CANADIAN CASES ON THE LAW OF TORTS Third Series/Troisi`eme s´erie Recueil de jurisprudence canadienne en responsabilit´e civile VOLUME 91 (Cited 91 C.C.L.T. (3d)) EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/REDACTEUR´ EN CHEF John Irvine, M.A., B.C.L. FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA WINNIPEG, MANITOBA ASSOCIATE EDITOR/REDACTEUR´ ADJOINT Robert P. Kouri, B.A., L.L.L., M.C.L., D.C.L. FACULTE´ DE DROIT, UNIVERSITEDE´ SHERBROOKE SHERBROOKE, QUEBEC´ CARSWELL EDITORIAL STAFF/REDACTION´ DE CARSWELL Cheryl L. McPherson, B.A.(HONS.) Director, Primary Content Operations Susan Goodman, B.A., LL.B. Product Development Manager Jennifer Weinberger, B.A.(HONS.), J.D. Sharon Yale, LL.B., M.A. Supervisor, Legal Writing Supervisor, Legal Writing Anne Simpson, B.A., M.L.S., LL.B. Jim Fitch, B.A., LL.B. Senior Legal Writer Senior Legal Writer Dionne Brown Chambers, B.A., LL.B. Peggy Gibbons, B.A.(HONS.), LL.B. Senior Legal Writer Senior Legal Writer Barbara Roberts, B.A.(HONS.), LL.B. Natasha Major, B.A., LL.L. 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ISSN 0701-1733 ISBN 978-0-7798-0488-7 Printed in Canada by Thomson Reuters CARSWELL, A DIVISION OF THOMSON REUTERS CANADA LIMITED One Corporate Plaza Customer Relations 2075 Kennedy Road Toronto 1-416-609-3800 Toronto, Ontario Elsewhere in Canada/U.S. 1-800-387-5164 M1T 3V4 Fax 1-416-298-5082 www.carswell.com E-mail www.carswell.com/email Tannenbaum v. Lazare 193 [Indexed as: Tannenbaum v. Lazare] Hyman Tannenbaum (Appellant) v. Norman Lazare, Joan Benson and Professional Liability Insurance Fund of the Barreau du Qu´ebec (Respondents) Quebec Court of Appeal Docket: C.A. Montr´eal 500-09-020159-091 2011 QCCA 2324 Duval Hesler C.J.Q., Bich, Fournier JJ.A. Judgment: December 13, 2011 Civil practice and procedure –––– Parties — Vexatious proceedings / Abuse of process –––– Plaintiff’s sister-in-law died and liquidator was appointed to ad- minister and wind up estate — Plaintiff brought action for damages accusing liq- uidator and attorney of fraudulent, unethical and illegal behaviour with respect to estate — At trial, counsel for defendants stated that, considering vexatious nature of plaintiff’s action, he would bring motion, under art. 54.1 of Code of Civil Procedure, to declare plaintiff’s action improper and ask trial judge to im- pose sanction on him — Plaintiff brought discontinuance motion, which was re- fused by trial judge on basis that purpose of discontinuance was to avoid con- templated penalty phase of trial — Plaintiff, who was representing himself, asked for postponement in order to secure advice of counsel and prepare his contestation — Trial judge dismissed plaintiff’s request, granted defendants’ motion and ordered plaintiff to pay them approximately $280,000 — Plaintiff appealed — Appeal allowed — Court was unanimously of view that plaintiff was not afforded due process once he was advised by trial judge that he was facing claim for damages under art. 54.1 of Code — Court did not believe that matter was dealt within manner that was in conformity with art. 54.4 of Code — Therefore, Court quashed judgment a quo and returned file to Superior Court before another judge for continuation of hearing on sole issues pertaining to art. 54.1 of Code. Torts –––– Abuse of process — Elements of tort –––– Plaintiff’s sister-in-law died and liquidator was appointed to administer and wind up estate — Plaintiff brought action for damages accusing liquidator and attorney of fraudulent, un- ethical and illegal behaviour with respect to estate — At trial, counsel for de- fendants stated that, considering vexatious nature of plaintiff’s action, he would bring motion, under art. 54.1 of Code of Civil Procedure, to declare plaintiff’s action improper and ask trial judge to impose sanction on him — Plaintiff brought discontinuance motion, which was refused by trial judge on basis that purpose of discontinuance was to avoid contemplated penalty phase of trial — Plaintiff, who was representing himself, asked for postponement in order to se- cure advice of counsel and prepare his contestation — Trial judge dismissed 194 CANADIAN CASES ON THE LAW OF TORTS 91 C.C.L.T.