving multiple plaintiffs having the same or similar claims against the same defendant. Ancillary recommendations would add a procedure for handling litigation […]

December 4, 2000

Class Actions, Final Report 85

This report makes recommendations to reform the existing procedure for handling a class action and proposes that Alberta enact a modern class actions statute based on the Canadian model that has been enacted in Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Primary recommendations would add a procedure to the existing procedural framework for handling litigation involving multiple plaintiffs having the same or similar claims against the same defendant. Ancillary recommendations would add a procedure for handling litigation […]

December 1, 2000

Powers & Procedures for Administrative Agencies: MODEL CODE, Consultation Memorandum 6

The final product that arises from this consultation will be a comprehensive Model Code of Powers and Procedures, and an accompanying Annotation that sets out important case law that supplements or clarifies the rules. The Code will clarify the powers that already exist under the common law, and provide for additional powers necessary to the efficient and effective functioning of agencies. The code will not be a rigid set of rules that apply to every […]

April 1, 1999

Should a Claim for Punitive Damages Survive Death?, Consultation Memorandum 5

The purpose of this Consultation Memorandum is to invite comment as to whether or not a claim for punitive damages should survive the claimant’s death. This memorandum addresses the nature of punitive damages, present Alberta law and its history, reasons for and against allowing punitive damages, and whether reasons for non-survivability of damages for non-pecuniary losses in general apply to punitive damages. Comment is invited on several issues including: should the Survival of Actions Act be amended […]

December 1, 1998

Should a Claim for Loss of a Chance of Future Earnings Survive Death?, Consultation Memorandum 4

This memorandum solicits the reader’s views and comments on the following question: should a deceased person’s estate be entitled to claim damages from a wrongdoer for the loss of the deceased person’s chance at future earnings? It is desirable that the legislation make it clear either that the claim survives the wronged person’s death or that it does not. Three issues are open for comment. First, as a general rule, should a claim for damages […]

August 1, 1997

Credibility of Witnesses: Reputation for Veracity

January 6, 1978