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(PART IV heading rep. by 73/16 s1)

RULE 58
Rule 58 - Civil Appeals - Supreme Court (General Division)

 

73/16 s2; 9/18 s10

Analysis



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Definitions

58.01 The following definitions apply to this rule

             (a)  "appeal" means an appeal to the General Division and, where the context requires, includes a cross-appeal, a stated case, or a reference made to the Court under a statute;

             (b)  "appellant" means a person who starts an appeal or a cross-appeal and includes a tribunal that states a case or brings a reference;

             (c)  "Chief Justice" means the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

             (d)  "decision" means

                      (i)  a formal order of a decision-making authority,

                     (ii)  an order or decision made in an uncompleted matter, and

                    (iii)  anything accepted by a decision-making authority as having the same effect as a formal order;

             (e)  "decision-making authority" means any person or body, from whom an appeal lies to the Court, including any court, tribunal, board, commission, committee, minister, public official, or other public or governmental agency or authority, including the Lieutenant-Governor in Council;

             (f)  "electronic version" means an electronic version in a format acceptable to the Court;

             (g)  "official sound recording" means a sound recording made in accordance with the Recording of Evidence Act ;

             (h)  "party" means an appellant or respondent to an appeal or an application and includes an intervenor where the context requires, and a person who is authorized by the Court or by law to be a party to an appeal;

              (i)  "respondent" means a person named as a respondent in an appeal or an application;

              (j)  "transcript" means a printed transcript of the sound recording of the proceedings before the decision-making authority appealed from but does not include

                      (i)  a partys submissions to the decision-making authority appealed from unless those submissions are necessary to enable an issue raised on appeal or cross-appeal to be determined, or

                     (ii)  a decision of the decision-making authority appealed from where a printed copy of that decision has been issued; and

             (k)  "uncompleted matter" means a matter where the issues between the parties have not been determined by a final decision of a decision-making authority.

73/16 s2; 9/18 s11

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Scope of rule

58.02 (1) This rule governs the procedure for making an appeal in the Supreme Court.

             (2)  Despite subrule (1), where an applicable statute provides a procedure different from that set out in this rule, the statute governs.

             (3)  Where an issue respecting practice or procedure arises which is not covered by this rule or by an applicable statute, any of rules 1 to 4 or the rules in Part I may be applied as required, with any necessary modifications.

             (4)  This rule does not apply to appeals in the Court of Appeal.

73/16 s2; 9/18 s12

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How to start an appeal (where leave required)

58.03 (1) A person must seek leave of a judge to start an appeal where any of the following circumstances apply:

             (a)  the person intends to appeal a decision made in an uncompleted matter;

             (b)  the person intends to appeal a decision which was made by consent;

             (c)  the only portion of a decision the person intends to appeal relates to costs; or

             (d)  a statute requires that the person seek leave of the Court prior to starting an appeal.

             (2)  Where leave to start an appeal is required, a person may request leave by filing a Notice of Appeal, completed in accordance with rules 58.04(2) to (4), with an interlocutory application for leave to appeal attached.

             (3)  Unless a statute specifies a different time limit, the Notice of Appeal and application for leave required under subrule (2) must be filed within

             (a)  10 days of the date the decision appealed from was made, where the matter before the decision-making authority appealed from is uncompleted; or

             (b)  30 days of the date of the decision appealed from, if the matter is completed.

             (4)  Subject to subrule (5), the application for leave under subrule (2) must be made in accordance with the procedure for making an interlocutory application set out in Rule 29.

             (5)  The intended appellant must serve the Notice of Appeal and the application for leave on each of the following persons, in the manner identified, no later than 10 business days before the hearing:

             (a)  each respondent, in accordance with rule 6.02 or 6.03; and

             (b)  the decision-making authority from which the appeal is made and any other person required to be served under an applicable statute, in accordance with rule 6.11.

             (6)  A judge may grant leave to appeal where the judge is satisfied that the interests of justice require that leave be granted.

             (7)  A judge may grant leave to appeal summarily without a hearing where the judge determines it is appropriate to do so.

             (8)  Where a judge grants leave to appeal, the judge may, either at the time of the hearing or after, decide the appeal without requiring further submissions from the parties if the merits of the appeal were argued at the time of the leave application.

