Source: http://www.admiraltylaw.com/grouped_summaries-no-truncation.php?topic=12
Timestamp: 2018-01-21 10:50:33
Document Index: 582830354

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 2', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 4']

Carriage of Passengers by Sea - No Truncation
The first clause of section 37(2)(b) extends the application of the Convention to the carriage of all persons regardless of whether there is a contract of carriage. The use of the term “persons” and the discarding of the requirement that there be a contract of carriage make the Convention applicable to virtually every person on board a ship for whatever reason. It is for this reason that the qualifiers in 37(2)(b)(i) and (ii) are introduced. Section 37(2)(b)(i) states that the Convention does not apply to the master or crew of the ship or other persons employed on board the ship. Section 37(2)(b)(ii) is intended to ensure that the Convention does not apply to persons carried on board pleasure craft.
In summary, the combination of Article 2 of the conventions and sections 36 and 37 of the MLA make the Convention applicable to both domestic and international carriage of passengers (except 'adventure tourism") in ships of all sorts on inland lakes and rivers as well as the high seas. In addition, persons (not being master, crew or employees) on board ships used for commercial or public purposes are governed by the Convention regardless of the existence of a contract of carriage.
For additional information, also see the paper The Marine Liability Act, Parts 2, 3 and 4: Apportionment of Liability, Limitation of Liability and Carriage of Passengers - 2002.
The database contains 18 case summaries relating to Carriage of Passengers by Sea. The summaries are sorted in reverse date order with 20 summaries per page. If there are more than 20 summaries, use the navigation links at the bottom of the page.
Carriage of Passengers - Settlement of Class Action - Psychological Injuries
This was an application under the B.C. Class Proceedings Act for court approval of a settlement reached between the parties relating to the sinking of the “Queen of the North” on 22 March 2006. The Court balanced the position of the class members other than the infants against the position of the public guardian and trustee, who did not support the settlement. The Court concluded that the proposed settlement was fair and reasonable, was in the best interests of the class as a whole and should be approved.
Air Carriage - Passengers - Montreal Convention - Damages for Mental Anguish
Lukacs v. United Airlines, 2009 MBCA 111
This was an application for leave to appeal a trial decision refusing general damages under Article 19 of the Montreal Convention for mental anguish and a missed opportunity resulting from a cancelled flight. The Court of Appeal denied leave on the basis that Article 19 of the Montreal Convention has been previously examined by appellate courts around the world and the law is clear that general damages for inconvenience or mental anguish are not compensable under the Montreal Convention.
Personal Injury - Psychological Injury – Passengers - Athens Convention
Kotai v. The “Queen of the North”, 2009 BCSC 1405
This was a preliminary decision in the class action arising out of the sinking of the “Queen of the North”. This decision assessed the damages of a representative sample of the plaintiffs who were passengers on the vessel at the time of the sinking. The most important aspect of the decision relates to the assessment of psychological injures allegedly suffered. The Court reviewed the authorities on psychological injury or nervous shock and ultimately held that a plaintiff must establish he or she suffered a recognized psychiatric illness to recover for psychological injury or nervous shock. Mere psychological disturbance or upset is not sufficient. The Court further held that the test was the same regardless of whether the plaintiff was actually involved in the accident or merely witnessed the accident. With this framework, the Court then evaluated the claims of six plaintiffs. The Court found that three of the plaintiffs had suffered no recognizable psychological injury. The other three plaintiffs were awarded damages of $500, $7,500 and $12,000 respectively. (It should be noted that the defendant in the case admitted that psychological injuries were recoverable under provincial law and withdrew its earlier position that such injuries were not compensable under the Athens Convention. Thus the compensability of psychological injuries under the Athens Convention was presumed and was not decided. This was clarified in supplementary reasons issued at 2009 BCSC 1604.)
Carriage of Passengers - Athens Convention - Jurisdiction Clause
Nicolazzo v. Princess Cruises, 2009 CanLII 28217
The plaintiffs in this matter had booked a cruise with the defendant through the plaintiff’s travel agent in Hamilton, Ontario. They embarked in Italy and disembarked in England. During the cruise $5,000 was stolen from the safe in the plaintiffs’ stateroom. The plaintiffs commenced this action to recover the stolen money. The defendant brought a motion to dismiss the claim on the basis that the court lacked territorial jurisdiction over the action. The motion was denied at first instance. On appeal, the appeal Judge held that the Athens Convention applied and that pursuant to Article 17 of the Convention the action could not be brought in Canada as the defendant had no place of business in Canada. The appeal was allowed and the action was dismissed.
Fatal Injury - Infants -
McDonald v. The "Queen of the North", 2009 BCSC 646
This was an application seeking court directions with respect to the process to be followed under the B.C. Infants Act which requires court approval of any settlement involving minors. The plaintiff requested that the hearing for court approval be held “in camera” and that the settlement not be publicly divulged. The Court noted that it had the power to do as requested but said such decisions should not be lightly made and denied the request.
