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| B.C. Reg. 168/2009 O.C. 302/2009 | Deposited July 7, 2009 effective July 1, 2010 |
[Last amended September 9, 2024 by B.C. Reg. 165/2024 and includes amendments by B.C. Reg. 166/2024]
(1) In these Supreme Court Civil Rules, unless the context otherwise requires:
"accessible address" means an address that describes a unique and identifiable location in British Columbia that is accessible to the public during normal business hours for the delivery of documents;
"action" means a proceeding started by a notice of civil claim;
"address for service", in relation to a party to a proceeding, means an address that is, under Rule 4-1, the party's address for service in the proceeding;
"business day" means a day on which the court registries are open for business;
"case plan order" means an order referred to in Rule 5-3 (3);
"Chief Justice" means the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of British Columbia;
"court" means the Supreme Court of British Columbia and, if an associate judge has jurisdiction, includes an associate judge of the Supreme Court;
"document" has an extended meaning and includes a photograph, video, recording of sound, any record of a permanent or semi-permanent character and any information recorded or stored by means of any device;
"family law case" has the same meaning as in the Supreme Court Family Rules;
"fast track action" means an action that is, under Rule 15-1 (1), an action to which Rule 15-1 applies;
"file" means file in the registry;
"former Supreme Court Rules" means the Supreme Court Rules, B.C. Reg. 221/90;
"insurer" means an insurer, as defined in the Financial Institutions Act, that
(a) has provided a policy of insurance to a party to an action in relation to matters or property in issue in that action, and
(b) under that policy, is obligated to indemnify the party for liability imposed on the party in the action,
and includes a surety of a party to an action in circumstances in which a claim has been made on a surety bond related to the matters in issue in the action;
"order" includes a judgment and a decree;
"originating pleading" means a notice of civil claim, counterclaim, third party notice or any document, other than a petition, that starts a proceeding;
"party", in relation to a proceeding, means a person named as a party in the style of proceeding;
"party of record", in relation to a proceeding, means a person who has filed a pleading, petition or response to petition in the proceeding, and includes,
(a) in a proceeding referred to in Part 18, a person who has filed a notice of interest under that Part;
(b) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 44/2014, Sch. 2, s. 1.]
"party's lawyer", in relation to a party to a proceeding, means the lawyer representing the party in that proceeding;
"petition proceeding" means a proceeding started by a petition;
"plaintiff" means a person who starts an action;
"pleading" means a notice of civil claim, a response to civil claim, a reply, a counterclaim, a response to counterclaim, a third party notice or a response to third party notice;
"pleading period", in relation to an action, means the period for filing a responding pleading to the pleading that was most recently filed in the action;
"proceeding" means an action, a petition proceeding and a requisition proceeding, and includes any other suit, cause, matter, stated case under Rule 18-2 or appeal;
"receiver" includes receiver-manager;
"registrar" includes a district registrar and a deputy district registrar;
"registrar's hearing" means an inquiry, an assessment, an accounting, a review of a bill, an examination of an agreement or an assessment of a bill of costs;
"registry", in relation to a proceeding, means the office of the court in which the proceeding is being conducted;
"relief" includes remedy;
"requisition proceeding" means a proceeding started by a requisition;
"responding pleading" means a response to civil claim, a response to counterclaim, a response to third party notice, a reply or any other document filed in response to an originating pleading;
"serve", in relation to a document, means
(a) serve by ordinary service in accordance with Rule 4-2 (2), or
(b) if the document is one referred to in Rule 4-3 (1), serve by personal service in accordance with Rule 4-3 (2);
"special referee" means any person, other than an associate judge or registrar, who is appointed by the court under these Supreme Court Civil Rules or under an enactment to conduct an assessment, inquiry or accounting;
"style of proceeding" means, in relation to a document that is or is to be filed in a proceeding, that portion of the document that
(a) sets out the registry number attributed to the proceeding and the court and registry in which the proceeding is being or is to be conducted, and
(b) identifies the parties to the proceeding or, if there is no person named as a defendant, the subject matter of the proceeding;
"third party" means a person referred to in Rule 3-5 (1) against whom a third party claim is pursued;
"witness list" means a list setting out the name and address of each witness whom a party may call at trial;
"writ of execution" includes a writ of seizure and sale, a writ of sequestration, a writ of possession and a writ of delivery and any subsequent writ that issues to give effect to these writs, and also includes a warrant or other process of execution issued out of any court in British Columbia that has jurisdiction to grant and issue that process.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 1; 18/2013; 44/2014, Sch. 2, s. 1; 321/2021, Sch. 1, s. 1; 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 1; 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1.]
(2) Unless a contrary intention appears, the Interpretation Act and the interpretation section of the Supreme Court Act apply to these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(3) The titles and headings of these Supreme Court Civil Rules are for convenience only and are not intended as a guide to interpretation.
(4) Italicized words in square brackets are not part of these Supreme Court Civil Rules, are included editorially for convenience of reference only and are not to be used in interpreting the rules or any provision to which the words refer.
Rule 1-2 — Citation and Application
(1) These Supreme Court Civil Rules may be cited as the "Supreme Court Civil Rules" and are included within any reference to the "Rules of Court" or the "Supreme Court Rules".
(2) These Supreme Court Civil Rules govern every proceeding in the Supreme Court unless
(a) the proceeding is a family law case, in which case the Supreme Court Family Rules apply, or
(3) On application, and if all parties to a proceeding agree, the court may order that any provision of these Supreme Court Civil Rules does not apply to the proceeding.
(4) If an enactment, other than these Supreme Court Civil Rules or the Supreme Court Family Rules, authorizes an application to the court or to a judge, the application must be
(a) by petition under Rule 16-1 or requisition under Rule 17-1, or
(b) if the application is for an order other than a final order, by application under Part 8,
whether or not the enactment provides for the mode of application.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 2.]
(5) Subrule (4) does not apply if a particular mode of application is required by an enactment of Canada.
(1) The object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules is to secure the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of every proceeding on its merits.
(2) Securing the just, speedy and inexpensive determination of a proceeding on its merits includes, so far as is practicable, conducting the proceeding in ways that are proportionate to
(a) the amount involved in the proceeding,
Rule 2-1 — Choosing the Correct Form of Proceeding
(1) Unless an enactment or these Supreme Court Civil Rules otherwise provide, every proceeding must be started by the filing of a notice of civil claim under Part 3.
(2) To start a proceeding in the following circumstances, a person must file a petition or, if Rule 17-1 applies, a requisition:
(a) the person starting the proceeding is the only person who is interested in the relief claimed, or there is no person against whom relief is sought;
(b) the proceeding is brought in respect of an application that is authorized by an enactment to be made to the court;
(c) the sole or principal question at issue is alleged to be one of construction of an enactment, will, deed, oral or written contract or other document;
(d) the relief, advice or direction sought relates to a question arising in the execution of a trust, or the performance of an act by a person in the person's capacity as trustee, or the determination of the persons entitled as creditors or otherwise to the trust property;
(e) the relief, advice or direction sought relates to the maintenance, guardianship or property of infants or other persons under disability;
(f) the relief sought is for payment of funds into or out of court;
(g) the relief sought relates to land and is for
(i) a declaration of a beneficial interest in or a charge on land and of the character and extent of the interest or charge,
(ii) a declaration that settles the priority between interests or charges,
(iii) an order that cancels a certificate of title or making a title subject to an interest or charge, or
(iv) an order of partition or sale;
(h) the relief, advice or direction sought relates to the determination of a claim of solicitor and client privilege.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 1 (a).]
(2.1) Without limiting any other provision of this Rule, a proceeding to which Part 25 applies may be started by
(a) the filing of a submission for estate grant under Rule 25-3 (2),
(b) the filing of a submission for resealing under Rule 25-6 (2),
(c) the filing of a requisition under Rule 25-12 (2), 25-14 (1) or 25-14 (1.11), or
(d) the filing of a petition under Rule 25-14 (1.1), (2) or (4).
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 1 (b); am. B.C. Reg. 115/2019, s. 1.]
(3) Without limiting subrules (1) to (2.1), the following provisions apply to the following applications and proceedings:
(a) Rule 8-3 applies to an application for an order by consent;
(b) Rule 8-4 applies to an application of which notice need not be given;
(c) Rule 10-3 applies to a proceeding brought to obtain relief by way of interpleader or in which such relief is sought;
(c.1) Rule 14-1 (21) applies to an appointment for a review of a bill or an examination of an agreement under the Legal Profession Act;
(d) Rule 15-1 applies to a fast track action;
(e) Rule 18-2 applies to a stated case;
(f) Rule 18-3 applies to an appeal that is authorized, by an enactment, to be made to the court;
(g) Rule 19-3 applies to a proceeding to register a reciprocally enforceable judgment within the meaning of Rule 19-3;
(h) Rule 21-1 applies to a proceeding brought in rem against a ship or other property;
(i) Part 25 applies to a proceeding in relation to the administration of an estate;
(j) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 1 (d).]
(k) Rule 21-7 applies to a proceeding for foreclosure of the equitable right to redeem mortgaged property, for redemption or for cancellation of an agreement for sale.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 3; 149/2013, s. 1 (c) and (d).]
(1) In this rule, "tribunal award" means any order, decision, judgment or other determination that, under an enactment, may be filed or registered in the court for enforcement purposes.
[en. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 1.]
(2) A tribunal award may be filed in a registry.
[en. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 1.]
(3) To file a tribunal award under subrule (2), a certified copy of the tribunal award must be attached to a requisition in Form 17.2 and the requisition must be filed.
[en. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 1.]
Part 3 — Proceedings Started by Filing a Notice of Civil Claim
Rule 3-1 — Notice of Civil Claim
(1) To start a proceeding under this Part, a person must file a notice of civil claim in Form 1.
(2) A notice of civil claim must do the following:
(a) set out a concise statement of the material facts giving rise to the claim;
(b) set out the relief sought by the plaintiff against each named defendant;
(c) set out a concise summary of the legal basis for the relief sought;
(d) set out the proposed place of trial;
(e) if the plaintiff sues or a defendant is sued in a representative capacity, show in what capacity the plaintiff sues or the defendant is sued;
(f) provide the data collection information required in the appendix to the form;
Rule 3-2 — Serving and Renewing the Notice of Civil Claim
(1) An original notice of civil claim does not remain in force for more than 12 months, but if a defendant named in a notice of civil claim has not been served, the court, on the application of the plaintiff made before or after the expiration of the 12 months, may order that the original notice of civil claim be renewed for a period of not more than 12 months.
(2) If a renewed notice of civil claim has not been served on a defendant named in the notice of civil claim, the court, on the application of the plaintiff made during the currency of the renewed notice of civil claim, may order the renewal of the notice of civil claim for a further period of not more than 12 months.
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders, a renewal period ordered under subrule (1) or (2) begins on the date of the order.
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, a copy of each order granting renewal of a notice of civil claim must be served with the renewed notice of civil claim, and the renewed notice of civil claim remains in force and is available to prevent the operation of any statutory limitation and for all other purposes.
Rule 3-3 — Responding to a Notice of Civil Claim
(1) To respond to a notice of civil claim, a person must, within the time for response to civil claim referred to in subrule (3),
(a) file a response to civil claim in Form 2, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed response to civil claim on the plaintiff.
