Brereton v. KLC Freight Services Ltd.

In Carriage of Goods by Sea on (Updated )

This was an appeal of a judgement rendered by the Ontario Small Claims Court. The action involved a shipment of personal effects from Toronto to Trinidad. Sixteen pieces were delivered by the Plaintiff to the Defendant for carriage but only fifteen pieces were ultimately delivered. The contract between the Plaintiff and Defendant specified that the Defendant was not a carrier but was only a forwarding agent responsible for the selection of third party carriers. At trial, the Small Claims Court held that the Defendant was liable for the non-delivery on the basis of res ipsa loquitor. On appeal, the Ontario Court General Division held that the Defendant was not a carrier but was merely a forwarding agent and, as such, was not liable absent proof of negligence. As there was no evidence of negligence on the part of the Defendant, the appeal was allowed and the action dismissed.