Small Claims Court - 2011 Update


Course Date: May 5, 2011

Course Agenda ▼

Welcome and Introduction

Self-represented Litigants

  • strategies for dealing with self-represented litigants
  • ethical considerations: walking the line between representing your client and assisting the court in the conduct of the case as a whole
  • suggestions for keeping the matter on track and keeping costs and court time down

Chelsea C. Caldwell — Eichler Caldwell, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion

Dispute Resolution Rules

  • overview of the various forms of ADR and where they are available
  • what is involved/required when undertaking a specific form of ADR
  • suggestions/recommendations for counsel

Adeline Kong — Bull, Housser & Tupper LLP, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion

Networking Break

Appeals

  • appeals from Provincial Court
  • judicial review and settlement conferences
  • practice tips
  • recent case law

Ryan Parsons — Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion

Lunch (on your own)

Pleadings and Contested Applications

  • pleadings generally
    • what is required
    • tips for counsel
    • relevant case law
  • contested applications
    • what is required
    • timelines

Salim Hirji — Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion

Litigating MVAs in Small Claims Court

  • choosing Provincial Court—considerations for the choice of venue
  • use of experts
  • effective advocacy—tips of the trade

Lewis Spencer — Derpak White Spencer LLP, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion

New Supreme Court Civil Rules

  • brief overview of the differences between the old and new BC Supreme Court Rules
  • how the Supreme Court Rules impact Small Claims procedures
  • when and how a Provincial Court judge may be influenced by the Supreme Court Rules in a Small Claims proceeding
  • in which court should you commence an action
  • how the differences may impact counsel's decisions: comparing Small Claims procedures with Fast Track Litigation
  • maximum Small Claims jurisdiction and how to increase it

Jonathan Lim — Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion

Networking Break

Views from the Bench

  • good advocacy
  • what is working
  • ethical issues

The Honourable Associate Chief Judge Nancy Phillips — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
The Honourable Judge Paul R. Meyers — Provincial Court of BC, Vancouver
Andrew P. Prior — Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, Vancouver

Questions and Discussion