(2) A response to civil claim under subrule (1)
(i) indicate, for each fact set out in Part 1 of the notice of civil claim, whether that fact is
(C) outside the knowledge of the defendant,
(ii) for any fact set out in Part 1 of the notice of civil claim that is denied, concisely set out the defendant's version of that fact, and
(iii) set out, in a concise statement, any additional material facts that the defendant believes relate to the matters raised by the notice of civil claim,
(b) must indicate whether the defendant consents to, opposes or takes no position on the granting of the relief sought against that defendant in the notice of civil claim,
(c) must, if the defendant opposes any of the relief referred to in paragraph (b) of this subrule, set out a concise summary of the legal basis for that opposition, and
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders, to respond to a notice of civil claim, a response to civil claim under this rule must be filed and served within the following period:
(a) in the case of a notice of civil claim that is served on a person,
(i) if the person was served anywhere in Canada, within 21 days after that service,
(ii) if the person was served anywhere in the United States of America, within 35 days after that service, or
(iii) if the person was served anywhere else, within 49 days after that service;
(b) in the case of a notice of civil claim that is served on a ship or property under Rule 21-1 (5), within 21 days after service.
[am. B.C. Regs. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 1; 112/2012, Sch. A, s. 1.]
(4) If the response to civil claim alleges a defence of tender or tender of money by way of amends, the defendant must pay into court the amount alleged to have been tendered, failing which the defence of tender or tender of money by way of amends may be struck out.
(5) If, on a judgment, costs are awarded to a defendant who has paid into court under this rule, the assessed costs must be paid to the defendant out of the money in court.
(6) A plaintiff may, before trial, apply to take out money paid into court under this rule, and the court may deal with costs of the action as if the defence of tender had succeeded.
(7) If in an action for defamation the defendant is permitted to allege the plaintiff failed to mitigate the plaintiff's damages, the defendant may also allege tender of money by way of amends, whether the tender was made before or after action was started.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 1.]
(8) An allegation of fact in a notice of civil claim, if not admitted, denied or stated to be outside the knowledge of the defendant, is deemed to be outside the knowledge of the defendant.
(1) A defendant in an action who wishes to pursue a claim within that action against the plaintiff must, within the time set out for the filing of a response to civil claim under Rule 3-3 (3), file a counterclaim in Form 3 that accords with Rule 3-7.
(2) If the counterclaim referred to in subrule (1) raises questions between the defendant bringing the counterclaim and a person other than the plaintiff, the defendant may join that other person as a party against whom the counterclaim is brought.
(3) In a counterclaim,
(a) the plaintiff against whom the counterclaim is brought must be identified as the "plaintiff",
(b) each defendant against whom the counterclaim is brought must, along with the defendant bringing the counterclaim, be identified as a "defendant", and
(c) any other person against whom the counterclaim is brought must be identified as a "defendant by way of counterclaim".
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, a defendant who files a counterclaim
(a) must serve a copy of the filed counterclaim on all parties of record within the time set out in Rule 3-3 (3) for the filing and service of a response to civil claim, and
(b) if the counterclaim is brought against a person who is not yet a party of record to the action, must serve that defendant by way of counterclaim by personal service with
(i) a copy of the filed counterclaim, and
(ii) a copy of the filed notice of civil claim
within 60 days after the date on which the counterclaim was filed.
(5) A person against whom a counterclaim is brought must, if that person wishes to dispute the counterclaim,
(a) file a response to counterclaim in Form 4 that accords with Rule 3-7, and
(b) serve a copy of that filed response to counterclaim on all parties of record.
(6) Except to the extent that this rule otherwise provides, Rules 3-1, 3-3 and 3-8 apply to a counterclaim as if it were a notice of civil claim and to a response to counterclaim as if it were a response to civil claim.
(7) Without limiting subrule (6) of this rule, a defendant's counterclaim in an action may proceed even though the plaintiff's claim in the action has been stayed, discontinued or dismissed.
(7.1) If, on the application of a party against whom a counterclaim is made, it appears that the subject matter of the counterclaim ought to be dealt with separately, the court may order that the counterclaim be struck out or tried separately or may make any other order the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 4.]
(8) If a set-off or counterclaim of a defendant establishes a defence to the plaintiff's claim, the court may grant judgment in favour of the defendant for any balance in the defendant's favour or for other relief as the court considers appropriate.
(1) A party against whom relief is sought in an action may, if that party is not a plaintiff in the action, pursue a third party claim against any person if the party alleges that
(a) the party is entitled to contribution or indemnity from the person in relation to any relief that is being sought against the party in the action,
(b) the party is entitled to relief against the person and that relief relates to or is connected with the subject matter of the action, or
(c) a question or issue between the party and the person
(i) is substantially the same as a question or issue that relates to or is connected with
(A) relief claimed in the action, or
(1.1) Subrule (1) does not preclude a plaintiff from pursuing a third party claim in the plaintiff's capacity as a defendant to a counterclaim.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 5 (a); am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 1.]
(2) A third party claim may be pursued against a person, whether or not that person is a party to the action.
(3) Subject to subrule (4), a party wishing to pursue a third party claim referred to in subrule (1) must file a third party notice in Form 5 that accords with Rule 3-7.
(4) A party may file a third party notice
(a) at any time with leave of the court, or
(b) without leave of the court, within 42 days after the filing of the response.
[am. B.C. Reg. 321/2021, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(5) If the court makes an order under subrule (4) (a) in an action in which a case plan order has been made, the court may
(a) consider if and to what extent the case plan order is appropriate given the third party notice, and
(b) amend the case plan order, if necessary, for that purpose.
(6) Notice of an application for leave under subrule (4) (a) must be served on
(7) Unless the court otherwise orders, a party who files a third party notice must,
(a) within 60 days after the date on which the third party notice is filed, serve on the third party
(i) a copy of the filed third party notice, and
(ii) if the third party is not a party of record at the time of service, a copy of any filed pleading that has previously been served by any party to the action, and
(b) promptly after the date on which the third party notice is filed, serve a copy of the filed third party notice on all parties of record.
(8) At any time, on application, the court may set aside a third party notice.
(9) Subject to subrule (10), if a third party wishes to dispute the third party notice, the third party must
(a) file a response to third party notice in Form 6 that accords with Rule 3-7, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed response to third party notice on all parties of record.
(10) A third party who is a defendant in the action need not file or serve a response to third party notice and is deemed to deny the facts alleged in the third party notice and to rely on the facts pleaded in that party's response to civil claim if all of the following apply:
(a) the third party notice contains no claim other than a claim for contribution or indemnity under the Negligence Act;
(b) the third party has filed and served a response to civil claim to the plaintiff's notice of civil claim;
(c) the third party intends, in defending against the third party notice, to rely on the facts set out in the third party's response to civil claim and on no other facts.
(11) Except to the extent that this rule otherwise provides, Rules 3-1 and 3-3 apply to a third party notice as if it were a notice of civil claim and to a response to third party notice as if it were a response to civil claim.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 5 (b).]
(12) A third party who has filed a response to third party notice may, within the period for filing and serving a response to the third party notice, file and serve on all parties of record a response to civil claim to the plaintiff's notice of civil claim, raising any defence open to a defendant.
(13) A party affected by a third party procedure may apply to the court for directions.
(14) The court may impose terms on any third party procedure to limit or avoid any prejudice or unnecessary delay that might otherwise be suffered by a party as a result of that third party procedure.
(15) An issue between the party filing the third party notice and the third party may be tried at the time the court may direct.
(16) If a third party has not filed a response to third party notice and the time for filing the response to third party notice has expired, the party who filed the third party notice may apply for judgment in default of response to third party notice against the third party and notice of the application must be served on each other party of record.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 5 (a).]
(17) On an application under subrule (16), the court may grant any or all of the relief claimed in the third party notice.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 5 (a).]
(1) A plaintiff may, within 7 days after the response to civil claim has been served, file and serve on all parties of record a reply in Form 7 that accords with Rule 3-7.
(2) No pleading subsequent to a reply may be filed or served without leave of the court.
(3) If no reply to a response to civil claim is served, a joinder of issue on that response to civil claim is implied.
(4) A reply that is a simple joinder of issue must not be filed or served.
Rule 3-7 — Pleadings Generally
Content of Pleadings
(1) A pleading must not contain the evidence by which the facts alleged in it are to be proved.
(2) The effect of any document or the purport of any conversation referred to in a pleading, if material, must be stated briefly and the precise words of the documents or conversation must not be stated, except insofar as those words are themselves material.
(3) A party need not plead a fact if
(a) the fact is presumed by law to be true, or
(b) the burden of disproving the fact lies on the other party.
(4) A party need not plead the performance of a condition precedent necessary for the party's case unless the other party has specifically denied it in the other party's pleadings.
(5) A party may plead a matter that has arisen since the start of the proceeding.
(6) A party must not plead an allegation of fact or a new ground or claim inconsistent with the party's previous pleading.
(7) Subrule (6) does not affect the right of a party to make allegations in the alternative or to amend or apply for leave to amend a pleading.
(8) A party may raise in a pleading an objection in point of law.
(9) Conclusions of law must not be pleaded unless the material facts supporting them are pleaded.
(10) Unless the incorporation of a corporate party or the office or status of a party is specifically denied, it is deemed to be admitted.
(11) A defendant in an action may set off or set up by way of counterclaim any right or claim, whether the set-off or counterclaim is for damages or not, so as to enable the court to pronounce a final judgment on all claims in the same action.
(12) In a pleading subsequent to a notice of civil claim, a party must plead specifically any matter of fact or point of law that
(a) the party alleges makes a claim or defence of the opposite party not maintainable,
(b) if not specifically pleaded, might take the other party by surprise, or
(c) raises issues of fact not arising out of the preceding pleading.
(13) A pleading need not ask for general or other relief.
(14) If general damages are claimed, the amount of the general damages claimed must not be stated in any pleading.
(15) If a party in a pleading denies an allegation of fact in the previous pleading of the opposite party, the party must not do so evasively but must answer the point of substance.
(16) If a contract, promise or agreement is alleged in a pleading, a bare denial of it by the opposite party is to be construed only as a denial of fact of the express contract, promise or agreement alleged, or of the matters of fact from which it may be implied by law, and not as a denial of the legality or sufficiency in law of that contract, promise or agreement.
(17) It is sufficient to allege malice, fraudulent intention, knowledge or other condition of the mind of a person as a fact, without setting out the circumstances from which it is to be inferred.
Particulars
(18) If the party pleading relies on misrepresentation, fraud, breach of trust, wilful default or undue influence, or if particulars may be necessary, full particulars, with dates and items if applicable, must be stated in the pleading.
(19) If the particulars required under subrule (18) of debt, expenses or damages are lengthy, the party pleading may refer to this fact and, instead of pleading the particulars, must serve the particulars in a separate document either before or with the pleading.
(20) Particulars need only be pleaded to the extent that they are known at the date of pleading, but further particulars
(a) may be served after they become known, and
(b) must be served within 10 days after a demand is made in writing.
(21) In an action for libel or slander,
(a) if the plaintiff alleges that the words or matter complained of were used in a derogatory sense other than their ordinary meaning, the plaintiff must give particulars of the facts and matters on which the plaintiff relies in support of that sense, and
(b) if the defendant alleges that, insofar as the words complained of consist of statements of fact, they are true in substance and in fact, and that insofar as they consist of expressions of opinion, they are fair comment on a matter of public interest, the defendant must give particulars stating which of the words complained of the defendant alleges are statements of fact and of the facts and matters relied on in support of the allegation that the words are true.
