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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= July 31, 2024}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = smallclaims}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = smallclaims}}


== Causes of Action ==
The cause of action is the claimant’s reason for bringing a suit against the defendant. While there must always be a cause of action, in Small  Claims it is generally sufficient to cite the facts; Small Claims judges and CRT tribunal members will take a liberal view of pleadings and allow litigants to assert claims in non-legalistic language. However, the judge must still be able to find a cause of action in the facts the claimant alleges. Potential claimants should therefore review the following, non-exhaustive list of causes of action to determine if they have a valid claim. Claimants may claim for more than one cause of action on a notice of claim and are advised to do so if they believe more than one cause of action applies or are not sure which one is valid; it is easier to name superfluous causes of action on the notice of claim than to get the claim amended after filing it. The following causes of action may be brought in Small Claims unless the amount claimed is over $35,000 or it states otherwise in the list. They are organized into 2 categories: (1) common and (2) rare.


The cause of action is the claimant’s reason for bringing a suit against the defendant.  While there must always be a cause of  action,  in  Small  Claims  it  is  generally  sufficient to  cite  the  facts;  Small  Claims  judges  will  take  a  liberal  view  of pleadings and allow litigants to assert claims in non-legalistic language.  However, the judge must still be able to find a cause  of  action  in  the  facts  the  claimant  alleges.    Potential  claimants  should  therefore  review  the  following,  non-exhaustive list of causes of action to determine if they have a valid claim.  Claimants may claim for more than one cause of action on a notice of claim and are advised to do so if they believe more than one cause of action applies or are not sure  which  one  is  valid;  it  is  easier  to  name  superfluous  causes  of  action  on  the  notice  of  claim  than  to  get the  claim amended  after  filing  it. The  following causes  of  action  may be  brought  in  Small Claims unless  the  amount  claimed  is over $25 000 or it states otherwise in the list. They are organized into 3 categories: 1) common; 2) rare; 3) see a lawyer
== Defences ==


=== Defences ===
For each cause of action there are usually a number of possible defences. Both Claimants and Defendants should be aware of the defences. Below are defences to some of the more common causes of action.


For  each  cause  of  action  there  are  usually  a  number  of  possible  defences.  Both  Claimants  and  Defendants  should be aware of the defences. Below are defences to some of the more common causes of action.
=== 1) Common causes of action ===


==== 1) Common causes of action ====
==== a) Breach of Contract ====
Contract law governs voluntary relationships between parties. It is a complicated and nuanced area of the law. To bring a claim for breach of contract, a party must demonstrate that the other party failed to perform a contractual obligation. Depending on the type of term that is breached, the other party may be able to “terminate” the contract. Terms that go to the heart of a contract are usually called “conditions”. Breach of a condition by one party entitles the other party to terminate the contract and end their obligations. A party is also able to terminate the contract in the event of a fundamental breach, which is a breach so significant that it deprives the innocent party of the entire benefit of the contract [https://canlii.ca/t/jdvb9 Svenson v. Powell, 2021 BCCRT 318]. Less important terms are called “warranties”. Breach of a warranty does not give the other party a right to terminate. However, the party not in breach can still sue the other party for breach of contract [https://canlii.ca/t/jmq7t Ketchum v. Nordblad, 2022 BCCRT 223].


