This was an application to stay proceedings in British Columbia in favour of Japan. The action was for damage to a cargo of coils shipped from Japan to British Columbia. The Defendants relied upon a jurisdiction clause in the bills of lading selecting the Tokyo District Court as the appropriate forum. The motions judge followed well established case law to …
Full SummaryJian Sheng Co. Ltd. v. Great Tempo S.A., 1998 CanLII 9059 (FCA)
This is an important case on the issue of the identity of the carrier under a bill of lading although the case arose in the context of a motion for a stay of proceedings under a jurisdiction clause. The Federal Court of Appeal held that where the bill of lading is signed for or on behalf of the Master it …
Full SummaryMethanex New Zealand v. Fontaine Navigation S.A., 1998 CanLII 9039 (FC)
This was an application for a stay of proceedings on the grounds of an arbitration clause in a contract of affreightment and a jurisdiction clause in the bill of lading. The Plaintiff resisted the application on various grounds including that the Defendants, through their solicitors, had given a letter of undertaking. The letter of undertaking provided that, in consideration of …
Full SummaryTranscontinental Sales Inc. v. Zim Container Service, 1997 CanLII 6103 (CF)
This was a motion for a stay of proceedings on the grounds that a jurisdiction clause in the bills of lading required any disputes to be brought in Israel. The Plaintiff argued that countless claims between the parties in the past had been resolved in Canada and that the Defendant was only seeking procedural advantages. The Court, nevertheless, ordered that …
Full SummaryCan-Am Produce and Trading Ltd. v. The "Senator", No. T-2353-95 (F.C.T.D.)
This matter concerned a motion by the Defendant to stay proceedings by reason of a jurisdiction clause in the bill of lading. The Plaintiff opposed the motion on three grounds: that there were two jurisdiction clauses in the bill of lading which were inconsistent; that Canada was the more convenient jurisdiction; and that the action was also against Canadian stevedores …
Full SummaryGranville Shipping Co. v. Pegasus Lines Ltd., [1996] 2 FC 853
This case involved a claim by the Plaintiff for unpaid hire under a charterparty and a counterclaim by the Defendant for damages for delay. The Plaintiff brought a motion for summary judgment on the main claim and a motion for an order staying the counterclaim and referring it to arbitration pursuant to the arbitration clause in the charterparty. The Court …
Full SummarySiderurgica Mendes Junior S.A. v. The "Ice Pearl", 1996 CanLII 2746 (BC SC)
In this cargo case the Plaintiffs argued that an arbitration clause in a charter party should not be given effect to on two grounds: First, that the bill of lading contained a "supersession clause" that did not specifically refer to the arbitration provision and, second, that the Defendant had waived its right to arbitration. On the first issue, the Court …
Full SummaryTrans-Continental Textile Recycling v. The "Erato II" and "MSC Giovanna", 1995 CanLII 3547 (FC)
In this matter the Defendant sought to rely on a jurisdiction clause in a bill of lading that selected New York as the proper forum. The Plaintiff opposed the Defendant’s motion for a stay on the grounds, inter alia, that the Defendant had attorned to the jurisdiction of the Federal Court. The Defendant had filed a Statement of Defence in …
Full SummaryHumble v. The "Queen of Alberni", Reg. No.C940031, (B.C.S.C.)
This was an application by the Defendant for a stay of the Plaintiff’s action on the grounds that there were similar actions pending in the Federal Court of Canada. The Defendant wanted all actions consolidated. The British Columbia Supreme Court refused the application on the basis that the Plaintiff’s claim might be time barred in the Federal Court and the …
Full SummaryUsach Technologies Inc. v. Lamprecht Transport Ltd., No. T-1928-94, (F.C.T.D.)
In this matter the Court enforced a jurisdiction clause, contained in a through bill of lading, in favour of Switzerland. The Plaintiff attempted to argue that the clause had not been properly brought to its attention but the Court held that the Plaintiff knew of the existence of the clause and accepted it.
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