             (9)  When leave to appeal is required, time limits that run from the filing or service of the Notice of Appeal do not begin to run until leave to appeal is granted.

          (10)  A failure to seek or obtain leave to appeal a decision made in an uncompleted matter does not

             (a)  prejudice the right of a party to appeal from that decision on an appeal taken once the matter is completed; or

             (b)  limit the power of a judge to grant an order on an appeal from a completed matter that the judge considers appropriate.

73/16 s2; 89/17 s5

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How to start an appeal (where no leave required)

58.04 (1) Where no leave to appeal is required, a person may start an appeal by filing a Notice of Appeal.

             (2)  The Notice of Appeal must be in Form 58.04A and must

             (a)  specify the decision and decision-making authority appealed from, the date the decision was filed or made, the file number on the decision, and the neutral citation, if any;

             (b)  describe the portion of the decision under appeal, if only a portion is being appealed;

             (c)  set out the grounds of appeal;

             (d)  state the relief, disposition, or order requested;

             (e)  provide the name, postal address, email address, and telephone number of the appellant;

             (f)  if known, provide the names, postal address, email address and telephone number of the persons being served with the Notice of Appeal, or their solicitors;

             (g)  indicate whether a publication ban is in effect;

             (h)  if the appellant is requesting that the appeal be expedited state the reason for the request; and

              (i)  if applicable, state that the appeal involves the custody of, access to, protection of, support for, or responsibility for a child.

             (3)  Where the appellant is not represented by a solicitor and for reasons of risk of harm to a party or a child, the appellant does not wish to provide the contact information set out in subrule (2)(e), the appellant may

             (a)  designate an alternate person to receive service on the appellants behalf, and provide the information regarding the appellant to the Court in a separate envelope marked "Confidential"; or

             (b)  make a request for directions from a judge.

             (4)  The Notice of Appeal must name as respondents each person who was a party to the proceeding giving rise to the decision being appealed.

             (5)  Unless the statute under which the appeal is made specifies a different time limit, the Notice of Appeal must be filed

             (a)  within 30 days of the filing date of the order appealed from where the procedure of the decision-making authority appealed from provides for the filing of a formal order; or

             (b)  if there is no formal order filed, within 30 days of the date the decision appealed from was made.

             (6)  The appellant must, within 10 days of filing the Notice of Appeal under subrule (5), serve a copy of it on the following persons, in the manner identified:

             (a)  each respondent, in accordance with rule 6.02 or 6.03; and

             (b)  the decision-making authority from which the appeal is made and any other person required to be served under an applicable statute, in accordance with rule 6.11.

73/16 s2

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Participation in the appeal

58.05 (1)  A decision-making authority served under this rule is not a respondent but may participate in the appeal to provide the Court with information regarding its function and processes or to any further extent permitted by a judge.

             (2)  A party in a proceeding before the decision-making authority appealed from who is not named as a party in the appeal may apply to the Court to be added as a party, and a judge may give any directions or make any orders the judge considers appropriate.

73/16 s2

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How to stay a decision being appealed

58.06 (1)  An appellant may, after filing a Notice of Appeal, make an application for an order staying the decision under appeal pending the disposition of the appeal.

             (2)  An application under subrule (1) must be made in accordance with the procedure for making an interlocutory application set out in Rule 29.

             (3)  An order for a stay under this rule may be granted on any terms a judge considers appropriate.

             (4)  The stay of a decision requiring the payment of money does not prevent interest from accruing.

73/16 s2

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How to raise additional issues (cross-appeals)

58.07 (1) If a respondent seeks to argue on the appeal that

             (a)  the decision appealed from should be varied;

             (b)  the decision appealed from should be affirmed on grounds other than those given by the decision-making authority appealed from; or

             (c)  the respondent is entitled to a different disposition or different relief than that given in the decision appealed from,

the respondent must, within 30 days of being served with the Notice of Appeal,

             (d)  file a Notice of Cross-Appeal; and

             (e)  serve a copy of the Notice of Cross-Appeal on each party in accordance with rule 6.11.

             (2)  The Notice of Cross-Appeal must be in Form 58.07A.

             (3)  Failure of a respondent to file and serve a Notice of Cross-Appeal does not diminish the power of a judge to deal with any matter that arises, but it may be grounds for an adjournment of the appeal or an order as to costs.