*'''Breach of Contract''' – Contract law governs voluntary relationships between parties.  It is a complicated and nuanced area of the law . To bring a claim for breach of contract, a party must demonstrate that the other party failed to perform a contractual obligation. Depending on the type of term that is breached, the other party may be able to “terminate” the contract. Termination. Terms that go to the heart of a contract are usually called “conditions”. Breach of a condition by one party entitles the other party to terminate the contract and end their obligations. Less important terms are called “warranties”. Breach of a warranty does not give the other party a right to terminate. However, the party not in breach can still sue the other party for breach of contract.
===== '''Defences:''' =====
**'''Defences:'''
#'''No consideration:''' In order for a promise or any other contractual obligation to be enforceable by courts, there must be consideration.  Consideration is what is given in exchange for a promise that makes the promise binding. If there is no consideration for a promise, the promise will not be enforced by the courts, even if the parties have an otherwise valid contract.  
#'''No consideration:''' In order for a promise or any other contractual obligation to be enforceable by courts, there must be consideration.  Consideration is what is given in exchange for a promise that makes the promise binding. If there is no consideration for a promise, the promise will not be enforced by the courts, even if the parties have an otherwise valid contract.  
#'''Void contract:''' A contract can be void and therefore unenforceable for several reasons, including lack of mental capacity, uncertainty of terms, illegality.  
#'''Void contract:''' A contract can be void and therefore unenforceable for several reasons, including lack of mental capacity, uncertainty of terms, illegality.  
#'''Unconscionability:''' A contract is said to be unconscionable and therefore unenforceable where the circumstances surrounding the creation of the contract gave rise to a grave inequality in bargaining power between parties. This is complicated area of contract law, and legal advice should be sought.  
#'''Unconscionability:''' A contract is said to be unconscionable and therefore unenforceable where the circumstances surrounding the creation of the contract gave rise to a grave inequality in bargaining power between parties. This is complicated area of contract law, and legal advice should be sought.  
#'''Misrepresentation:''' If the other party made a statement to you before the contract came into existence that you relied on on entering the contract and that turned out to be false, you may be able to have the contract set aside.  
#'''Misrepresentation:''' If the other party made a statement to you before the contract came into existence that you relied on in  entering the contract and that turned out to be false, you may be able to have the contract set aside.  
#'''Frustration:''' frustration occurs when an unforeseen event renders contractual obligations impossible or radically changes the primary purpose of the contract. Frustration is also another complicated area in contract law. Legal advice should be sought.
#'''Frustration:''' frustration occurs when an unforeseen event renders contractual obligations impossible or radically changes the primary purpose of the contract. Frustration is also another complicated area in contract law. Legal advice should be sought.
#'''Undue Influence:''' If one of the parties to a contract was unduly influenced by someone else (either the other party of the contract or a third party), the contract can be set aside on the grounds that the unduly influenced party had their consent vitiated due to an inability to exercise their independent will. This is a complicated area of contract law, and legal advice should be sought.
*'''Breach of Employment Contract (implied terms)''' – The courts cannot enforce statutory rights such as those  found  in  the ''Employment  Standards  Act'',  as  special  adjudicative  bodies  have  been  created  to rule  on these  types  of  claims  and  have  exclusive  jurisdiction  over  them.    However,  many  parallel  rights  exist  at common  law  and  may  be  enforced  by the courts.    At  common law,  employment  contracts  contain numerous  implied  terms  that  are  actionable  through  Small Claims,  such  as  the requirement  to  give reasonable  notice  or  payment  in  lieu  upon  termination  of  an  employee.    The  fact  that  no  written employment contract was signed does not disqualify an employee or former employee from claiming for breach of these terms.  See LSLAP Manual [[Foreword_on_Employment_Law_(9:I) | Chapter 9 – Employment Law]] for more details.
**'''Defences:''' 
***'''Just cause:''' If an employer terminates an employee for just cause the employer is not required to give the  terminated  employee  reasonable  notice  or  pay  in  lieu.  The  onus  to  prove  just  cause  is  on the employer, and the standard is generally hard to meet. See LSLAP Manual [[Foreword_on_Employment_Law_(9:I) | Chapter 9 – Employment Law]] for more details.
*'''Debt''' – Debt claims arise where the defendant owes the complainant a specific sum of money, often for a loan or for unpaid goods or services.  There may be some overlap between debt and breach of contract. 
**'''Defences:'''  As  there  likely  will  be some  overlap  between  debt  and  breach  of  contract,  see  the defences above under breach of contract.


==== 2) Rare Causes of Action ====
==== b) Breach of Employment Contract (implied terms) ====
The courts cannot enforce statutory rights such as those found in the ''Employment Standards Act'', as the Employment Standards Branch was created to rule on these types of claims and has exclusive jurisdiction over them. However, many parallel rights exist at common law and may be enforced by the courts. At common law, employment contracts contain numerous implied terms that are actionable through Small Claims, such as the requirement to give reasonable notice or payment in lieu upon the termination of an employee. Many employment contracts include express terms regarding notice which can override common law implied terms.