(22) The court may order a party to serve further and better particulars of a matter stated in a pleading.
(23) Before applying to the court for particulars, a party must demand them in writing from the other party.
(24) A demand for particulars does not operate as a stay of proceedings or give an extension of time, but a party may apply for an extension of time for serving a responding pleading on the ground that the party cannot answer the originating pleading until particulars are provided.
(1) A plaintiff may proceed against a defendant under this rule if
(a) that defendant has not filed and served a response to civil claim, and
(b) the period for filing and serving the response to civil claim has expired.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 6.]
(2) A plaintiff who wishes to proceed against a defendant under this rule must file
(a) proof of service of the notice of civil claim on that defendant,
(b) proof that the defendant has failed to serve a response to civil claim,
(c) a requisition endorsed by a registrar with a notation that no response to civil claim has been filed by that defendant, and
Claims for Which Default Judgment Is Available
(3) If the plaintiff's action against a defendant includes a claim for recovery of money in a specified or ascertainable amount, the plaintiff may
(a) on that claim, obtain judgment in Form 8 against that defendant for an amount not exceeding the total of
(ii) the interest, if any, to which the plaintiff is entitled, and
(b) proceed against one or more of the defendants, including the defendant against whom judgment was obtained, on any other claims brought in the action that are not barred as a result of the judgment referred to in paragraph (a).
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(4) For the purpose of subrule (3), a claim may be treated as a claim for recovery of money in a specified or ascertainable amount even though
(a) part of the claim is for interest accruing after the date of the notice of civil claim, and
(b) the interest is to be computed from the date of the notice of civil claim to the date that judgment is granted.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(5) If the plaintiff's action against a defendant includes a claim for damages in an amount that is neither specified nor ascertainable, the plaintiff may
(a) on that claim, obtain judgment in Form 8 against that defendant for damages to be assessed and costs, and
(b) proceed against one or more of the defendants, including the defendant against whom judgment was obtained, on any other claims brought in the action that are not barred as a result of the judgment referred to in paragraph (a).
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(6) If the plaintiff's action against a defendant includes a claim for the detention of goods, the plaintiff may
(i) judgment in Form 8 against that defendant for the delivery of the goods, or their value to be assessed and costs, or
(ii) judgment in Form 8 against that defendant for the value of the goods to be assessed and costs, and
(b) proceed against one or more of the defendants, including the defendant against whom judgment was obtained, on any other claims brought in the action that are not barred as a result of the judgment referred to in paragraph (a).
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(7) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(8) If a registrar is not certain that a plaintiff's claim against a defendant relates to a claim within subrule (3), (5) or (6), the registrar may refuse to grant judgment and the plaintiff may apply to a judge or associate judge for default judgment.
[am. B.C. Regs. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (b); 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(9) If the plaintiff's claim against a defendant is not one referred to in subrule (3), (5) or (6), the plaintiff may apply for judgment against the defendant under subrule (10).
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(10) The following apply to an application under subrule (9):
(a) the application may be brought under Rule 8-4;
(b) the application must be supported by an affidavit setting out the facts that verify the claim and stating that the person swearing the affidavit knows of no fact that would constitute a defence to the claim except as to amount;
(c) if the action in which the application is made is brought against several defendants, the court may
(i) impose terms on any judgment for the plaintiff, including a stay of execution of the judgment until the trial of the action against the other defendants, or
(ii) adjourn the application until the trial of the action against the other defendants.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (a).]
(11) The court may set aside or vary any judgment granted under this rule.
Assessments
(12) Subject to subrule (13), if a plaintiff has obtained judgment for damages to be assessed or value to be assessed,
(a) the plaintiff may set the assessment down for trial, and
(b) if the assessment is set for trial, unless the court otherwise orders, the assessment must be tried at the same time as the trial of the action or issues against any other defendant.
(13) If a plaintiff has obtained judgment under subrule (5) or (6), the plaintiff may, instead of proceeding to trial to assess the damages or the value of the goods, apply to the court, and, on that application, the court may
(a) assess the damages or value of the goods summarily on affidavit or other evidence,
(b) order an assessment, an inquiry or an accounting,
(c) give directions as to the trial or hearing of the assessment or determination of value, or
(d) make any other order the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 2 (c).]
Rule 4-1 — Address for Service
(1) A party of record to a proceeding who is represented by a lawyer must have, as the party's addresses for service, both
(a) an e-mail address, if available, and
(b) an accessible address that is an office address of that lawyer.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(1.1) A party of record to a proceeding who is not represented by a lawyer must
(a) have, as the party's addresses for service, both
(i) an e-mail address, if available, and
(ii) an accessible address within 30 kilometres of the registry, or
(b) if the party does not have an accessible address within 30 kilometres of the registry, have, as the party's addresses for service, both
(i) an e-mail address, if available, and
(A) a postal address in British Columbia, or
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(2) A party may have, in addition to the address or addresses for service the party is required to have under subrule (1) or (1.1), one or more of the following as addresses for service:
(c) an additional e-mail address.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 3.]
(3) A party of record may change the party's address or addresses for service by filing and serving on the other parties of record a notice of address for service in Form 9 that shows, for the party,
(a) the address or addresses for service required under subrule (1) or (1.1), and
(b) any additional addresses for service referred to in subrule (2) that the party wishes to include.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 4.]
(1) Subject to Rule 4-3 (1) and unless the court otherwise orders, documents to be served by a party under these Supreme Court Civil Rules may be served by ordinary service.
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, ordinary service of a document is to be effected in any of the following ways on a person who has provided an address for service in the proceeding:
(a) by leaving the document at the person's address for service;
(b) by mailing the document by ordinary mail to the person's address for service;
(c) subject to subrule (5) of this rule, if a fax number is provided as one of the person's addresses for service, by faxing the document to that fax number together with a fax cover sheet;
(d) if an e-mail address is provided as one of the person's addresses for service, by e-mailing the document to that e-mail address.
(3) A document served by leaving it at a person's address for service is deemed to be served on the person as follows:
(a) if the document is left at the address for service at or before 4 p.m. on a day that is not a Saturday or holiday, the document is deemed to be served on the day of service;
(b) if the document is left at the address for service on a Saturday or holiday or after 4 p.m. on any other day, the document is deemed to be served on the next day that is not a Saturday or holiday.
(4) A document sent for service by ordinary mail under this rule is deemed to be served one week later on the same day of the week as the day of mailing or, if that deemed day of service is a Saturday or holiday, on the next day that is not a Saturday or holiday.
(5) A document may be served by fax as follows:
(a) if the document, including the fax cover sheet, is less than 30 pages, the document may be served by fax at any time;
(b) if the document, including the fax cover sheet, is 30 pages or more, the document may be served by fax if it is transmitted
(i) between 5 p.m. and the following 8 a.m., or
(ii) at another time if the person receiving the document agreed to that time before service.
(6) A document transmitted for service by fax or e-mail under this rule is deemed to be served as follows:
(a) if the document is transmitted before 4 p.m. on a day that is not a Saturday or holiday, the document is deemed to be served on the day of transmission;
(b) if the document is transmitted on a Saturday or holiday or after 4 p.m. on any other day, the document is deemed to be served on the next day that is not a Saturday or holiday.
(7) If, despite these Supreme Court Civil Rules, a party of record on whom a document is to be served has no address for service, and if these Supreme Court Civil Rules do not specify that the document must be served by personal service on the party,
(a) the document may be served by mailing a copy of the document by ordinary mail to
(ii) if the party has no lawyer representing the party in the proceeding, to the party's last known address, and
(8) If a document is transmitted for service by e-mail and the person receiving the document requests, within 3 days of receiving that document, that a copy be sent to another address for service for that person, the party who served the document by e-mail must provide the copy at the requested address for service within 7 days of receiving that request or as agreed upon by the parties.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 5.]
(1) Unless the court otherwise orders or these Supreme Court Civil Rules otherwise provide, the following documents must be served by personal service in accordance with subrule (2):
(c) a counterclaim if that counterclaim is being served on a person who is not a party of record;
(d) a third party notice if that third party notice is being served on a person who is not a party of record;
(e) a subpoena to a witness who is not a party of record;
(f) a subpoena to a debtor under Rule 13-3;
(f.1) a subpoena under Rule 25-12;
(g) a citation referred to in Rule 25-11;
(h) a notice of intention to withdraw under Rule 22-6 if that notice is being served on the person who was being represented by the lawyer who filed the notice;
(i) a notice of application under Rule 22-8 for an order for contempt;
(j) any document not mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (i) of this subrule that is to be served on a person who is not a party of record to the proceeding or who has not provided an address for service in the proceeding under Rule 8-1 (11);
(k) any other document that under these Supreme Court Civil Rules is to be served by personal service.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 2.]
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, personal service of a document is to be effected as follows:
(a) on an individual, by leaving a copy of the document with the individual;
(i) by leaving a copy of the document with the president, chair, mayor or other chief officer of the corporation,
(ii) by leaving a copy of the document with the city clerk or municipal clerk,
(iii) by leaving a copy of the document with the manager, cashier, superintendent, treasurer, secretary, clerk or agent of the corporation or of any branch or agency of the corporation in British Columbia, or
(iv) in the manner provided by the Business Corporations Act or any enactment relating to the service of court documents,
and, for the purpose of this paragraph, if the chief place of business of the corporation is outside British Columbia, every person who, within British Columbia, transacts or carries on any of the business of, or any business for, that corporation is deemed to be an agent of the corporation;
(c) on an unincorporated association, other than a trade union, by leaving a copy of the document with any officer of the association;
(d) on a trade union, by leaving a copy of the document with any officer of the trade union or with a business agent;
(e) on an infant, in the manner provided by the Infants Act;
(f) on a mentally incompetent person, by leaving a copy of the document
(i) with the person's committee or, if there is no committee, with the person with whom the mentally incompetent person resides or in whose care the mentally incompetent person is or with the person appointed by the court to be served in the mentally incompetent person's place, and
(ii) with the Public Guardian and Trustee,
and in no case is it necessary to show the original document;
(g) on a principal referred to in subrule (3), in accordance with subrules (3) to (5);
(h) on the Attorney General, in accordance with subrule (6).
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 2.]
(3) If an agent residing or carrying on business in British Columbia enters into a contract, in British Columbia, on behalf of a principal who resides outside British Columbia, and a proceeding is brought that relates to or arises out of that contract, a pleading or other document in that proceeding may be served on the agent with leave of the court.
(4) The court may make an order granting leave under subrule (3) before the agent's authority or the agent's business relations with the principal have been determined.
(5) Promptly after a pleading or other document is served on an agent under subrule (3), the party serving the pleading or other document must send, by registered mail to the principal at the principal's address outside British Columbia,
(a) a copy of the entered order giving leave for that service, and
(6) A document to be served on the Attorney General must be served at the Ministry of Attorney General in the City of Victoria, and is sufficiently served if it is left during office hours with any lawyer on the staff of the Attorney General at Victoria or mailed by registered mail to the Deputy Attorney General at Victoria.
[am. B.C. Regs. 27/2013, Sch. 2, s. 13; 99/2018, Sch. 2, s. 16.]
(7) A document served by personal service is deemed to be served as follows:
(a) if the document is served at or before 4 p.m. on a day that is not a Saturday or holiday, the document is deemed to be served on the day of service;
(b) if the document is served on a Saturday or holiday or after 4 p.m. on any other day, the document is deemed to be served on the next day that is not a Saturday or holiday.