             (4)  Where an appeal is discontinued or deemed abandoned under rule 58.15, a respondent may do either or both of the following:

             (a)  file and, in accordance with rule 6.11, serve a Notice of Election to Proceed in Form 58.07B on each party;

             (b)  request a case management meeting to get directions, in accordance with rule 58.13.

             (5)  Where the respondent does not file a Notice of Election to Proceed with a cross-appeal within 30 days after receiving notice that the appeal has been discontinued or deemed abandoned, the issues on the cross-appeal are deemed to be abandoned without costs, unless a judge orders otherwise.

             (6)  Where more than one party in a proceeding appealed from files a Notice of Appeal, the Registrar, on the instruction of a judge, may direct that the appeals be consolidated or heard together or that one or more appeals will be treated as a cross-appeal.

73/16 s2

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Security for costs

58.08 (1) Any party to an appeal may make an application for security for costs.

             (2)  An application under subrule (1) must be made in accordance with the procedure for making an interlocutory application set out in Rule 29.

             (3)  A judge may only order security for costs where there are special circumstances.

             (4)  Unless a judge orders otherwise, an appellant who fails to give security for costs as ordered is deemed to have abandoned the appeal and the respondent is entitled to costs.

73/16 s2

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Decision-making authority must file record

58.09 (1) The decision-making authority must, within 30 days of being served with the Notice of Appeal,

             (a)  file a copy of the record of the proceedings heard before the decision-making authority; and

             (b)  serve a copy of the record on each party to the appeal in accordance with rule 6.11.

             (2)  The record must include the following:

             (a)  the written decision or order being appealed, or, if no written record was created, a summary of the decision;

             (b)  reasons for the decision, if any were recorded;

             (c)  any exhibit filed with the decision-making authority;

             (d)  a copy of the official sound recording of the evidence, if any; and

             (e)  any other relevant documents in the decision-making authoritys possession.

             (3)  The record may be in Form 58.09A.

             (4)  Despite the provisions of this rule, the parties to an appeal may agree on what constitutes the record or may file an agreed statement of facts.

73/16 s2

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Transcript - Obtaining and serving on parties

58.10 (1) Where the decision-making authority provides the appellant with an official sound recording of the evidence in accordance with rule 58.09, the appellant must , within 10 days

             (a)  arrange for the preparation of a transcript of the portion of the official sound recording necessary to enable the issues on appeal to be determined; and

             (b)  advise each party in writing what arrangements have been made under subrule (1)(a), including which portion of the official sound recording is being transcribed.

             (2)  If an appellant indicates under subrule (1) that only a certain portion of the official sound recording is being transcribed and another party is satisfied that the transcription of an additional portion of the official sound recording is necessary, that party must, as soon as practicable,

             (a)  arrange for the preparation of a transcript of the additional portion of the official sound recording and advise each party in writing what arrangements have been made, including what additional portion of the official sound recording is being transcribed; or

             (b)  request a case management meeting in accordance with subrule (5).

             (3)  The appellant must, within 60 days of receiving the official sound recording,

             (a)  file two printed copies of the transcript; and

             (b)  serve one printed copy of the transcript and an electronic version on each party to the appeal.

             (4)  Where a party is satisfied that the appellant has not filed a portion of the transcript that is necessary to enable the issues on appeal or cross-appeal to be determined, the party may, within 10 days of receiving the transcript,

             (a)  file two printed copies of any additional portions of the transcript that the respondent has prepared; and

             (b)  serve one printed copy of the additional portions of the transcript and an electronic version on each party to the appeal.

             (5)  A party may, in accordance with rule 58.13, request a case management meeting to get directions on any issue relating to the preparation of the transcript, and the judge presiding at the meeting may do one or more of the following:

             (a)  direct which party must bear the expense of producing all or some portion of the transcript;

             (b)  order the filing of all or a portion of the transcript or the official sound recording of the evidence;

             (c)  dispense with the preparation and filing of a written transcript and order that the appeal proceed using the official sound recording of the proceedings;

             (d)  resolve disputes regarding the accuracy of a transcript;

             (e)  make an order for costs.

