Difference between revisions of "Small Claims Appeals (20:XVI)"

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{{REVIEWED LSLAP | date= June 24, 2023}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = smallclaims}}
{{LSLAP Manual TOC|expanded = smallclaims}}


Any party to a proceeding may appeal  to the Supreme Court an order to allow or dismiss a claim if the judge made the order after a trial (SCA, s 5). An appeal must be started within 40 days, beginning on the day after the order of the  Provincial  Court is  made282.  A review  of  the  order under  appeal  may  be  on questions  of  fact  or  law283. A mistake of fact could involve a misunderstanding by the Judge of evidence given by a witness. For example, if a witness reported that a particular event happened and in the decision the Judge bases his/her decision on the fact  that  event  didn’t  happen,  there  could  be a  basis  for  an  appeal.  A  mistake of law  occurs  where  the  Judge makes an error in deciding which law should apply. Not every error made by a Small Claims Court judge will be the  basis  for  a  successful  appeal.  The  test  which  the  Supreme  Court  Judge  must  apply  is  called  the “clearly wrong  test”.  If  the  Small  Claims  Court  judge’s  decision  about  the  facts  or  the  law  is  not  clearly  wrong,  the appeal  will  fail.  An  appeal  is  usually  not  a  new  trial;  it  will  be  based  on  the  transcripts  of  the  trial  in  SmallClaims Court. The Supreme Court may, however, exercise its discretion to hear the appeal as a new trial284. No new evidence may be adduced at the appeal without leave of the court285.
== A. CRT Small Claims Decisions and Appeals ==


For claims  that do  not  fit  the criteria  for an  appeal,  the  ''Judicial  Review  Procedure  Act'' allows  the  Supreme Court of British  Columbia  to review  decisions made  by Provincial  Court  judges  prior  to  trial.    This  includes interlocutory orders, the dismissal of a claim at a settlement conference, and adjudicator decisions in Simplified Trials  under  Rule  9.1.   The  appropriate standard of review for orders  subject  to judicial  review  is reasonableness286.For  further  information  on judicial  review, refer  to the “Public  Complaint  Procedures” chapter of the LSLAP manual287.  
A party who is dissatisfied with a ruling can seek judicial review in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. There are various standards of review applicable to different cases (standard of review refers to the level of scrutiny a reviewing court will apply to a decision). The standard of review is variable because courts have struggled with the interpretation of s 58 of the ''Administrative Tribunals Act''. For example, BCSC has ruled that the standard of review for CRT decisions on strata property matters is patent unreasonableness (''The Owners, Strata Plan VR320 v. Day'', 2023 BCSC 364). The Supreme Court of Canada has defined this to apply to decisions that “contain an immediately obvious defect, which is “so flawed that no amount of curial deference can justify letting it stand” and almost borders on the absurd (''Law Society of New Brunswick v. Ryan'', 2003 SCC 20 at para. 52)However, generally speaking, the standard of review for CRT decisions is correctness, unless the issue under review relates to:
* findings of fact, in which case the finding must either be unreasonable or made without any evidence to support it in order for a reviewing court to reverse it. In such cases, the reviewing court may remit the decision back to the CRT or replace it with the court’s own decision;
* discretionary decisions, in which case the decision must be arbitrary, made in bad faith, be based entirely or predominantly on irrelevant factors, or fail to comply with a statute in order for a reviewing court to reverse it; or
* natural justice and procedural fairness which are considered with the tribunal’s mandate in mind (Administrative Tribunals Act, SBC 2004, c 45, s 58(2)).C


If an order dismissing a claim is appealed to the Supreme Court, that appeal does not automatically appeal the counterclaim  to  the  Supreme  Court,  nor  vice  versa. Each  appeal  is  a  separate  matter  and  needs  to  be  filed separately in the Supreme Court. Both appeals will, of course, be heard together288
== B. Appealing from Small Claims Court ==