(8) If an originating pleading or petition has not been served on a person, but the person files a responding pleading or response to petition or attends at the trial or at the hearing of the petition, the originating pleading or petition is deemed to have been served on that person on the date the person files or attends.
Rule 4-4 — Alternative Methods of Service
(1) If it is impracticable to serve a document by personal service or if the person to be served by personal service
(a) cannot be found after a diligent search, or
(b) is evading service of the documents,
the court may, on application without notice, make an order for substituted service granting permission to use an alternative method of service.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 7 (a).]
(2) If a document is to be served by an alternative method permitted under subrule (1), a copy of the entered substituted service order that granted permission to use that alternative method must be served with the document unless
(a) the court otherwise orders, or
(b) the alternative method of service permitted under subrule (1) is service by advertisement.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 7 (b).]
(3) If, under subrule (1), the court permits a document to be served by advertisement, the advertisement must be in Form 10.
Rule 4-5 — Service outside British Columbia
(1) An originating pleading, petition or other document may be served on a person outside British Columbia without leave in any of the circumstances enumerated in section 10 of the Court Jurisdiction and Proceedings Transfer Act.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 8.]
(2) A copy of an originating pleading or petition served outside British Columbia without leave must state, by endorsement in Form 11, the circumstances enumerated in section 10 of the Court Jurisdiction and Proceedings Transfer Act on which it is claimed that service is permitted under this rule.
(3) In any case not provided for in subrule (1), leave of the court must be obtained before an originating pleading, petition or other document may be served outside British Columbia, and the court may grant such leave on an application referred to in subrule (4).
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 8.]
(4) An application for leave to serve a person outside British Columbia
(a) may be made without notice in accordance with Rule 8-1 (2) (b), and
(b) must be supported by an affidavit or other evidence showing
(i) in what place or country that person is or probably may be found, and
(5) If an order is made granting leave to serve an originating pleading, petition or other document outside British Columbia, the following documents must be served with that originating pleading, petition or other document:
(a) a copy of the filed notice of application or requisition for leave to serve;
(b) a copy of all filed affidavits in support of the application;
(c) a copy of the entered order granting leave to serve.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 8.]
(6) This rule does not invalidate service of a document outside British Columbia without leave of the court if the document could have been validly served apart from this rule.
(7) Despite this rule, the parties to a contract may agree
(a) that the court will have jurisdiction to hear a proceeding in respect of the contract, and
(b) that a document in the proceeding may be served
(i) at any place, within or outside British Columbia,
(iii) on any person on behalf of any party, or
specified or indicated in the contract.
(8) Service of a document in accordance with a contract referred to in subrule (7) is effective service, but no contractual stipulation as to service of a document invalidates service that would otherwise be effective under these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(9) In subrules (10) to (13), "Convention" means the Convention on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters, signed at the Hague on November 15, 1965.
(10) A document may be served outside British Columbia
(a) in a manner provided by these Supreme Court Civil Rules for service in British Columbia,
(b) in a manner provided by the law of the place where service is made if, by that manner of service, the document could reasonably be expected to come to the notice of the person to be served, or
(c) in a state that is a contracting state under the Convention, in a manner provided by or permitted under the Convention.
(11) Service of a document outside British Columbia may be proved
(a) in a manner provided by these Supreme Court Civil Rules for proof of service in British Columbia,
(b) in the manner provided for proof of service by the law of the place where service was made regardless of the manner under subrule (10) by which service was effected, or
(c) in accordance with the Convention, if service was effected under subrule (10) (c).
(12) If service is to be made in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention, Forms 12 and 13 must be used.
(13) If an authority has, in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention, completed a certificate in Form 14, the certificate is evidence of the facts stated in it.
(1) Service of a document is proved as follows:
(a) service on a person of an originating pleading is proved
(i) by filing an affidavit of personal service in Form 15, or
(ii) by the person filing a responding pleading;
(b) service on a person of a petition is proved
(i) by filing an affidavit of personal service in Form 15, or
(ii) by the person filing a response to petition;
(c) service of any other document served by personal service is proved by filing an affidavit of personal service in Form 15;
(d) service of any document that is served by ordinary service is proved
(i) by filing an affidavit of ordinary service in Form 16, or
(ii) by filing a requisition in Form 17 to which is attached a written acknowledgment of receipt signed by the party or lawyer on whom the document was served.
(2) Service of a document by a sheriff may be proved by a certificate in Form 18 endorsed on a copy of the document.
(3) If a member of the Canadian Armed Forces has been served with a document by an officer of the Canadian Armed Forces, proof of the service in the form of a certificate annexed to a copy of the document served, signed by the officer and stating the officer's rank and when, where and how service was effected, may be filed as proof of service.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 3.]
(4) Nothing in subrules (1) to (3) restricts the court from considering any other evidence of service that the court considers appropriate in the circumstances.
(1) If a document has been served in accordance with this Part but a person can show that the document
(a) did not come to the person's notice,
(b) came to the person's notice later than when it was served, or
(c) was incomplete or illegible,
the court may set aside an order, extend time, order an adjournment or make such other order as it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 4.]
Rule 5-1 — Requesting a Case Planning Conference
(1) A party of record to an action may, at any time after the pleading period has expired, request a case planning conference by
(a) obtaining a date and time for the case planning conference from the registry, and
(2) Without limiting subrule (1), at any stage of an action after the pleading period has expired, the court
(a) may direct that a case planning conference take place, and
(b) in that case, must direct that a party request a case planning conference in accordance with subrule (1).
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders or the parties of record otherwise agree, a party who is requesting a case planning conference under subrule (1) or who has been directed to file a notice of case planning conference under subrule (2) must serve the filed notice of case planning conference on the other parties of record,
(a) in the case of the first case planning conference to be held in the action, at least 35 days, or any shorter period that the court may order, before the date set for the case planning conference, and
(b) in the case of any other case planning conference to be held in the action, at least 7 days, or any shorter period that the court may order, before the date set for the case planning conference.
(4) An application under subrule (3) (a) or (b) to shorten the service period applicable to a notice of case planning conference
(a) must be made by requisition in Form 19.1, and
(b) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 6 (b).]
(c) unless the court otherwise orders, may be made without notice.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 6.]
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a case planning conference is requested or ordered under this rule, the parties of record must, before the first case planning conference to be held in the action, file case plan proposals as follows:
(a) the party of record who is requesting the case planning conference must, within 14 days after serving the notice of case planning conference,
(i) file the party's case plan proposal, and
(ii) serve a copy of the filed case plan proposal on all other parties of record;
(b) each other party of record must, within 14 days after receipt of the case plan proposal referred to in paragraph (a),
(i) file the party's case plan proposal, and
(ii) serve a copy of the filed case plan proposal on all other parties of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 2.]
(6) A party's case plan proposal referred to in subrule (5) must be in Form 20 and must, in a summary manner, indicate the party's proposal with respect to the following steps:
(b) examinations for discovery;
(c) dispute resolution procedures;
(f) trial type, estimated trial length and preferred periods for the trial date.
Rule 5-2 — Conduct of Case Planning Conference
(1) A case planning conference held in an action must be conducted by a judge or associate judge.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, the following persons must attend a case planning conference in accordance with subrule (3):
(a) each lawyer representing a party of record;
(i) the party is not represented by a lawyer in the action, or
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders, a lawyer or party of record referred to in subrule (2) must
(a) attend in person at the first case planning conference held in an action, and
(b) attend any subsequent case planning conference held in the action
(i) by telephone or other communication medium, if all persons participating in the case planning conference, whether by telephone, by other communication medium or in person, are able to communicate with each other, or
(4) Each application under subrule (2) for an order exempting a person from attending a case planning conference and an application under subrule (3) respecting the method of attendance
(a) must be made by requisition in Form 20.1, and
(b) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 7 (b).]
(c) unless the court otherwise orders, may be made without notice.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 7.]
(5) If an application is brought under subrule (2) for an order exempting a person from attending a case planning conference, the court may make such an order if the court considers that
(a) it is not reasonably possible for the person to attend given the distance the person has to travel for that attendance or the cost required for that attendance,
(b) attendance must be excused on health or compassionate grounds, or
(c) other extraordinary circumstances exist that justify the order.
(6) If a person who, under subrule (2), is required to attend a case planning conference fails to attend at that case planning conference, the case planning conference judge or associate judge may do one or more of the following:
(a) proceed in the absence of the person who failed to attend;
(b) adjourn the case planning conference;
(c) order that the person, or the party on whose behalf the person was to attend, pay costs to one or more other parties.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(7) Proceedings at a case planning conference must be recorded, but no part of that recording may be made available to or used by any person without court order.
Rule 5-3 — Case Planning Conference Orders
(1) At a case planning conference, the case planning conference judge or associate judge may make one or more of the following orders in respect of the action, whether or not on the application of a party:
(a) setting a timetable for the steps to be taken;
(b) amending a previous case plan order;
(c) any order referred to in Rule 22-4 (2);
(d) requiring amendment of a pleading to provide details of
(iii) the legal basis on which relief is sought or opposed
set out in that pleading;
(e) respecting the length and content of pleadings;
(f) respecting discovery, listing, production, preservation, exchange or examination of documents or exhibits, including, without limitation, orders
(i) respecting electronically stored information, and
(ii) that discovery, listing, production, exchange or examination be limited or otherwise conducted as ordered;
(g) respecting discovery of parties or the examination or inspection of persons or property, including, without limitation, that discovery, examination or inspection be limited, expanded or otherwise conducted in the manner ordered;
(h) respecting interrogatories;
(i) respecting third party claims, including imposing terms on any third party procedure to limit or avoid any prejudice or unnecessary delay that might otherwise be suffered by the plaintiff as a result of that third party procedure;
(k) respecting experts, including, without limitation, orders
(i) that the expert evidence on any one or more issues be given by one jointly-instructed expert,
(ii) respecting the number of experts a party may call,
(iii) that the parties' experts must confer before the service of their respective reports,
(iv) setting a date by which an expert's report must be served on the other parties of record, and
(v) respecting the issues on which an expert may be called;
(m) respecting offers to settle;
(n) respecting the conduct of any application, including, without limitation, that an application may be made by written submissions under Rule 8-6;
(o) requiring the parties of record to attend one or more of a mediation, a settlement conference or any other dispute resolution process, and giving directions for the conduct of the mediation, settlement conference or other dispute resolution process;
(p) authorizing or directing the parties of record to try one or more issues in the action independently of others;
(q) fixing the length of trial;
(r) respecting the place at which any step in the action is to be conducted;
(s) setting the action for trial on a particular date or on a particular trial list;
(s.1) striking out a counterclaim or directing that a counterclaim be tried separately;
(t) adjourning the case planning conference;
(u) directing the parties to attend a further case planning conference at a specified date and time;
(v) any orders the judge or associate judge considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 9; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(2) A case planning conference judge or associate judge must not, at a case planning conference,
(a) hear any application supported by affidavit evidence, except under subrule (6), or
(b) make an order for final judgment, except by consent or under subrule (6).
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(3) Without limiting subrules (1) and (2), the judge or associate judge conducting a case planning conference must, at the conclusion of the case planning conference, make a case plan order.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(4) A case plan order under subrule (3) must be in Form 21 and
(a) must set out any order made under subrule (1), and
(b) may but need not include any other matter referred to in Form 21.