             (6)  Where the parties agree or where a judge directs, a transcript may be prepared from a sound recording that is not an official sound recording of the proceedings before the decision-making authority.

             (7)  Where the parties agree or a judge makes an order under subrule (6), this rule applies as if the unofficial sound recording was an official sound recording.

             (8)  Failure to comply with this rule may subject a party to an order for costs.

73/16 s2

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Appeal brief required

58.11 (1) The appellant must file two copies of a brief,

             (a)  within 30 days of the date on which the decision-making authority served the record upon the appellant, if no transcript is required under rule 58.10; or

             (b)  within 30 days of the date on which the transcript is filed, if a transcript is required or otherwise prepared under rule 58.10.

             (2)  The Appellant must, within the time limits set out in subrule (1), serve a copy of the brief on each party in accordance with rule 6.11.

             (3)  The respondent must, within 30 days of receiving the appellants brief,

             (a)  file two copies of a brief; and

             (b)  serve a copy on each other party, in accordance with rule 6.11.

             (4)  A partys brief must be bound and include, in separate tabs:

             (a)  an index;

             (b)  Part 1 - a concise statement of the facts;

             (c)  Part 2 - a list of the issues;

             (d)  Part 3- the partys arguments, including any specific points of law, not to exceed 20 pages unless a judge has permitted otherwise;

             (e)  Part 4 - the order or relief the party is requesting;

             (f)  Appendix A - copies of cases referred to; and

             (g)  Appendix B – copies of legislative provisions referred to.

             (5)  Where the respondent has made a cross-appeal, the submissions on the cross-appeal must be included in the respondents brief, placed after the submissions in response to the appeal, or if necessary, in a separate volume.

             (6)  Where a respondents brief includes submissions on a cross-appeal, an appellant may, within 30 days of receiving the respondents brief, file a reply brief and one copy and, in accordance with rule 6.11, serve a copy on each party.

             (7)  A brief must be in Form 58.11A.

73/16 s2

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Striking out a notice of appeal or dismissing an appeal

58.12 (1) At any time before or at the hearing of the appeal, a party to an appeal may apply for an order striking out the Notice of Appeal or dismissing the appeal on one or more of the following grounds:

             (a)   no appeal lies to the Court;

             (b)   the appeal is frivolous, vexatious, or without merit;

             (c)  the appellant has unduly delayed the preparation of the appeal; or

             (d)   the appellant has failed to apply to have the appeal set down for hearing.

             (2)  An application under subrule (1) must be made in accordance with the procedure for making an interlocutory application set out in Rule 29.

73/16 s2

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Resolving pre/post hearing issues

58.13 (1) At any time after the commencement of an appeal, a party or a person who was served with a Notice of Appeal under this rule may request that a case management meeting be held for any one or more of the following purposes:

             (a)  achieving the efficient use of Court resources and promoting access to the Court in a timely and cost-effective manner;

         (a.1)  determining the appropriateness of hearing the application for leave to appeal and the appeal at the same time and provide any necessary directions with respect to the hearing;

             (b)  attempting to refine the issues on the appeal;

             (c)  determining the appropriateness of ordering a settlement conference or mediation;

             (d)  providing directions regarding the preparation of the appeal record;

             (e)  setting deadlines;

             (f)  appointing the time, date, and place for the hearing of the appeal;

             (g)  providing directions to the decision-making authority regarding its right to participate in the appeal; and

             (h)  providing directions with respect to any other procedural matter that arises on the appeal.

             (2)  A request for a case management meeting may be made by filing a request in Form 58.13A.

         (2.1)  Where a person files a request for a case management meeting, the Registrar will assign a date and time for the meeting and indicate the time, date and location of the meeting on the request form.

         (2.2)  The person requesting the case management meeting must serve a copy of the request form, with the notice of the date and time set for the meeting included, on each party in accordance with rule 6.11.

             (3)  A judge may direct a registry clerk to schedule a case management meeting and notify the parties of the time set for the meeting.

             (4)  A case management meeting scheduled under this rule will be held in Court and on the record, unless a judge orders otherwise.

             (5)  The judge presiding at a case management meeting may direct that a matter raised at the meeting proceed to an application where it cannot be appropriately determined at the meeting.

             (6)  A party may, at any time, bring an application regarding any matter arising on the appeal.