== A. Filing an Appeal ==
Any party to a proceeding may appeal to the Supreme Court an order to allow or dismiss a claim if the judge made the order after a trial (''SCA'', s 5). An appeal must be started within 40 days, beginning on the day after the order of the Provincial Court is made (''SCA'', s 6). A review of the order under appeal may be on questions of fact or law (''SCA,'' s 12(a)). A mistake of fact could involve a misunderstanding by the Judge of evidence given by a witness. For example, if a witness reported that a particular event happened and, in the decision, the judge bases their decision on the fact that the event didn’t happen, there could be a basis for an appeal. A mistake of law occurs where the Judge makes an error in deciding which law should apply. Not every error made by a Small Claims Court judge will be the basis for a successful appeal. The test which the Supreme Court Judge must apply is called the “clearly wrong test”. If the Small Claims Court judge’s decision about the facts or the law is not clearly wrong, the appeal will fail. An appeal is usually not a new trial; it will be based on the transcripts of the trial in Small Claims Court. The Supreme Court may, however, exercise its discretion to hear the appeal as a new trial (''SCA'', s 12(b)). No new evidence may be adduced at the appeal without leave of the court (Practice Direction: Standard Directions for Appeals from Provincial Court; ''SCA'', s 12).


You must act quickly if you wish to appeal a decision as there are many steps involved and only a short a period of time. Within 40 days of the order being made,289 an appellant must, in one day, do all of the following:
For claims that do not fit the criteria for an appeal, the ''Judicial Review Procedure Act'', RSBC 1996, c 241, allows the Supreme Court of British Columbia to review decisions made by Provincial Court judges prior to trial. This includes interlocutory orders, the dismissal of a claim at a settlement conference, and adjudicator decisions in Simplified Trials under Rule 9.1. The appropriate standard of review for orders subject to judicial review is reasonableness. For further information on judicial review, see (''[http://canlii.ca/t/242ln 0763486 BC Ltd. v Landmark Realty Corp]'', 2009 BCSC 810 (CanLII); ''[http://canlii.ca/t/52tl Wood and Lauder et al v Siwak]'', 2000 BCSC 397 (CanLII); ''Der v Giles'', [2003] BCJ No 938; and ''Nicholson v Lum'', [1996] BCJ No 860).
*file a Notice of Appeal in the Supreme Court registry closest to the Provincial Court where the order being appealed was made290;
*deposit with the Supreme Court $200.00 as security for costs plus the amount of money required to  be  paid  by  the  order  under appeal291  or  apply  to  the  Supreme  Court  to  reduce  the  amount required to be paid292;
*apply  to  the  registrar  of the  Supreme  Court  for  a  date  for  hearing  the  appeal  that  is at  least  21 days, but not more than 6 months, after the filing date293;  
*file a copy of the Notice of Appeal in the Provincial Court registry where the order under appeal was made294.  


An  application  to reduce  the amount  required  to  be  deposited  does not need  to  be  served  on  any person; however, if the court reduces the amount required to be deposited, the appellant must serve notice of this order on the other parties to the appeal295.  
If an order dismissing a claim is appealed to the Supreme Court, that appeal does not automatically appeal the counterclaim to the Supreme Court, nor vice versa. Each appeal is a separate matter and needs to be filed separately in the Supreme Court. Both appeals will, of course, be heard together. (''[http://canlii.ca/t/1mzjn Shaughnessy v Roth]'', 2006 BCSC 531 (CanLII)).


The cost to file a Notice of Appeal in Supreme Court is $200.00 and the cost for filing an application to reduce the amount of the deposit is $80.00.  An appellant who cannot afford these fees can apply to the Supreme Court registrar for indigent status.
=== 1. Filing an Appeal ===


A  copy  of  both  the  Notice  of  Appeal  and the  Notice  of Hearing  must  be  served  on  every  party affected by the appeal296. Fourteen days after filing the Notice of Appeal, the appellant must provide the Registrar with proof that the Notice of Appeal and the Notice of Hearing have been served on the respondents.
You must act quickly if you wish to appeal a decision as there are many steps involved and only a short period of time. Within 40 days of the order being made (''SCA'', s 6), an appellant must, in one day, do all of the following:


The  Appellant  must  also  order  transcripts  of the oral evidence  given  at  the Small Claims  Court trial and  the Judge's reasons  for  judgment. The  Appellant  must pay  for a  copy  of the transcript  for  the Court and  one for each  party  to  the appeal.  Transcripts cost several  dollars  per  page.  So, depending on  how  long  the trial lasted, the transcript  could  be  many, many  pages  and cost  hundreds  and even thousands of dollars.  
* file a Notice of Appeal in the Supreme Court registry closest to the Provincial Court where the order being appealed was made (''SCA'', s 7);
*deposit with the Supreme Court $200.00 as security for costs plus the amount of money required to be paid by the order under appeal (''SCA'', s 8(1) and (2)) or apply to the Supreme Court to reduce the amount required to be paid (''SCA'', s 8(3));
* apply to the registrar of the Supreme Court for a date for hearing the appeal that is at least 21 days, but not more than 6 months, after the filing date (''SCA'', s 10);
* file a copy of the Notice of Appeal in the Provincial Court registry where the order under appeal was made (''SCA'', s 7(b)).  