(5) Without limiting Rule 13-1 (2), if a case plan order under subrule (3) is approved in writing by the case planning conference judge or associate judge, that order need not be approved in writing by a lawyer or by a party.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(6) If a party fails to comply with this Part or an order made under this rule or if anything is done or omitted improperly or unnecessarily by or on behalf of a party in relation to anything under this Part, the court may, on application, do one or both of the following:
(a) make an order under Rule 22-7;
(b) despite any other provision of these Supreme Court Civil Rules to the contrary and without limiting Rule 14-1 (14),
(i) award costs of the application in a lump sum fixed under Schedule 3 of Appendix B, and
(7) Without limiting Part 8, a party may apply for an order under subrule (6) at a case planning conference.
(8) Without limiting the ability of a case planning conference judge or associate judge to amend a case plan order at a case planning conference under Rule 5-3 (1) (b), the parties may apply to amend a case plan order as follows:
(a) if the application is to be by consent, the parties must apply under Rule 8-1 (2) (a);
(b) if the application is not to be by consent, a party of record must request a subsequent case planning conference under Rule 5-1.
[en. B.C. Reg. 321/2021, Sch. 1, s. 3; am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 321/2021, Sch. 1, s. 4.]
Part 6 — Amendment of Pleadings and Change of Parties
Rule 6-1 — Amendment of Pleadings
(1) Subject to Rules 6-2 (7) and (10) and 7-7 (5), a party may amend the whole or any part of a pleading filed by the party, other than to change parties or withdraw an admission,
(a) once without leave of the court, at any time before service of the notice of trial, or
(b) after the notice of trial is served, only with
(ii) written consent of the parties.
[en. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 3; am. B.C. Reg. 104/2019, s. 1.]
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, to amend a pleading under subrule (1), a party must
(a) amend the pleading in accordance with subrule (3),
(b) indicate on the amended pleading the date on which the original version of the pleading was filed, and
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a pleading is amended under this rule,
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a party amends a pleading under this rule, the party must do both of the following:
(a) within 7 days after filing the amended pleading, serve, by ordinary service, a copy of the filed amended pleading on all parties of record;
(b) if the amended pleading is an originating pleading, promptly after filing the amended pleading and before taking any further step in the proceeding, serve, by personal service, a copy of the filed amended originating pleading on any person who
(i) was served with a copy of the filed original version of the originating pleading, and
(ii) has not filed a responding pleading to the original version of the originating pleading.
(5) If a pleading (in this subrule and in subrule (6) called the "primary pleading") is amended under this rule and the amended pleading is served on a party of record under subrule (4) (a), that party
(a) may amend, under this rule, any pleading that party had filed in response to the original version of the primary pleading but only with respect to any matter raised by the amendments to the primary pleading, and
(b) in that event, must, within 14 days after being served with the amended pleading, serve a copy of the filed amended responding pleading on all parties of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 5 (a).]
(6) If a party on whom an amended pleading is served under subrule (4) (a) does not serve an amended responding pleading as provided in subrule (5),
(a) the pleading the party filed in response to the original version of the primary pleading is deemed to be the pleading the party filed in response to the amended pleading, and
(b) any new facts set out in the amended pleading are deemed to be outside the knowledge of the defendant.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 5 (b).]
(7) If an originating pleading is amended under this rule and served under subrule (4) (b) on a person who is not yet a party of record, the person has the same period for filing a responding pleading to that amended originating pleading as the party had to file a responding pleading to the original version of the originating pleading.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 11.]
(8) Unless the court otherwise orders, if an amendment is granted during a trial or hearing, an order need not be taken out and the amended pleading need not be filed or served.
Change of Party Status or Interest
(1) If a party dies or becomes bankrupt, or a corporate party is wound up or otherwise ceases to exist, but the claim survives, the proceeding may continue in spite of the death or bankruptcy or the corporate party having been wound up or ceasing to exist.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 12.]
(2) Whether or not the claim survives, a proceeding may continue in spite of either party dying between the verdict or finding on the issues of fact and the entry of judgment, but judgment may be entered despite the death.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 13.]
(3) If, by assignment, conveyance or death, an estate, interest or title devolves or is transferred, a proceeding relating to that estate, interest or title may be continued by or against the person on whom that estate, interest or title has devolved or to whom that estate, interest or title has been transferred.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 13.]
(4) If, after the start of a proceeding,
(a) a change or transmission of interest or liability of a party takes place or a person interested comes into existence, and
(b) it becomes necessary or desirable that
(i) a person not already a party should be made a party, or
(ii) a person already a party should be made a party in another capacity,
the court may order that the proceeding be continued between the continuing parties and the new party.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, ss. 12 and 13.]
(5) If a plaintiff or petitioner has died and the proceeding may be continued, a defendant or respondent may apply to the court for an order that the person entitled to proceed do proceed within the time that the court orders and that, in default, the proceeding be dismissed for want of prosecution.
(6) If a proceeding is dismissed under subrule (5), an order for payment of costs may be made and enforced against the assets of the deceased's estate.
Change of Parties
(7) At any stage of a proceeding, the court, on application by any person, may, subject to subrules (9) and (10),
(a) order that a person cease to be party if that person is not, or has ceased to be, a proper or necessary party,
(b) order that a person be added or substituted as a party if
(i) that person ought to have been joined as a party, or
(ii) that person's participation in the proceeding is necessary to ensure that all matters in the proceeding may be effectually adjudicated on, and
(c) order that a person be added as a party if there may exist, between the person and any party to the proceeding, a question or issue relating to or connected with
(i) any relief claimed in the proceeding, or
(ii) the subject matter of the proceeding
that, in the opinion of the court, it would be just and convenient to determine as between the person and that party.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, ss. 12 and 13.]
(8) Unless the court otherwise orders, if an order is made under subrule (7) adding, removing or substituting a party,
(a) the originating pleading or petition must be amended in accordance with these Supreme Court Civil Rules, a reference to the order must be endorsed on that amended pleading or petition and Rule 6-1 (4) to (7) applies,
(b) no further steps may be taken against a person added or substituted as a party under this subrule until a copy of the filed amended originating pleading or filed amended petition and a copy of the entered order adding or substituting the party are served on the person, and
(c) if a person is made a party under the order,
(i) the person may apply to the court to vary or discharge the order within 21 days after the date on which the order is served on the person under paragraph (b) of this subrule, and
(ii) unless the court orders, in an application under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph or otherwise, that the person not be added as a party, these Supreme Court Civil Rules apply in relation to that added party as if the amended originating pleading or petition were a new originating pleading or petition.
(9) If an order is made under subrule (4) or (7) in an action in which a case plan order has been made,
(a) if a person is removed as a party, the case plan order remains in effect, and
(b) if a person is added or substituted as a party and that person becomes a party of record, no step may be taken by or against the added or substituted party until the case plan order is amended to apply to the added or substituted party.
(9.1) Unless the court otherwise orders, an application under subrule (7) may be made without notice to any person who is not a party.
[en. B.C. Reg. 104/2019, s. 2.]
General
(10) A person must not be added or substituted as a plaintiff or petitioner without the person's consent.
(11) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a person becomes a party in substitution for a former party, all things done in the proceeding before the person became a party have the same effect in relation to that person as they had in relation to the former party, but the substituted party must file a notice of address for service in Form 9.
Part 7 — Procedures for Ascertaining Facts
Rule 7-1 — Discovery and Inspection of Documents
(1) Unless all parties of record consent or the court otherwise orders, each party of record to an action must, within 35 days after the end of the pleading period,
(a) prepare a list of documents in Form 22 that lists
(i) all documents that are or have been in the party's possession or control and that could, if available, be used by any party of record at trial to prove or disprove a material fact, and
(ii) all other documents to which the party intends to refer at trial, and
(2) Subject to subrules (6) and (7), each party's list of documents must include a brief description of each listed document.
(3) A party must include in the party's list of documents any insurance policy under which an insurer may be liable
(a) to satisfy the whole or any part of a judgment granted in the action, or
(b) to indemnify or reimburse any party for any money paid by that party in satisfaction of the whole or any part of such a judgment.
(4) Despite subrule (3), information concerning the insurance policy must not be disclosed to the court at trial unless it is relevant to an issue in the action.
(5) For the purposes of subrules (3) and (4), "insurance policy" does not include an application for insurance.
(6) If it is claimed that a document is privileged from production, the claim must be made in the list of documents with a statement of the grounds of the privilege.
(7) The nature of any document for which privilege from production is claimed must be described in a manner that, without revealing information that is privileged, will enable other parties to assess the validity of the claim of privilege.
(8) The court may order a party of record to serve an affidavit verifying a list of documents.
(9) If, after a list of documents has been served under this rule,
(a) it comes to the attention of the party serving it that the list is inaccurate or incomplete, or
(b) there comes into the party's possession or control a document that could be used by any party of record at trial to prove or disprove a material fact or any other document to which the party intends to refer at trial,
the party must promptly amend the list of documents and serve the amended list of documents on the other parties of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (a).]
(10) If a party who has received a list of documents believes that the list omits documents or a class of documents that should have been disclosed under subrule (1) (a) or (9), the party may, by written demand, require the party who prepared the list to
(a) amend the list of documents,
(b) serve on the demanding party the amended list of documents, and
(c) make the originals of the newly listed documents available for inspection and copying in accordance with subrules (15) and (16).
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (b) and (c).]
(11) If a party who has received a list of documents believes that the list should include documents or classes of documents that
(a) are within the listing party's possession, power or control,
(b) relate to any or all matters in question in the action, and
(c) are additional to the documents or classes of documents required under subrule (1) (a) or (9),
the party, by written demand that identifies the additional documents or classes of documents with reasonable specificity and that indicates the reason why such additional documents or classes of documents should be disclosed, may require the listing party to
(d) amend the list of documents,
(e) serve on the demanding party the amended list of documents, and
(f) make the originals of the newly listed documents available for inspection and copying in accordance with subrules (15) and (16).
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (d).]
(12) A party who receives a demand under subrule (10) or (11) must, within 35 days after receipt, do one of the following:
(a) comply with the demand in relation to the demanded documents;
(b) comply with the demand in relation to those of the demanded documents that the party is prepared to list and indicate, in relation to the balance of the demanded documents,
(i) why an amended list of documents that includes those documents is not being prepared and served, and
(ii) why those documents are not being made available;
(c) indicate, in relation to the demanded documents,
(i) why an amended list of documents that includes those documents is not being prepared and served, and
(ii) why those documents are not being made available.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (e).]
(13) If a party who receives a demand under subrule (10) or (11) does not, within 35 days after receipt, comply with the demand in relation to the demanded documents, the demanding party may apply for an order requiring the listing party to comply with the demand.
(14) On an application under subrule (13) or otherwise, the court may
(a) order that a party be excused from compliance with subrule (1), (3), (6), (15) or (16) or with a demand under subrule (10) or (11), either generally or in respect of one or more documents or classes of documents, or
(i) amend the list of documents to list additional documents that are or have been in the party's possession, power or control relating to any or all matters in question in the action,
(ii) serve the amended list of documents on all parties of record, and
(iii) make the originals of the newly listed documents available for inspection and copying in accordance with subrules (15) and (16).
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (b), (c) and (f).]
(15) A party who has served a list of documents on any other party must allow the other party to inspect and copy, during normal business hours and at the location specified in the list of documents, the listed documents except those documents that the listing party objects to producing.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (g).]