             (7)  Applications under subrule (5) or (6) must be made in accordance with the procedure for making an interlocutory application set out in Rule 29.

73/16 s2; 2/17 s2; 89/17 s6

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Setting a hearing date

58.14 (1) W here all of the parties have filed their appeal briefs, they may submit a joint request to set a date for the hearing of the appeal.

             (2)  A joint request under subrule (1) must be in Form 58.14A.

             (3)  Where the parties submit a request under subrule (1), the Registrar, in consultation with the Chief Justice, may set a time for the hearing of an appeal.

             (4)  Where a party has filed an appeal brief, that party may request a time for the hearing of the appeal at a case management meeting held in accordance with rule 58.13.

             (5)  At a case management meeting held under subrule (4), a judge may set a hearing time, give directions, and make any order as to costs the judge considers appropriate.

73/16 s2

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Deemed abandonment of an appeal after one year

58.15 (1)  Where a request to set a hearing date for an appeal has not been made within one year after the Notice of Appeal was filed, the Registrar must give the parties notice that the appeal will be deemed abandoned if no further steps are taken within 30 days.

             (2)  A party may, within the 30 day notice period, request a case management meeting to seek directions with respect to the appeal.

             (3)  The judge presiding at the case management meeting may

             (a)  set deadlines for the next steps in the proceeding;

             (b)  adjourn the appeal indefinitely; or

             (c)  confirm the abandonment of the appeal.

             (4)  Where a judge has adjourned an appeal indefinitely and a further year elapses without the matter being set down for a hearing, subrule (1) applies.

             (5)  When an appeal has been deemed abandoned, the Registrar must deliver notice to the parties, but inability to locate a party in order to deliver the notice does not affect the deemed abandonment of the appeal.

             (6)  When an appeal has been deemed abandoned, a judge may, upon application, reinstate the appeal on any terms the judge considers appropriate.

73/16 s2

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Additional evidence on appeal

58.16 (1)  Upon application, the judge hearing the appeal may order the introduction of additional evidence on the appeal.

             (2)  An application under subrule (1) must be made in accordance with the procedure for making an interlocutory application set out in Rule 29.

             (3)  An application under subrule (1) must be accompanied by an affidavit setting out

             (a)  the general nature of the additional evidence sought to be introduced;

             (b)  the way in which the additional evidence satisfies the criteria set out in subrule (4); and

             (c)  why the additional evidence was not introduced in the proceeding before the decision-making authority appealed from.

             (4)  I n determining the application, the judge must consider

             (a)  whether, by due diligence, the evidence could have been tendered in the proceeding appealed from;

             (b)  the relevance of the evidence in the sense that it bears upon a decisive or potentially decisive issue in the appeal;

             (c)  the reliability of the evidence;

             (d)  whether the evidence, if believed, could reasonably have affected the result; and

             (e)  any other relevant factor.

             (5)  W here the admission of additional evidence is permitted, the evidence must be introduced by affidavit or deposition or by oral examination before the Court, unless a judge orders otherwise.

             (6)  The judge may, in the presence of the parties or their solicitors, inspect or view any place, property, or thing where the inspection or view may facilitate the understanding of the evidence.

73/16 s2

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Hearing of the appeal

58.17 (1) Unless a statute provides otherwise, a judge may do any one or more of the following on the hearing of an appeal:

             (a)  direct the rehearing of witnesses, the retaking of evidence, or the taking of further and other evidence by the decision-making authority;

             (b)  require the report of all evidence taken by the decision-making authority;

             (c)  require the production and examination of a witness already examined or of persons who have not been already examined; and

             (d)  refer the proceeding back to the decision-making authority for further consideration in whole or in part.

             (2)  Unless a statute provides otherwise, a judge presiding over an appeal may

             (a)  dismiss the appeal;

             (b)  confirm or reverse the decision of the court or tribunal;

             (c)  alter, amend, or modify the decision;

             (d)  make an order that is just; and

             (e)  make an order as to costs.

             (3)  The powers of the judge may be exercised in respect of all or any part of the decision or proceedings appealed from, notwithstanding that the Notice of Appeal states that part only of the decision is complained of, and may be exercised in favour of all or any of the parties or other persons.

73/16 s2