*'''Breach of Confidence''' - Breach of confidence occurs when the defendant makes an unauthorized use of information  that has  a  quality  of  confidence  about  it  and  was entrusted  to  him/her  by  the  claimant  in circumstances giving rise to an obligation of confidence. 
The fact that no written employment contract was signed does not disqualify an employee or former employee from claiming for breach of these terms. This is because an employee who is an "employee" under employment standards legislation will be entitled to the benefit of the statutory minimum notice provisions [https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcsc/doc/1989/1989canlii2778/1989canlii2778.html?searchUrlHash=AAAAAQBVU3VsZW1hbiB2LiBCcml0aXNoIENvbHVtYmlhIFJlc2VhcmNoIENvdW5jaWwgKDE5ODkpLCAzOCBCLkMuTC5SLiAoMmQpIDIwOCAoQi5DLiBTLkMuKQAAAAAB&resultIndex=1|''Suleman v. British Columbia Research Council'' (1989), 38 B.C.L.R. (2d) 208 (B.C. S.C.)]; reversed on other grounds [https://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcca/doc/1990/1990canlii746/1990canlii746.html|(1990), 52 B.C.L.R. (2d) 138 (B.C. C.A.)]. See [[Introduction_to_Employment_Law_(9:I)|Chapter 9: Employment Law]] for more details.
*'''Nuisance''' –  Nuisance  may  be  private  or public.    Private  nuisance  is  defined  as  interference  with  a landowner  or  occupier’ s  enjoyment  of  his/her  land  that  is  both  substantial  and  unreasonable.    It  can include obnoxious sounds or smells or escaping substances, but does not usually arise from the defendant’ s normal use of their own property. An interference with the enjoyment of land is “substantial” if it is not trivial; that is, it amounts to something more than a slight annoyance or trifling interference. Whether the interference is “unreasonable” depends on the circumstances. Factors that courts will consider (but are not bound to) in assessing reasonableness include the seriousness of the interference, the neighbourhood and surrounding area, and sensitivity of the plaintiff.
*Public  nuisance  may  be  thought  of  as  a  nuisance  that  occurs  on  public  property  or  one  that  affects  a sufficient number of individuals that litigating to prevent it becomes the responsibility of the community at large.  
*'''Trespass  to  Chattels''' –  Where  the  defendant  interferes  with  the  claimant’s  goods  without  converting them to the defendant’s personal use.  
*'''Trespass  to  Land''' –  Trespass  to  land  is  actionable  even  where  it  occurred  by the  defendant’s  mistake. The claimant  does  not  need  to  show a loss,  although  their  award  may  be  reduced commensurately  if  the trespass does not cost them anything. *'''Conversion''' –  Conversion  is  defined  as  wrongful  interference  with  the  goods  of  another  in  a  manner inconsistent with the owner’s right of possession. This includes theft; it also includes instances where the defendant genuinely believes the goods belong to him/her, even if (s)he purchased them innocently from a third  party that stole them. It also applies when the defendant has sold the goods or otherwise disposed of them. The remedy is usually damages for the value of the goods and possibly for losses incurred by the detention of the goods. The value of the goods is assessed from the time of the conversion.  
*'''Unjust  Enrichment''' –  Where  the  defendant  was  enriched  by  committing  a  wrong against  the  claimant, the claimant suffered a corresponding loss, and there was no juristic reason for the enrichment.  


==== 3) Causes of action to see a lawyer about ====
===== '''Defences:''' =====  
#'''Just cause:''' If an employer terminates an employee for just cause the employer is not required to give the terminated employee reasonable notice or pay in lieu. The onus to prove just cause is on the employer, and the standard is generally hard to meet. See [[Foreword_on_Employment_Law_(9:I) | Chapter 9 – Employment Law]] for more details.


*'''Assault''' –  Contrary  to  its  criminal  law  equivalent,  civil  assault  is  defined  as  intentionally  causing  the claimant  to  have reasonable  grounds  to fear  immediate  physical  harm.    Mere  words  or verbal  threats  are not  sufficient;  there  must  be  some  sort  of  act  or  display  that  suggests  the defendant  intends  to  carry through with his or her threat; banging on a door or raising a fist may suffice. 
==== c) Debt ====
*'''Battery''' –  Battery  is  defined  as  any  intentional  and  unwanted  touching,  including  hitting,  spitting  on  the claimant or cutting his/her hair. 
Debt claims arise where the defendant owes the complainant a specific sum of money, often for a loan or for unpaid goods or services. There may be some overlap between debt and breach of contract.  
**'''Defences:''' 
**#'''Lack  of  Intent:'''  Battery  is  an  intentional  tort  which  means  that  the  plaintiff  must  prove  the defendant  acted  with  intent  in  committing  battery. The  defendant  need not  intend  to  cause  the plaintiff harm. Rather intent refers to the desire to engage in whatever act amounts to battery. If the defendant can show that he/she did not act with intent, the claim for battery will unlikely be successful.. For example, if the physical contact was involuntary or an accident
**#'''Self-defence:'''  The  defendant  can  defeat  a  battery  claim  if  he/she  can  show  that  the  battery was  an  act  of  self-defence. There are  three  basic  elements  to  self-defence  which  the  defendant must prove:
##You  honestly  and  reasonably  believed  that  you  were  being  or  about  to  be subject  to battery;
##There was no reasonable alternative to the use of force; and  
##The use of force was proportional to the actual or perceived threat. 
*'''Breach of Privacy''' – Privacy rights are governed by the ''Privacy Act'', RSBC 1996, c 373.  Two common law causes of action are codified under this act: 
**Intrusion upon seclusion: includes spying upon, observing or recording a person where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
**Appropriation  of  likeness:  where  a  person’s  personal  image,  including  portraits,  caricatures, photos or video footage, are used for commercial gain without their consent.
:Breach of privacy is outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims Court.  