(16) If a party is entitled to inspect listed documents under subrule (15), the listing party must, on the request of the party entitled to inspection and on receiving payment in advance of the cost of reproduction and service, serve on the requesting party copies of the documents, if reproducible, for which a request has been made.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 14 (h).]
(17) The court may order the production of a document for inspection and copying by any party or by the court at a time and place and in the manner it considers appropriate.
(18) If a document is in the possession or control of a person who is not a party of record, the court, on an application under Rule 8-1 brought on notice to the person and the parties of record, may make an order for one or both of the following:
(a) production, inspection and copying of the document;
(b) preparation of a certified copy that may be used instead of the original.
(19) An order under subrule (18) may be made by consent if that order is endorsed with an acknowledgment by the person in possession or control of the document that the person has no objection to the terms of the proposed order.
(20) If, on an application for production of a document, production is objected to on the grounds of privilege, the court may inspect the document for the purpose of deciding the validity of the objection.
(21) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a party fails to make discovery of or produce for inspection or copying a document as required by this rule, the party may not put the document in evidence in the proceeding or use it for the purpose of examination or cross-examination.
(22) If the party from whom discovery, inspection or copying of a document is sought objects to that discovery, inspection or copying, the court may, if satisfied that for any reason it is desirable that an issue or question in dispute should be determined before deciding on the right to discovery, inspection or copying, order that the issue or question be determined first and reserve the question of discovery, inspection or copying.
Rule 7-2 — Examinations for Discovery
(1) Subject to subrule (2), each party of record to an action must
(b) if any of subrules (5) to (10) apply, make a person referred to in that subrule available,
for examinations for discovery by the parties of record to the action who are adverse in interest to the party subject to examination.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (a).]
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, the examinations for discovery, including all examinations under subrules (17), (22) and (24), conducted under this rule of a party of record, including any such examinations conducted of a person referred to in subrule (1) (b) who is examined in relation to that party of record, by any other party of record who is adverse in interest must not, in total, exceed in duration
(b) any greater period to which the person to be examined consents.
[See Rule 15-1 (11) and (12) for limits on examinations for discovery in fast track actions.]
(3) In an application under subrule (2) to extend the examination for discovery period, the court must consider the following:
(a) the conduct of a person who has been or is to be examined, including
(i) the person's unresponsiveness in any examination for discovery held in the action,
(ii) the person's failure to provide complete answers to questions, or
(iii) the person's provision of answers that are evasive, irrelevant, unresponsive or unduly lengthy;
(b) any denial or refusal to admit, by a person who has been or is to be examined, anything that should have been admitted;
(c) the conduct of the examining party;
(d) whether or not it is or was reasonably practicable to complete the examinations for discovery within the period provided under subrule (2);
(e) the number of parties and examinations for discovery and the proximity of the various interests of those parties.
(4) An examination for discovery is an oral examination on oath.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a party to be examined for discovery is not an individual,
(a) the examining party may examine one representative of the party to be examined,
(b) the party to be examined must nominate as its representative an individual, who is knowledgeable concerning the matters in question in the action, to be examined on behalf of that party, and
(c) the examining party may examine
(i) the representative nominated under paragraph (b), or
(ii) any other person the examining party considers appropriate and who is or has been a director, officer, employee, agent or external auditor of the party to be examined.
(6) Subject to subrule (9), a person for whose immediate benefit an action is brought or defended may be examined for discovery.
(7) If an action is brought by an assignee, the assignor may be examined for discovery.
(8) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a party to be examined for discovery is an infant, the infant, the infant's guardian and the infant's litigation guardian may be examined for discovery.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 15; 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (b).]
(9) If a party to be examined for discovery is a mentally incompetent person, the party's litigation guardian and the party's committee may be examined for discovery, but the party must not be examined without leave of the court.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (c).]
(10) If a party to be examined for discovery is a trustee in bankruptcy, the bankrupt may be examined for discovery.
(11) Unless the court otherwise orders or the parties to the examination for discovery otherwise agree, an examination for discovery must take place at a location within 30 kilometres of the registry that is nearest to the place where the person to be examined resides.
(12) An examination for discovery must be conducted before an official reporter who is empowered to administer the oath.
(13) Before conducting an examination for discovery under this rule, the party wishing to conduct that examination for discovery must do the following:
(a) if the person to be examined is a party of record to, and has a lawyer in, the action, ensure that, at least 7 days before the examination for discovery,
(i) an appointment in Form 23 is served on that lawyer, and
(ii) witness fees in the amount required under Schedule 3 of Appendix C are tendered to that lawyer;
(b) in any other case, ensure that, at least 7 days before the examination for discovery,
(i) an appointment in Form 23 is served on the person to be examined, and
(ii) witness fees in the amount required under Schedule 3 of Appendix C are tendered to the person to be examined;
(c) at least 7 days before the examination for discovery, serve a copy of the appointment on all parties of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 112/2012, Sch. A, s. 2.]
(14) A person to be examined for discovery must attend and submit to examination for discovery if the party wishing to conduct that examination for discovery has complied with subrule (13) (a) or (b), as the case may be.
(15) If a lawyer receives witness fees under subrule (13) (a), those fees must not be attached.
(16) Unless the court otherwise orders, if the person to be examined for discovery is a person referred to in subrule (6), (7), (8), (9) or (10), the person must produce for inspection on the examination for discovery all documents in the person's possession or control, not privileged, relating to the matters in question in the action.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (d).]
(17) The examination for discovery of a person is in the nature of a cross-examination, and the person examined for discovery may be re-examined on the person's own behalf or on behalf of a party of record not adverse in interest to that person in relation to any matter respecting which that person has been examined.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (e).]
(18) Unless the court otherwise orders, a person being examined for discovery
(a) must answer any question within the person's knowledge or means of knowledge regarding any matter, not privileged, relating to a matter in question in the action, and
(b) is compellable to give the names and addresses of all persons who reasonably might be expected to have knowledge relating to any matter in question in the action.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (f).]
(19) Without limiting subrule (18), unless the court otherwise orders, a person being examined for discovery must answer any question within the person's knowledge or means of knowledge that is related to
(a) the existence and contents of any insurance policy under which an insurer may be liable
(i) to satisfy the whole or any part of a judgment granted in the action, or
(ii) to indemnify or reimburse a party for any money paid by that party in satisfaction of the whole or any part of such a judgment, and
(b) the amount of money available under the policy, and any communication from an insurer denying or limiting liability under the policy.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (f).]
(20) Despite subrule (19), information concerning the insurance policy must not be disclosed to the court at trial unless it is relevant to an issue in the action.
(21) For the purposes of subrules (19) and (20), "insurance policy" does not include an application for insurance.
(22) In order to comply with subrule (18) or (19), a person being examined for discovery may be required to inform themselves and the examination may be adjourned for that purpose.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (g).]
(23) If a person is required to inform themselves under subrule (22) in order to respond to one or more questions posed on the examination for discovery, the examining party may request the person to provide the responses by letter.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (g).]
(24) If the examining party receives a letter under subrule (23),
(a) the questions set out in the letter and the answers given in response to those questions are deemed for all purposes to be questions asked and answers given under oath in the examination for discovery, and
(b) the examining party may, subject to subrule (2), continue the examination for discovery.
(25) If a person under examination objects to answering a question put to the person, the question and the objection must be taken down by the official reporter and the court may
(a) decide the validity of the objection, and
(b) order the person to submit to further examination and set a maximum duration for that further examination.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 6 (h).]
(26) An examination for discovery is to be taken down in the form of question and answer, and copies of the transcript may be obtained on payment of the proper fee by
(c) any other person as the court for special reason may permit.
(27) So far as is practicable, this rule applies to a person residing outside British Columbia, and the court, on application on notice to the person, may order the examination for discovery of the person at a place and in the manner the court considers appropriate.
(28) Unless the court otherwise orders, if an order is made under subrule (27) for the examination for discovery of a person,
(a) the order and the notice of appointment may be served on, and
(b) the witness fees referred to in subrule (13) may be paid to
the lawyer for the person.
Rule 7-3 — Discovery by Interrogatories
(1) A party of record to an action may serve interrogatories in Form 24 on any other party of record, or on a director, officer, partner, agent, employee or external auditor of a party of record, if
(2) If a party of record to an action is a body of persons, corporate or unincorporate, that is empowered to sue or to be sued in its own name or in the name of an officer or other person, another party of record may, with leave of the court granted at an application or if authorized to do so by a case plan order, serve interrogatories on the officer or member of the body specified in the order.
(3) In an order granting leave under subrule (1) (b) or (2), the court may set terms and conditions on the interrogatories, including terms and conditions respecting
(a) the number or length of the interrogatories,
(b) the matters the interrogatories are to cover,
(c) the timing of any response to the interrogatories, and
(d) the notification, if any, to be given to the other parties of record respecting the interrogatories.
(4) A person to whom interrogatories are directed must, within 21 days or such other period as the court may order under subrule (3), serve an answer on affidavit to the interrogatories.
(5) If interrogatories are required to be answered by more than one officer, director, partner, agent or employee of a party, the interrogatories must state which of the interrogatories each person is required to answer.
(6) If a person objects to answering an interrogatory on the grounds of privilege or on the grounds that it does not relate to a matter in question in the action, the person may make the objection in an affidavit in answer.
(7) If a person to whom interrogatories have been directed answers any of them insufficiently, the court may require the person to make a further answer either by affidavit or on oral examination.
(8) If a party of record objects to an interrogatory on the grounds that it will not further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules,
(a) the party may apply to the court to strike out the interrogatory, and
(b) the court must take into account any offer by the party to make admissions, to produce documents or to give oral discovery.
(9) A party of record may, instead of serving interrogatories under subrule (1) or (2), serve the interrogatories on the lawyer of the person to whom the interrogatories are directed.
(10) If a lawyer receives interrogatories under subrule (9), the lawyer must promptly inform the person to whom the interrogatories are directed.
(11) If a person who has given an answer to an interrogatory later learns that the answer is inaccurate or incomplete, the person must promptly serve on the party who served the interrogatory an affidavit deposing to an accurate or complete answer.
Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
Rule 7-5 — Pre-Trial Examination of Witness
(1) If a person who is not a party of record to an action may have material evidence relating to a matter in question in the action, the court may
(a) order that the person be examined on oath on the matters in question in the action, and
(b) either before or after the examination, order that the examining party pay reasonable lawyer's costs of the person relating to the application and the examination.
(2) An expert retained or specially employed by another party in anticipation of litigation or preparation for trial may not be examined under this rule unless the party seeking the examination is unable to obtain facts and opinions on the same subject by other means.
(3) An application for an order under subrule (1) must be supported by affidavit setting out
(a) the matter in question in the action to which the applicant believes that the evidence of the proposed witness may be material,
(b) if the proposed witness is an expert retained or specially employed by another party in anticipation of litigation or preparation for trial, that the applicant is unable to obtain facts and opinions on the same subject by other means, and
(i) has refused or neglected on request by the applicant to give a responsive statement, either orally or in writing, relating to the witness' knowledge of the matters in question, or
(4) An applicant for an order under subrule (1) must comply with Rule 8-1, and, without limiting this, the applicant must serve the application materials on the proposed witness and Rule 8-1 applies to the witness as if the witness were a party of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 7.]
(5) If the court makes an order under subrule (1) entitling a party to examine a person under this rule, the party may, by serving on the person to be examined a subpoena in Form 25, require the person to bring to the examination
(a) any document in the person's possession or control relating to the matters in question in the action, and
(b) any physical object in the person's possession or control that the party contemplates tendering at the trial as an exhibit.