For a detailed checklist of the steps you must take to make an appeal, please see Appendix N.  
An application to reduce the amount required to be deposited does not need to be served on any person; however, if the court reduces the amount required to be deposited, the appellant must serve notice of this order on the other parties to the appeal (''SCA'', s 8(6)).  


== B. The Decision of the Supreme Court ==
The cost to file a Notice of Appeal in Supreme Court is $200.00 and the cost for filing an application to reduce the amount of the deposit is $80.00. An appellant who cannot afford these fees can apply to the Supreme Court registrar for indigent status.


On hearing an appeal, the Supreme Court may make any order that could be made by the Provincial Court,  impose  reasonable  terms  and conditions  on an  order,  make  any  additional  order  it considers just, and award costs to any party under the ''Supreme Court Civil Rules''297.  
A copy of both the Notice of Appeal and the Notice of Hearing must be served on every respondent affected by the appeal (''SCA'', s 11(1)). Fourteen days after filing the Notice of Appeal, the appellant must provide the Registrar with proof that the Notice of Appeal and the Notice of Hearing have been served on the respondents.  


'''There is no further appeal from a Supreme Court order'''298.
The Appellant must also order transcripts of the oral evidence given at the Small Claims Court trial and the Judge's reasons for judgment. The  Appellant must pay for a copy of the transcript for the Court and one for each party to the appeal. Transcripts cost several dollars per page.  So, depending on how long the trial lasted, the transcript could be many, many pages and cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars.
 
For a detailed checklist of the steps you must take to make an appeal, please see [[Small_Claims_Appeal_(20:App_L) | Appendix L: Small Claims Appeals]].
 
=== 2. The Decision of the Supreme Court ===
 
On hearing an appeal, the Supreme Court may make any order that could be made by the Provincial Court, impose reasonable terms and conditions on an order, make any additional order it considers just, and award costs to any party under the ''Supreme Court Civil Rules'' (BC Reg 168/2009 and amendments thereto). '''There is no further appeal from a Supreme Court order''' (''SCA'', s 13(2)).
 
 
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Latest revision as of 18:56, 19 September 2023

This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by the Law Students' Legal Advice Program on June 24, 2023.



A. CRT Small Claims Decisions and Appeals

A party who is dissatisfied with a ruling can seek judicial review in the Supreme Court of British Columbia. There are various standards of review applicable to different cases (standard of review refers to the level of scrutiny a reviewing court will apply to a decision). The standard of review is variable because courts have struggled with the interpretation of s 58 of the Administrative Tribunals Act. For example, BCSC has ruled that the standard of review for CRT decisions on strata property matters is patent unreasonableness (The Owners, Strata Plan VR320 v. Day, 2023 BCSC 364). The Supreme Court of Canada has defined this to apply to decisions that “contain an immediately obvious defect, which is “so flawed that no amount of curial deference can justify letting it stand” and almost borders on the absurd (Law Society of New Brunswick v. Ryan, 2003 SCC 20 at para. 52). However, generally speaking, the standard of review for CRT decisions is correctness, unless the issue under review relates to:

  • findings of fact, in which case the finding must either be unreasonable or made without any evidence to support it in order for a reviewing court to reverse it. In such cases, the reviewing court may remit the decision back to the CRT or replace it with the court’s own decision;
  • discretionary decisions, in which case the decision must be arbitrary, made in bad faith, be based entirely or predominantly on irrelevant factors, or fail to comply with a statute in order for a reviewing court to reverse it; or
  • natural justice and procedural fairness which are considered with the tribunal’s mandate in mind (Administrative Tribunals Act, SBC 2004, c 45, s 58(2)).C