*'''Defamation''' – Defamation, libel and slander are outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims.
'''Defences''': As there likely will be some overlap between debt and breach of contract, see the defences above under breach of contract.
*'''Detinue''' – Detinue occurs when the defendant possesses goods belonging to the claimant and refuses to return  them.    There  is  some overlap between detinue  and  conversion,  but  conversion  still  applies  where the defendant no longer has goods, while detinue generally does not.  The remedy for detinue may be the return  of  the  goods  or  damages  for  the  value  of  the  goods  and  possibly  for  losses  incurred  by  the detention of the goods.  The value of the goods is assessed at the time of the trial.
*'''False Imprisonment/False Arrest''' – Where a person is illegally detained against their will.  Peace officers have broad authority to arrest.  Private citizens, including security guards, have limited authority to arrest in  relation  to  a  criminal  offence  or  in  defence  of  property.    Usually,  a  party  who  is  detained  and is  not convicted of the offence for which (s)he is detained has grounds for a claim in false imprisonment/arrest unless the defendant is a peace officer or was assisting a peace officer in making the arrest.
*'''Negligence''' – Negligence is a complicated but frequently litigated area of law.  Put very simply, it is based on the careless conduct of the defendant resulting in a loss to the claimant. Claims in negligence may be for personal injury or for economic loss.  Claimants are advised to consult a lawyer before bringing a claim in negligence. Negligence consists of the following components:
*#'''Duty  of  Care''' –  the  claimant  must  prove  that  the  defendant owed  them  a  duty  of care  arising from some  relationship  between  them.    Many  duties  of  care  have  been  recognized,  including  but  by  no means limited to the following:
*#*a. Duty towards the intoxicated
*#*b. Peace officer’s duty to prevent crime and protect others
*#*c. Negligent Infliction of Psychiatric Harm/Nervous Shock


20-77
==== d) Negligence ====
Negligence is a complicated but frequently litigated area of law. Put very simply, it is based on the careless conduct of the defendant resulting in a loss to the claimant. Claims in negligence may be for personal injury or for economic loss. Claimants are advised to consult a lawyer before bringing a claim in negligence. Negligence consists of the following components:
 
:1. '''Duty of Care''' – the claimant must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care arising from some relationship between them. Many duties of care have been recognized, including but by no means limited to the following:
::(a) Duty towards the intoxicated
::(b) Peace officer’s duty to prevent crime and protect others
::(c) Negligent Infliction of Psychiatric Harm/Nervous Shock
::(d) Manufacturer’s and Supplier’s Duty to Warn
::(e) Negligent Performance of a Service
::(f) Negligent Supply of Shoddy Goods or Structures
::(g) Negligence of Public Authority
:2. '''Standard of Care''' – Once a duty of care is established, the level of care that the defendant owed to the claimant must be determined. This is usually based on the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise, such as avoiding acts or omissions that one could reasonably foresee might cause the claimant a loss or injury. The level of care expected of professionals in the exercise of their duties is usually higher.<BR>
:3. '''Causation''' – The claimant must show that the defendant’s carelessness actually caused the claimant loss or injury. The basic test is whether the claimant’s loss would not have occurred without the defendant’s action and no second, intervening act occurred that contributed to the loss.<BR>
:4. '''Remoteness''' – Remoteness is a consideration of whether the loss caused by the defendant’s actions was too remote to be foreseeable as a result of the defendant’s negligence. If so, the court may not award damages for the loss even though it was a direct result of the defendant’s carelessness.<BR>
:5. '''Harm''' – Unlike some causes of action, negligence requires the claimant to prove that the defendant’s carelessness caused them harm, whether it is personal injury, pure economic loss or otherwise.
 
=== 2) Rare Causes of Action ===
 
==== a) Breach of Confidence ====
Breach of confidence occurs when the defendant makes an unauthorized use of information that has a quality of confidence about it and was entrusted to them by the claimant in circumstances giving rise to an obligation of confidence. 
 
==== b) Nuisance ====
Nuisance may be private or public. Private nuisance is defined as interference with a landowner or occupier’s enjoyment of their land that is both substantial and unreasonable. It can include obnoxious sounds or smells or escaping substances but does not usually arise from the defendant’s normal use of their own property. An interference with the enjoyment of land is “substantial” if it is not trivial; that is, it amounts to something more than a slight annoyance or trifling interference. Whether the interference is “unreasonable” depends on the circumstances. Factors that courts will consider (but are not bound to) in assessing reasonableness include the seriousness of the interference, the neighbourhood and surrounding area, and sensitivity of the plaintiff. 
 