Fatal Accident – Dependents Claims – Marine Liability Act - Athens Convention - Availability of Punitive and Aggravated Damages
McDonald v. Queen of the North (Ship), 2008 BCSC 1777
This is the final reported decision arising out of the sinking of the Queen of the North. The issue in this matter was whether punitive and aggravated damages are recoverable in a wrongful death action brought by dependents pursuant to the Marine Liability Act and the Athens Convention. The Court extensively reviewed the case law relating to the recovery of punitive and aggravated damages under wrongful death statutes. The Court concluded that claims under the Athens Convention and the Marine Liability Act are compensatory in nature and do not permit the recovery of punitive or exemplary damages. The Court further held that the Marine Liability Act did not permit recovery of aggravated damages. The Court also considered and declined a request by the Plaintiff to reform Canadian maritime law by permitting claims for punitive and aggravated damages in these circumstances.
Carriage of Passengers - Athens Convention - Collision - Personal Injury - Limitation of Liability
Gundersen v. Finn Marine Ltd., 2008 BCSC 1665
The Plaintiff was seriously injured when the vessel in which she was riding ran into Salt Spring Island. The vessel was a commercial water taxi and at the time of the accident it was on its way to pick up passengers. The Plaintiff, however, was not a paying passenger but was onboard as a non-paying guest. The Judge found as a fact that the incident occurred when the operator of the vessel fell asleep. The Defendants, the owner and operator of the vessel, applied for an order that they were entitled to limit their liability pursuant to Part 4 of the Marine Liability Act (“MLA”) dealing with carriage of passengers. The Plaintiff argued that the applicable limitation was found in Part 3 of the MLA, which would have been a substantially higher limitation. The Plaintiff also argued that the Defendants conduct was such that they had lost the right to limit. Dealing with the first issue the Judge agreed with the Defendants and held that the right to limit was to be found in Part 4 of the MLA and the Athens Convention. In so doing the Judge applied s.37(2) of the MLA which extends the Athens Convention “to domestic gratuitous passengers on a vessel operated for a commercial purpose”. The Judge next turned to the issue of whether the Defendants had lost the right to limit by reason that “the damage resulted from an act or omission of the carrier done with the intent to cause such damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that such damage would probably result”. The Judge noted that the onus of proof was on the Plaintiff, that it was a “heavy” onus, and that the reckless component required gross negligence and actual knowledge that the loss would probably result. The Judge ultimately held that the accident was not intentional, that the conduct of the operator was not gross negligence and that, in any event, the Plaintiff failed to establish that the operator knew the Plaintiff’s injuries would probably result. In result, the Defendants were entitled to limit their liability. (Note: If the vessel had been a pleasure craft being used for pleasure purposes then it is probable that Part 3 of the MLA would apply instead of Part 4.)
Ferry Sinking – Athens Convention -Fatal Accident - Juries - Severance of issues
Kotai v. Queen of the North (Ship), 2008 BCSC 1398
This was another application arising out of the sinking of the Queen of the North on 21 March 2006. This was an application by the ship owner for various relief including striking the jury notice. The ship owner argued, among other things, that the case was not appropriate for determination by a jury because the principal question in the action would be the construction of Article 13 of the Athens Convention relating to limitation of liability. The Court, however, noted that there is heavy burden to displace the plaintiff’s right to have a trial by jury and held any issues of construction could be separated from issues of fact.
Ferry Sinking - Athens Convention - Certification of Class Action
Kotai v. Queen of the North (Ship), 2007 BCSC 1056
This was an application to certify a class action on behalf of passengers (and their dependants) of the Queen of the North which sank after running into Gill Island on 21 March 2006. The Court reviewed the requirement for certifying a class action under the Class Proceedings Act of British Columbia. These are: 1. there is a cause of action; 2. there is an identifiable class; 3. there are common issues; 4. a class proceeding is the preferred procedure for the fair and efficient resolution of the common issues; and 5. there is a representative plaintiff who can fairly and adequately represent the class interest, has a workable litigation plan and is not in conflict of interest with other class members. The Court found that all of the requirements had been met except those requirements relating to a representative plaintiff. Thus the application was adjourned so an appropriate representative plaintiff could be found. (Note: This issue was later overcome and the class action was subsequently certified.)
Efford v. Bundy , Victoria Registry No. 1158/92 (B.C.S.C.)
In this matter the Plaintiff was injured on board a rigid hull inflatable boat while whale watching off Tofino, British Columbia. The Plaintiff injured her back when the bow of the boat came down hard when crossing the wake of a large fishing vessel. The Plaintiff alleged the Defendant was negligent in his operation of the boat and in failing to warn of the danger. The Court found that the Defendant had operated the boat in accordance with accepted safe boating practices but it also found that the Defendant had failed to adequately warn the Plaintiff. Specifically, the Court held that it was not sufficient that the Defendant had advised the Plaintiff that the bow seat was the roughest and that people with back problems should sit further back. The Court held that the Defendant should also have instructed passengers with respect to the location of safe handholds and the way in which to brace themselves. Nevertheless, the Plaintiff was found 75% at fault because she had a prior back problem and had been warned by her doctors to avoid heavy lifting. For the full text of this decision, click here.