(6) A subpoena referred to in subrule (5)
(a) need not identify any document referred to in subrule (5) (a), and
(b) must identify any object referred to in subrule (5) (b).
(7) The examining party must give notice of an examination under this rule by serving copies of the subpoena referred to in subrule (5) on all parties of record at least 7 days before the date appointed for the examination.
(8) The proposed witness must be cross-examined by the party who obtained the order, then may be cross-examined by any other party of record, and then may be further cross-examined by the party who obtained the order.
(9) Unless the court otherwise orders, examinations conducted of a person under this rule by all parties of record must not, in total, exceed 3 hours in duration.
(10) Rule 7-2 (12), (16), (18), (22) and (25) to (28) applies to an examination under this rule.
Rule 7-6 — Physical Examination and Inspection
(1) If the physical or mental condition of a person is in issue in an action, the court may order that the person submit to examination by a medical practitioner or other qualified person, and if the court makes an order under this subrule, the court may also make
(a) an order respecting any expenses connected with the examination, and
(b) an order that the result of the examination be put in writing and that copies be made available to interested parties of record.
(2) The court may order a further examination under this rule.
(3) A person who is making an examination under this rule may ask any relevant question concerning the medical condition or history of the person being examined.
(4) If the court considers it necessary or expedient for the purpose of obtaining full information or evidence, it may
(a) order the production, inspection and preservation of any property, and
(i) samples to be taken or observations to be made of the property, or
(5) For the purpose of enabling an order under this rule to be carried out, the court may authorize a person to enter on any land or building.
(6) Rule 7-2 (27) and (28) applies to examinations and inspections ordered under this rule.
(1) In an action in which a response to civil claim has been filed, a party of record may, by service of a notice to admit in Form 26, request any party of record to admit, for the purposes of the action only, the truth of a fact or the authenticity of a document specified in the notice.
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, the truth of a fact or the authenticity of a document specified in a notice to admit is deemed to be admitted, for the purposes of the action only, unless, within 14 days after service of the notice to admit, the party receiving the notice to admit serves on the party serving the notice to admit a written statement that
(a) specifically denies the truth of the fact or the authenticity of the document,
(b) sets out in detail the reasons why the party cannot make the admission, or
(c) states that the refusal to admit the truth of the fact or the authenticity of the document is made on the grounds of privilege or irrelevancy or that the request is otherwise improper, and sets out in detail the reasons for the refusal.
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders or the demanding party and the responding party consent, a copy of a document specified in a notice to admit must be attached to the notice to admit when it is served.
(4) If a responding party unreasonably denies or refuses to admit the truth of a fact or the authenticity of a document specified in a notice to admit, the court may order the party to pay the costs of proving the truth of the fact or the authenticity of the document and may award as a penalty additional costs, or deprive a party of costs, as the court considers appropriate.
(5) A party is not entitled to withdraw
(a) an admission made in response to a notice to admit,
(b) a deemed admission under subrule (2), or
(c) an admission made in a pleading, petition or response to petition
except by consent or with leave of the court.
(6) An application for judgment or any other application may be made to the court using as evidence
(a) admissions of the truth of a fact or the authenticity of a document made
(i) in an affidavit or pleading filed by a party,
(ii) in an examination for discovery of a party or a person examined for discovery on behalf of a party, or
(iii) in response to a notice to admit, or
(b) admissions of the truth of a fact or the authenticity of a document deemed to be made under subrule (2)
and the court, without waiting for the determination of any other question between the parties, may make any order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(1) By consent of the parties of record or by order of the court, a person may be examined on oath before or during trial in order that the record of the examination may be available to be tendered as evidence at the trial.
(2) An examination under subrule (1) may be conducted before an official reporter or any other person as the court may direct.
(3) In determining whether to exercise its discretion to order an examination under subrule (1), the court must take into account
(a) the convenience of the person sought to be examined,
(b) the possibility that the person may be unavailable to testify at the trial by reason of death, infirmity, sickness or absence,
(c) the possibility that the person will be beyond the jurisdiction of the court at the time of the trial,
(d) the possibility and desirability of having the person testify at trial by video conferencing or other electronic means, and
(4) In an order under subrule (1), the court may impose limits on the duration of the direct examination or cross examination of a person under this rule.
(5) If the court makes an order under subrule (1) entitling a party to examine a person under this rule, the party may, by serving on the person to be examined a subpoena in Form 25, require the person to bring to the examination,
(a) if the person to be examined is not a party of record or a representative of a party of record, any document in the person's possession or control relating to the matters in question in the action, and
(b) any physical object in the person's possession or control that the examining party contemplates tendering at the trial as an exhibit.
(6) A subpoena referred to in subrule (5)
(a) need not identify any document referred to in subrule (5) (a), and
(b) must identify any object referred to in subrule (5) (b).
(7) Unless the court otherwise orders or the parties to the examination consent, an examination under this rule must take place at a location within 30 kilometres of the registry that is nearest to the place where the person to be examined resides.
(8) So far as is practicable, this rule applies to the examination of a person residing outside British Columbia, and the court may order the examination of a person in the place and the manner the court considers appropriate.
(9) If the person whose examination is ordered under subrule (8) is willing to testify, the order under subrule (8) must be in Form 27 and the instructions to the examiner appointed in the order must be in Form 28.
(10) If the person whose examination is ordered under subrule (8) is unwilling to testify, or if for any other reason the assistance of a foreign court is necessary, the order under subrule (8) must be in Form 29 and the letter of request referred to in the order must be in Form 30.
(11) If an order referred to in subrule (10) is made, the letter of request must be sent by the party obtaining the order to the Under Secretary of State for External Affairs of Canada (or, if the evidence is to be taken in Canada, to the Deputy Attorney General for the Province of British Columbia), and must have attached to it
(a) any interrogatories to be put to the witness,
(b) a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the lawyers or agents of the parties, both in British Columbia and in the other jurisdiction, and
(c) a copy of the letter of request and any interrogatories
(i) translated into the appropriate official language of the jurisdiction where the examination is to take place, and
(ii) bearing the certificate of the translator that it is a true translation and giving the translator's full name and address.
(12) The lawyer for the party obtaining the order referred to in subrule (10) must file with the Under Secretary of State for External Affairs of Canada (or the Deputy Attorney General for the Province of British Columbia, as the case may be) the lawyer's undertaking to be personally responsible for all the charges and expenses incurred by the Under Secretary (or the Deputy Attorney General, as the case may be) in respect of the letter of request and to pay those charges and expenses on receiving notification of the amount.
(13) The examining party must give notice of an examination under this rule by serving copies of the subpoena referred to in subrule (5) on all parties of record at least 7 days before the date appointed for the examination.
(14) The examining party must conduct a direct examination of the witness and the witness is subject to cross-examination and re-examination.
(15) If an objection is made to a question put to a witness in an examination under this rule,
(a) the question and the objection must be taken down by the official reporter,
(b) the validity of the objection may, on application, be decided by the court, and
(c) the court may, on an application referred to in paragraph (b), order the witness to submit to further examination.
(16) Unless otherwise ordered, an examination under this rule must be recorded by the person authorized under subrule (2) to conduct the examination
(17) If a person alleges that
(a) circumstances exist that entitle the person to receive an estate or interest in property on the happening of a future event, and
(b) the right or claim to that estate or interest cannot be brought to trial or hearing by the person before the happening of the event,
the person may apply by petition or by requisition in Form 31 for an order to preserve, by examination under this rule, any testimony that may be material for establishing the right or claim.
Rule 8-1 — How to Bring and Respond to Applications
(1) In this rule, "application respondent" means a person who files an application response under subrule (9).
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 8 (a).]
(2) To apply for an order from the court other than at trial or at the hearing of a petition, a party must do the following:
(a) in the case of an application for an order by consent, apply in accordance with
(b) in the case of an application of which notice need not be given, apply in accordance with
(c) in the case of an urgent application, apply in accordance with Rule 8-5;
(d) in the case of an application referred to in Rule 8-6 that may be made by written submissions, apply in accordance with the directions of the case planning conference judge referred to in Rule 8-6;
(e) in the case of an application for which a procedure is provided for by these Supreme Court Civil Rules, apply in accordance with that procedure;
(f) in the case of any other application, apply in accordance with this rule.
[The ability of a party to a fast track action to bring an application under this Part may be limited — see Rule 15-1 (7) to (9).]
(3) A party wishing to apply under this rule must file
(a) a notice of application, and
(b) the original of every affidavit, and of every other document, that
(i) is to be referred to by the applicant at the hearing, and
(4) A notice of application must be in Form 32 and must
(a) set out the orders sought or attach a draft of the order sought,
(b) briefly summarize the factual basis for the application,
(c) set out the rule, enactment or other jurisdictional authority relied on for the orders sought and any other legal arguments on which the orders sought should be granted,
(d) list the affidavits and other documents on which the applicant intends to rely at the hearing of the application,
(e) set out the applicant's estimate of the time the application will take for hearing,
(f) subject to subrules (5) and (6), set out the date and time of the hearing of the application,
(g) set out the place for the hearing of the application in accordance with Rule 8-2, and
(h) provide the data collection information required in the appendix to the form,
and the notice of application, other than any draft order attached to it under paragraph (a), must not exceed 10 pages in length.
[en. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (b).]
(5) Subject to subrule (6), the hearing of an application must be set for 9:45 a.m. on a date on which the court hears applications or at such other time or date as has been fixed by the court or a registrar.
(6) If the applicant's estimate referred to in subrule (4) (e) is more than 2 hours, the date and time of hearing must be fixed by a registrar.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (a).]
(7) The applicant must serve the following, in accordance with subrule (8), on each of the parties of record and on every other person, other than a party, who may be affected by the orders sought:
(a) a copy of the filed notice of application;
(b) a copy of each of the filed affidavits and documents, referred to in the notice of application under subrule (4) (d), that has not already been served on that person;
(c) if the application is brought under Rule 9-7, any notice that the applicant is required to give under Rule 9-7 (9).
[am. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 4.]
(8) The documents referred to in subrule (7) of this rule must be served,
(a) subject to paragraph (b) of this subrule, at least 8 business days before the date set for the hearing of the application, or
(b) in the case of an application under Rule 9-7, at least 12 business days before the date set for the hearing of the application.
[am. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (c) and (d).]
(9) A person who is served with documents referred to in subrule (7) of this rule and who wishes to respond to the notice of application (in this subrule called the "responding person") must do the following within 5 business days after service or, in the case of an application under Rule 9-7, within 8 business days after service:
(a) file an application response;
(b) file the original of every affidavit, and of every other document, that
(i) is to be referred to by the responding person at the hearing, and
(ii) has not already been filed in the proceeding;
(c) serve on the applicant 2 copies of the following, and on every other party of record one copy of the following:
(i) a copy of the filed application response;
(ii) a copy of each of the filed affidavits and documents, referred to in the application response under subrule (10) (b) (ii), that has not already been served on that person;
(iii) if the application is brought under Rule 9-7, any notice that the application respondent is required to give under Rule 9-7 (9).
[en. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (e).]