Public nuisance may be thought of as a nuisance that occurs on public property or one that affects a sufficient number of individuals that litigating to prevent it becomes the responsibility of the community at large.
 
==== c) Trespass to Chattels ====
Where the defendant interferes with the claimant’s goods without converting them to the defendant’s personal use.
 
==== d) Trespass to Land ====
Trespass to land is actionable even where it occurred by the defendant’s mistake. The claimant does not need to show a loss, although their award may be reduced commensurately if the trespass does not cost them anything.
 
==== e) Conversion ====
Conversion is defined as wrongful interference with the goods of another in a manner inconsistent with the owner’s right of possession. This includes theft; it also includes instances where the defendant genuinely believes the goods belong to them, even if they purchased them innocently from a third party that stole them. It also applies when the defendant has sold the goods or otherwise disposed of them. The remedy is usually damages for the value of the goods and possibly for losses incurred by the detention of the goods. The value of the goods is assessed from the time of the conversion.
 
==== f) Unjust Enrichment ====
Where the defendant was enriched by committing a wrong against the claimant, the claimant suffered a corresponding loss, and there was no juristic reason for the enrichment.
 
==== g) Assault ====
Contrary to its criminal law equivalent, civil assault is defined as intentionally causing the claimant to have reasonable grounds to fear immediate physical harm. Mere words or verbal threats are not sufficient; there must be some sort of act or display that suggests the defendant intends to carry through with their threat; banging on a door or raising a fist may suffice. 
 
==== h) Battery ====
Battery is defined as any intentional and unwanted touching, including hitting, spitting on the claimant or cutting their hair. 
 
====='''Defences:'''=====
#'''Lack of Intent:''' Battery is an intentional tort which means that the plaintiff must prove the defendant acted with intent in committing  battery. The defendant need not intend to cause the plaintiff harm. Rather intent refers to the desire to engage in whatever act amounts to battery. If the defendant can show that they did not act with intent, the claim for battery will unlikely be successful. For example, if the physical contact was involuntary or an accident.
#'''Self-defence:''' The defendant can defeat a battery claim if they can show that the battery was an act of self-defence. There are  three basic elements to self-defence which the defendant must prove:
:::(i) You honestly and reasonably believed that you were being or about to be subject to battery;
:::(ii) There was no reasonable alternative to the use of force; and
:::(iii) The use of force was proportional to the actual or perceived threat.
 
==== i) Breach of Privacy ====
Privacy rights are governed by the ''Privacy Act'', RSBC 1996, c 373. Two common law causes of action are codified under this act: 
 
*Intrusion upon seclusion: includes spying upon, observing or recording a person where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
*Appropriation of likeness: where a person’s personal image, including portraits, caricatures, photos or video footage, are used for commercial gain without their consent.
 
Breach of privacy is outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims Court.
 
==== j) Defamation ====
Defamation, libel and slander are outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims Court.
 
==== k) Detinue ====
Detinue occurs when the defendant possesses goods belonging to the claimant and refuses to return them. There is some overlap  between detinue and conversion, but conversion still applies where the defendant no longer has goods, while detinue generally does not. The remedy for detinue may be the return of the goods or damages for the value of the goods and possibly for losses incurred by the detention of the goods. The value of the goods is assessed at the time of the trial.
 
==== l) False Imprisonment/False Arrest ====
Where a person is illegally detained against their will. Peace officers have broad authority to arrest. Private citizens, including security guards, have limited authority to arrest in relation to a criminal offence or in defence of property. Usually, a party who is detained and is not convicted of the offence for which they are detained has grounds for a claim in false imprisonment/arrest unless the defendant is a peace officer or was assisting a peace officer in making the arrest.
 
==== m) Misrepresentation ====
Misrepresentation applies where a claimant was induced to enter a contract on the basis of facts cited by the defendant that turned out to be untrue. Misrepresentation can be claimed in contract law or in torts generally, or in both concurrently. In contract law, the remedy is a declaration that the contract is void (rescission). In torts, the remedy may be damages for the claimant’s consequential losses. If the claim is brought in contracts, a distinction must be made between representations, which are statements that induce one to enter a contract, and the terms of the contract, the violation of which gives rise to a claim in breach of contract but not in negligence. There are three specific categories of misrepresentation:
*'''Fraudulent misrepresentation''' – where the defendant made the statement knowing it was untrue. This is the hardest category of misrepresentation to prove, as the claimant must prove the defendant’s state of mind prior to the formation of the contract.
*'''Negligent misrepresentation''' – where the defendant made the untrue statement carelessly, without regard to whether it was true. This category of misrepresentation is more easily proved than fraudulent misrepresentation. See the section on Negligence below for the basic principles.
*'''Innocent misrepresentation''' – where the defendant made the untrue statement in the genuine belief that it was true. This form of misrepresentation is the easiest to prove, but it may only be claimed in contract law, so the remedy for a successful claim is always the setting aside of the contract (rescission).
 