B. Appealing from Small Claims Court

Any party to a proceeding may appeal to the Supreme Court an order to allow or dismiss a claim if the judge made the order after a trial (SCA, s 5). An appeal must be started within 40 days, beginning on the day after the order of the Provincial Court is made (SCA, s 6). A review of the order under appeal may be on questions of fact or law (SCA, s 12(a)). A mistake of fact could involve a misunderstanding by the Judge of evidence given by a witness. For example, if a witness reported that a particular event happened and, in the decision, the judge bases their decision on the fact that the event didn’t happen, there could be a basis for an appeal. A mistake of law occurs where the Judge makes an error in deciding which law should apply. Not every error made by a Small Claims Court judge will be the basis for a successful appeal. The test which the Supreme Court Judge must apply is called the “clearly wrong test”. If the Small Claims Court judge’s decision about the facts or the law is not clearly wrong, the appeal will fail. An appeal is usually not a new trial; it will be based on the transcripts of the trial in Small Claims Court. The Supreme Court may, however, exercise its discretion to hear the appeal as a new trial (SCA, s 12(b)). No new evidence may be adduced at the appeal without leave of the court (Practice Direction: Standard Directions for Appeals from Provincial Court; SCA, s 12).

For claims that do not fit the criteria for an appeal, the Judicial Review Procedure Act, RSBC 1996, c 241, allows the Supreme Court of British Columbia to review decisions made by Provincial Court judges prior to trial. This includes interlocutory orders, the dismissal of a claim at a settlement conference, and adjudicator decisions in Simplified Trials under Rule 9.1. The appropriate standard of review for orders subject to judicial review is reasonableness. For further information on judicial review, see (0763486 BC Ltd. v Landmark Realty Corp, 2009 BCSC 810 (CanLII); Wood and Lauder et al v Siwak, 2000 BCSC 397 (CanLII); Der v Giles, [2003] BCJ No 938; and Nicholson v Lum, [1996] BCJ No 860).

If an order dismissing a claim is appealed to the Supreme Court, that appeal does not automatically appeal the counterclaim to the Supreme Court, nor vice versa. Each appeal is a separate matter and needs to be filed separately in the Supreme Court. Both appeals will, of course, be heard together. (Shaughnessy v Roth, 2006 BCSC 531 (CanLII)).

1. Filing an Appeal

You must act quickly if you wish to appeal a decision as there are many steps involved and only a short period of time. Within 40 days of the order being made (SCA, s 6), an appellant must, in one day, do all of the following:

  • file a Notice of Appeal in the Supreme Court registry closest to the Provincial Court where the order being appealed was made (SCA, s 7);
  • deposit with the Supreme Court $200.00 as security for costs plus the amount of money required to be paid by the order under appeal (SCA, s 8(1) and (2)) or apply to the Supreme Court to reduce the amount required to be paid (SCA, s 8(3));
  • apply to the registrar of the Supreme Court for a date for hearing the appeal that is at least 21 days, but not more than 6 months, after the filing date (SCA, s 10);
  • file a copy of the Notice of Appeal in the Provincial Court registry where the order under appeal was made (SCA, s 7(b)).

An application to reduce the amount required to be deposited does not need to be served on any person; however, if the court reduces the amount required to be deposited, the appellant must serve notice of this order on the other parties to the appeal (SCA, s 8(6)).

The cost to file a Notice of Appeal in Supreme Court is $200.00 and the cost for filing an application to reduce the amount of the deposit is $80.00. An appellant who cannot afford these fees can apply to the Supreme Court registrar for indigent status.

A copy of both the Notice of Appeal and the Notice of Hearing must be served on every respondent affected by the appeal (SCA, s 11(1)). Fourteen days after filing the Notice of Appeal, the appellant must provide the Registrar with proof that the Notice of Appeal and the Notice of Hearing have been served on the respondents.

The Appellant must also order transcripts of the oral evidence given at the Small Claims Court trial and the Judge's reasons for judgment. The Appellant must pay for a copy of the transcript for the Court and one for each party to the appeal. Transcripts cost several dollars per page. So, depending on how long the trial lasted, the transcript could be many, many pages and cost hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

For a detailed checklist of the steps you must take to make an appeal, please see Appendix L: Small Claims Appeals.

2. The Decision of the Supreme Court

On hearing an appeal, the Supreme Court may make any order that could be made by the Provincial Court, impose reasonable terms and conditions on an order, make any additional order it considers just, and award costs to any party under the Supreme Court Civil Rules (BC Reg 168/2009 and amendments thereto). There is no further appeal from a Supreme Court order (SCA, s 13(2)).


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