=== 3) Excluded Causes of Action ===
 
Certain causes of action are outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims, including:
 
*Claims for malicious prosecution,
*Claims involving residential tenancy agreements,
*Claims for statutory rights in employment law (i.e., overtime and statutory holiday pay),
*Claims in divorce, trusts, wills or bankruptcy,
*Claims for breach of privacy, intrusion upon seclusion, or appropriation of likeness,
*Human rights complaints (discrimination), and
*Most disputes between strata lot owners and strata corporations
 
Not all claims that are barred from Small Claims must be brought in Supreme Court. Administrative tribunals such as the Employment Standards Branch, Residential Tenancy Branch, and BC Human Rights Tribunal have exclusive jurisdiction over many types of claims. Claimants should consider the nature of their claim and review the corresponding chapter of the LSLAP Manual to determine the proper forum for their complaint.
 
 
{{LSLAP Manual Navbox|type=chapters15-23}}

Latest revision as of 17:55, 7 August 2024

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on July 31, 2024.



The cause of action is the claimant’s reason for bringing a suit against the defendant. While there must always be a cause of action, in Small Claims it is generally sufficient to cite the facts; Small Claims judges and CRT tribunal members will take a liberal view of pleadings and allow litigants to assert claims in non-legalistic language. However, the judge must still be able to find a cause of action in the facts the claimant alleges. Potential claimants should therefore review the following, non-exhaustive list of causes of action to determine if they have a valid claim. Claimants may claim for more than one cause of action on a notice of claim and are advised to do so if they believe more than one cause of action applies or are not sure which one is valid; it is easier to name superfluous causes of action on the notice of claim than to get the claim amended after filing it. The following causes of action may be brought in Small Claims unless the amount claimed is over $35,000 or it states otherwise in the list. They are organized into 2 categories: (1) common and (2) rare.

Defences

For each cause of action there are usually a number of possible defences. Both Claimants and Defendants should be aware of the defences. Below are defences to some of the more common causes of action.

1) Common causes of action

a) Breach of Contract

Contract law governs voluntary relationships between parties. It is a complicated and nuanced area of the law. To bring a claim for breach of contract, a party must demonstrate that the other party failed to perform a contractual obligation. Depending on the type of term that is breached, the other party may be able to “terminate” the contract. Terms that go to the heart of a contract are usually called “conditions”. Breach of a condition by one party entitles the other party to terminate the contract and end their obligations. A party is also able to terminate the contract in the event of a fundamental breach, which is a breach so significant that it deprives the innocent party of the entire benefit of the contract Svenson v. Powell, 2021 BCCRT 318. Less important terms are called “warranties”. Breach of a warranty does not give the other party a right to terminate. However, the party not in breach can still sue the other party for breach of contract Ketchum v. Nordblad, 2022 BCCRT 223.

Defences:
  1. No consideration: In order for a promise or any other contractual obligation to be enforceable by courts, there must be consideration. Consideration is what is given in exchange for a promise that makes the promise binding. If there is no consideration for a promise, the promise will not be enforced by the courts, even if the parties have an otherwise valid contract.
  2. Void contract: A contract can be void and therefore unenforceable for several reasons, including lack of mental capacity, uncertainty of terms, illegality.
  3. Unconscionability: A contract is said to be unconscionable and therefore unenforceable where the circumstances surrounding the creation of the contract gave rise to a grave inequality in bargaining power between parties. This is complicated area of contract law, and legal advice should be sought.
  4. Misrepresentation: If the other party made a statement to you before the contract came into existence that you relied on on entering the contract and that turned out to be false, you may be able to have the contract set aside.
  5. Frustration: frustration occurs when an unforeseen event renders contractual obligations impossible or radically changes the primary purpose of the contract. Frustration is also another complicated area in contract law. Legal advice should be sought.
  6. Undue Influence: If one of the parties to a contract was unduly influenced by someone else (either the other party of the contract or a third party), the contract can be set aside on the grounds that the unduly influenced party had their consent vitiated due to an inability to exercise their independent will. This is a complicated area of contract law, and legal advice should be sought.

b) Breach of Employment Contract (implied terms)

The courts cannot enforce statutory rights such as those found in the Employment Standards Act, as the Employment Standards Branch was created to rule on these types of claims and has exclusive jurisdiction over them. However, many parallel rights exist at common law and may be enforced by the courts. At common law, employment contracts contain numerous implied terms that are actionable through Small Claims, such as the requirement to give reasonable notice or payment in lieu upon the termination of an employee. Many employment contracts include express terms regarding notice which can override common law implied terms.

The fact that no written employment contract was signed does not disqualify an employee or former employee from claiming for breach of these terms. This is because an employee who is an "employee" under employment standards legislation will be entitled to the benefit of the statutory minimum notice provisions Suleman v. British Columbia Research Council (1989), 38 B.C.L.R. (2d) 208 (B.C. S.C.); reversed on other grounds 52 B.C.L.R. (2d) 138 (B.C. C.A.). See Chapter 9: Employment Law for more details.

Defences:
  1. Just cause: If an employer terminates an employee for just cause the employer is not required to give the terminated employee reasonable notice or pay in lieu. The onus to prove just cause is on the employer, and the standard is generally hard to meet. See Chapter 9 – Employment Law for more details.

c) Debt

Debt claims arise where the defendant owes the complainant a specific sum of money, often for a loan or for unpaid goods or services. There may be some overlap between debt and breach of contract.

Defences: As there likely will be some overlap between debt and breach of contract, see the defences above under breach of contract.

d) Negligence

Negligence is a complicated but frequently litigated area of law. Put very simply, it is based on the careless conduct of the defendant resulting in a loss to the claimant. Claims in negligence may be for personal injury or for economic loss. Claimants are advised to consult a lawyer before bringing a claim in negligence. Negligence consists of the following components:

1. Duty of Care – the claimant must prove that the defendant owed them a duty of care arising from some relationship between them. Many duties of care have been recognized, including but by no means limited to the following:
(a) Duty towards the intoxicated
(b) Peace officer’s duty to prevent crime and protect others
(c) Negligent Infliction of Psychiatric Harm/Nervous Shock
(d) Manufacturer’s and Supplier’s Duty to Warn
(e) Negligent Performance of a Service
(f) Negligent Supply of Shoddy Goods or Structures
(g) Negligence of Public Authority
2. Standard of Care – Once a duty of care is established, the level of care that the defendant owed to the claimant must be determined. This is usually based on the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise, such as avoiding acts or omissions that one could reasonably foresee might cause the claimant a loss or injury. The level of care expected of professionals in the exercise of their duties is usually higher.
3. Causation – The claimant must show that the defendant’s carelessness actually caused the claimant loss or injury. The basic test is whether the claimant’s loss would not have occurred without the defendant’s action and no second, intervening act occurred that contributed to the loss.
4. Remoteness – Remoteness is a consideration of whether the loss caused by the defendant’s actions was too remote to be foreseeable as a result of the defendant’s negligence. If so, the court may not award damages for the loss even though it was a direct result of the defendant’s carelessness.
5. Harm – Unlike some causes of action, negligence requires the claimant to prove that the defendant’s carelessness caused them harm, whether it is personal injury, pure economic loss or otherwise.

2) Rare Causes of Action

a) Breach of Confidence

Breach of confidence occurs when the defendant makes an unauthorized use of information that has a quality of confidence about it and was entrusted to them by the claimant in circumstances giving rise to an obligation of confidence.

b) Nuisance

Nuisance may be private or public. Private nuisance is defined as interference with a landowner or occupier’s enjoyment of their land that is both substantial and unreasonable. It can include obnoxious sounds or smells or escaping substances but does not usually arise from the defendant’s normal use of their own property. An interference with the enjoyment of land is “substantial” if it is not trivial; that is, it amounts to something more than a slight annoyance or trifling interference. Whether the interference is “unreasonable” depends on the circumstances. Factors that courts will consider (but are not bound to) in assessing reasonableness include the seriousness of the interference, the neighbourhood and surrounding area, and sensitivity of the plaintiff.

Public nuisance may be thought of as a nuisance that occurs on public property or one that affects a sufficient number of individuals that litigating to prevent it becomes the responsibility of the community at large.

c) Trespass to Chattels

Where the defendant interferes with the claimant’s goods without converting them to the defendant’s personal use.

d) Trespass to Land

Trespass to land is actionable even where it occurred by the defendant’s mistake. The claimant does not need to show a loss, although their award may be reduced commensurately if the trespass does not cost them anything.

e) Conversion

Conversion is defined as wrongful interference with the goods of another in a manner inconsistent with the owner’s right of possession. This includes theft; it also includes instances where the defendant genuinely believes the goods belong to them, even if they purchased them innocently from a third party that stole them. It also applies when the defendant has sold the goods or otherwise disposed of them. The remedy is usually damages for the value of the goods and possibly for losses incurred by the detention of the goods. The value of the goods is assessed from the time of the conversion.

f) Unjust Enrichment

Where the defendant was enriched by committing a wrong against the claimant, the claimant suffered a corresponding loss, and there was no juristic reason for the enrichment.

g) Assault

Contrary to its criminal law equivalent, civil assault is defined as intentionally causing the claimant to have reasonable grounds to fear immediate physical harm. Mere words or verbal threats are not sufficient; there must be some sort of act or display that suggests the defendant intends to carry through with their threat; banging on a door or raising a fist may suffice.

h) Battery

Battery is defined as any intentional and unwanted touching, including hitting, spitting on the claimant or cutting their hair.

Defences:
  1. Lack of Intent: Battery is an intentional tort which means that the plaintiff must prove the defendant acted with intent in committing battery. The defendant need not intend to cause the plaintiff harm. Rather intent refers to the desire to engage in whatever act amounts to battery. If the defendant can show that they did not act with intent, the claim for battery will unlikely be successful. For example, if the physical contact was involuntary or an accident.
  2. Self-defence: The defendant can defeat a battery claim if they can show that the battery was an act of self-defence. There are three basic elements to self-defence which the defendant must prove:
(i) You honestly and reasonably believed that you were being or about to be subject to battery;
(ii) There was no reasonable alternative to the use of force; and
(iii) The use of force was proportional to the actual or perceived threat.

i) Breach of Privacy

Privacy rights are governed by the Privacy Act, RSBC 1996, c 373. Two common law causes of action are codified under this act:

  • Intrusion upon seclusion: includes spying upon, observing or recording a person where they have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
  • Appropriation of likeness: where a person’s personal image, including portraits, caricatures, photos or video footage, are used for commercial gain without their consent.

Breach of privacy is outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims Court.

j) Defamation

Defamation, libel and slander are outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims Court.

k) Detinue

Detinue occurs when the defendant possesses goods belonging to the claimant and refuses to return them. There is some overlap between detinue and conversion, but conversion still applies where the defendant no longer has goods, while detinue generally does not. The remedy for detinue may be the return of the goods or damages for the value of the goods and possibly for losses incurred by the detention of the goods. The value of the goods is assessed at the time of the trial.

l) False Imprisonment/False Arrest

Where a person is illegally detained against their will. Peace officers have broad authority to arrest. Private citizens, including security guards, have limited authority to arrest in relation to a criminal offence or in defence of property. Usually, a party who is detained and is not convicted of the offence for which they are detained has grounds for a claim in false imprisonment/arrest unless the defendant is a peace officer or was assisting a peace officer in making the arrest.

m) Misrepresentation

Misrepresentation applies where a claimant was induced to enter a contract on the basis of facts cited by the defendant that turned out to be untrue. Misrepresentation can be claimed in contract law or in torts generally, or in both concurrently. In contract law, the remedy is a declaration that the contract is void (rescission). In torts, the remedy may be damages for the claimant’s consequential losses. If the claim is brought in contracts, a distinction must be made between representations, which are statements that induce one to enter a contract, and the terms of the contract, the violation of which gives rise to a claim in breach of contract but not in negligence. There are three specific categories of misrepresentation:

  • Fraudulent misrepresentation – where the defendant made the statement knowing it was untrue. This is the hardest category of misrepresentation to prove, as the claimant must prove the defendant’s state of mind prior to the formation of the contract.
  • Negligent misrepresentation – where the defendant made the untrue statement carelessly, without regard to whether it was true. This category of misrepresentation is more easily proved than fraudulent misrepresentation. See the section on Negligence below for the basic principles.
  • Innocent misrepresentation – where the defendant made the untrue statement in the genuine belief that it was true. This form of misrepresentation is the easiest to prove, but it may only be claimed in contract law, so the remedy for a successful claim is always the setting aside of the contract (rescission).

3) Excluded Causes of Action

Certain causes of action are outside the jurisdiction of Small Claims, including:

  • Claims for malicious prosecution,
  • Claims involving residential tenancy agreements,
  • Claims for statutory rights in employment law (i.e., overtime and statutory holiday pay),
  • Claims in divorce, trusts, wills or bankruptcy,
  • Claims for breach of privacy, intrusion upon seclusion, or appropriation of likeness,
  • Human rights complaints (discrimination), and
  • Most disputes between strata lot owners and strata corporations

Not all claims that are barred from Small Claims must be brought in Supreme Court. Administrative tribunals such as the Employment Standards Branch, Residential Tenancy Branch, and BC Human Rights Tribunal have exclusive jurisdiction over many types of claims. Claimants should consider the nature of their claim and review the corresponding chapter of the LSLAP Manual to determine the proper forum for their complaint.


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