(10) An application response must be in Form 33, must not exceed 10 pages in length and must
(a) indicate, for each order sought on the application, whether the application respondent consents to, opposes or takes no position on the order, and
(b) if the application respondent wishes to oppose any of the relief sought in the application,
(i) briefly summarize the factual and legal bases on which the orders sought should not be granted,
(ii) list the affidavits and other documents to which the application respondent intends to refer at the hearing of the application, and
(iii) set out the application respondent's estimate of the time the application will take for hearing.
[am. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (f).]
(11) An application respondent who has not yet provided an address for service in the proceeding must include an address for service in any application response filed under subrule (9), and Rule 4-1 applies.
(12) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (g).]
(13) An applicant who wishes to respond to any document served under subrule (9) must file and serve on each application respondent any responding affidavits no later than 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before the date set for the hearing.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (b); 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (h) and (i).]
(14) Unless all parties of record consent or the court otherwise orders, a party must not serve any affidavits additional to those served under subrules (7), (9) and (13).
[am. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (h).]
(15) Subject to subrule (18), the applicant must provide to the registry where the hearing is to take place an application record as follows:
(a) the application record must be in a ring binder or in some other form of secure binding;
(b) the application record must contain, in consecutively numbered pages, or separated by tabs, the following documents in the following order:
(i) a cover page in Form 30.001;
(iii) a copy of the filed notice of application;
(iv) a copy of each filed application response;
(v) a copy of every filed affidavit and pleading, and of every other document other than a written argument, that is to be relied on at the hearing;
(vi) if the application is brought under Rule 9-7, a copy of each filed pleading;
(c) the application record may contain
(i) a draft of the proposed order,
(ii) subject to subrule (16), a written argument,
(iii) a list of authorities and
(d) the application record must not contain
(ii) copies of authorities, including case law, legislation, legal articles or excerpts from text books, or
(iii) any other documents unless they are included with the consent of all the parties of record;
(e) the application record must be provided to the registry
(i) no earlier than 9 a.m. on the business day that is three full business days before the date set for the hearing and no later than 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before the date set for the hearing, or
(ii) if an earlier date is fixed by a registrar, on or before that date.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (c) and (d); 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (i); 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 8; 165/2024, Sch. 1, s. 1 (a).]
(15.1) The applicant must, concurrently with the filing of the application record under subrule (15), provide to the registry a copy of the filed notice of application that
(a) is kept separate from the ring binder or other form of secure binding referred to in subrule (15) (a), and
(b) clearly indicates the orders sought by way of highlighting or other marking of the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of the copy of the filed notice of application.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(15.2) Unless the court otherwise orders, if the applicant fails to provide an application record to the registry in accordance with subrule (15), the application must be removed from the hearing list.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(15.3) Despite subrule (15) (e), the applicant may apply for an order granting leave to provide an application record to the registry after the period or date referred to in that subrule, as the case may be.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(15.4) If an application has been removed from the hearing list under subrule (15.2), the applicant may apply for an order that the application be reinstated to the hearing list.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(15.5) If an application respondent attends for the hearing of an application that has been removed from the hearing list under subrule (15.2), the application respondent may apply for an order for costs or other directions.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(15.6) An application for an order under subrule (15.3), (15.4) or (15.5) must be made by requisition in Form 30.01.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(16) Unless an application is estimated to take more than 2 hours, no party to the application may file or submit to the court a written argument in relation to the application other than that included in the party's notice of application or application response.
(17) The applicant must serve a copy of the application record index on each application respondent no later than 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before the date set for the hearing.
[am. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (j).]
(18) If an application respondent intends to set an application for hearing at the same time as the applicant's application, those parties must, so far as is possible, prepare and provide to the registry where the hearing is to take place a joint application record and agree to a date for the hearing of both applications.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (e).]
(19) Unless the court otherwise orders, the applicant must retrieve the application record
(a) at the conclusion of the hearing, or
(b) if the hearing of the application is adjourned to a date later than the following business day, after the hearing is adjourned.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (f); 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (k).]
(20) If the application record has been retrieved by the applicant under subrule (19) (b), the applicant must return the application record to the registry between 9:00 a.m. and 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before the new date set for the hearing of the application.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 18; 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (l).]
(21) If any additional affidavits are filed and served under subrule (14) and are not included in the application record, the applicant must provide to the registry an amended application record containing those affidavits.
(21.1) To reset an application that has been adjourned without a date being set for it to be heard ("adjourned generally") or that has been removed from the hearing list under subrule (15.2), the applicant must
(a) file a requisition in Form 17 setting out the following:
(i) the date and time of the hearing of the application;
(ii) the date the notice of application was filed;
(iii) a brief description of the orders sought;
(iv) the applicant's estimate of the time the application will take for hearing;
(v) whether the orders sought are within the jurisdiction of an associate judge, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed requisition on the application respondents at least 2 business days before the date set for the hearing.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (g); am. B.C. Regs. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (m); 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 2; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1; 165/2024, Sch. 1, s. 1 (b).]
(22) If, after an application has been adjourned generally, the applicant does not reset the application for hearing within a reasonable time after an application respondent has requested the applicant to do so, an application respondent may apply, by requisition in Form 17 on 2 business days' notice, for directions.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 17 (h); 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 1 (n).]
Rule 8-2 — Place Application Is Heard
(1) An application may be heard at
(a) the place ordered by a registrar under subrule (4),
(b) if an order is not made under subrule (4), the place on which all parties of record have agreed, or
(c) if paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply, a place at which the court normally sits in the judicial district in which the proceeding is being conducted.
(2) If there is more than one place within the judicial district referred to in subrule (1) (c) at which the court normally sits, the applicant may name, as the place for hearing, any of those places.
(3) If, under subrule (2), the applicant names as the place for hearing a place that is different than the place at which the proceeding is being conducted, the court may, if the court considers that it was unreasonable to have that named place as the place of hearing, make a special order as to costs and may
(a) order that the application be heard at some other place,
(4) If a registrar is satisfied that, due to urgency or the convenience of the parties, an application should be heard at a place outside the judicial district in which the proceeding is being conducted, the registrar may, without notice, grant leave for the applicant to do either or both of the following:
(a) file the notice of application in some other judicial district;
(b) name as the place of hearing a place in that other judicial district.
(5) If a registrar grants leave under subrule (4), the registrar must endorse the notice of application accordingly.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 8.]
(6) If, in respect of an application for which leave was granted under subrule (4), the court at the hearing of the application considers that the application should not be heard at that place, the court may make a special order as to costs and may
(a) order that the application be heard at some other place,
(7)-(8) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 19.]
Rule 8-3 — Consent Applications
(1) Subject to subrule (2), an application for an order by consent may be made by filing
(b) a draft of the proposed order in Form 34,
(c) evidence, in accordance with Rule 13-1 (10), that the application is consented to, and
(d) any consent or comments of the Public Guardian and Trustee required under section 40 of the Infants Act.
(2) On being satisfied that an application referred to in subrule (1) of this rule is consented to and that the materials appropriate for the application have been filed in accordance with subrule (1), a registrar may
(a) refer the application to a judge or, if the order sought is within the jurisdiction of an associate judge, to a judge or associate judge, or
(b) if the registrar is satisfied that
(i) none of the parties applying for or consenting to the order is under a legal disability, or
(ii) if a party is under a legal disability, section 40 (7) of the Infants Act applies,
enter the order or proceed under paragraph (a) of this subrule.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, ss. 1 and 5.]
(3) If an application is referred by a registrar to a judge or associate judge under subrule (2), the judge or associate judge may
(b) give directions respecting the application.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
Rule 8-4 — Applications of Which Notice Is Not Required
(1) An application of which notice is not required may be made by filing
(b) a draft of the proposed order in Form 35, and
(c) affidavit or other evidence in support of the application.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 20 (a).]
(2)-(3) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 20 (b).]
Rule 8-5 — Urgent Applications
When Applications May Be Heard on Short Notice
(1) Without limiting subrule (6), in case of urgency, a person wishing to bring an application (in this subrule and in subrules (2) to (5) called the "main application") on less notice than would normally be required may make an application (in this subrule and in subrules (2) to (4) called the "short notice application") for an order that the main application may be brought on short notice.
(2) A short notice application may be made by requisition in Form 17.1, without notice, and in a summary way.
[am. B.C. Reg. 120/2014, s. 5.]
(3) The time limits and notice requirements provided in these Supreme Court Civil Rules do not apply to a short notice application.
(4) On a short notice application, the court or a registrar may
(a) order that the main application be heard on short notice,
(b) fix the date and time for the main application to be heard,
(c) fix the date and time before which service of documents applicable to the main application must be made, and
(d) give any other directions that the court or registrar considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(5) If an order is made under subrule (4) that the main application be heard on short notice, the time limits and notice requirements provided in these Supreme Court Civil Rules do not apply to the main application.
When Applications May Be Heard without Any Notice
(6) The court may make an order without notice in the case of urgency.
(7) Promptly after an order is made without notice by reason of urgency, the party who obtained the order must serve a copy of the entered order and the documents filed in support on each person who is affected by the order.
(8) On the application of a person affected by an order made without notice under subrule (6), the court may change or set aside the order.
Rule 8-6 — Applications Made by Written Submissions
(1) If an order is made at a case planning conference that an application may be made by written submissions,
(a) the case planning conference judge or associate judge must give directions respecting the application, including directions respecting
(i) the documents to be filed in support of the application, and
(ii) the persons on whom and the dates by which the documents referred to in subparagraph (i) and any other documents the judge or associate judge may identify must be served, and
(b) the application may be made in the manner provided for in those directions.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
Part 9 — Pre-Trial Resolution Procedures
(1) In this rule, "offer to settle" means
(a) an offer to settle made and delivered before July 2, 2008 under Rule 37 of the former Supreme Court Rules, as that rule read on the date of the offer to settle, and in relation to which no order was made under that rule,
(b) an offer of settlement made and delivered before July 2, 2008 under Rule 37A of the former Supreme Court Rules, as that rule read on the date of the offer of settlement, and in relation to which no order was made under that rule, or
(c) an offer to settle made after July 1, 2008 under Rule 37B of the former Supreme Court Rules, as that rule read on the date of the offer to settle, or made under this rule, that
(i) is made in writing by a party to a proceeding,
(ii) has been served on all parties of record, and
(iii) contains the following sentence: "The ............[party(ies)]............, ............[name(s) of party(ies)]............, reserve(s) the right to bring this offer to the attention of the court for consideration in relation to costs after the court has pronounced judgment on all other issues in this proceeding."
(2) The fact that an offer to settle has been made must not be disclosed to the court or jury, or set out in any document used in the proceeding, until all issues in the proceeding, other than costs, have been determined.
(3) An offer to settle is not an admission.
(4) The court may consider an offer to settle when exercising the court's discretion in relation to costs.
(5) In a proceeding in which an offer to settle has been made, the court may do one or more of the following:
(a) deprive a party of any or all of the costs, including any or all of the disbursements, to which the party would otherwise be entitled in respect of all or some of the steps taken in the proceeding after the date of delivery or service of the offer to settle;
(b) award double costs of all or some of the steps taken in the proceeding after the date of delivery or service of the offer to settle;
(c) award to a party, in respect of all or some of the steps taken in the proceeding after the date of delivery or service of the offer to settle, costs to which the party would have been entitled had the offer not been made;
(d) if the offer was made by a defendant and the judgment awarded to the plaintiff was no greater than the amount of the offer to settle, award to the defendant the defendant's costs in respect of all or some of the steps taken in the proceeding after the date of delivery or service of the offer to settle.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 21.]
(6) In making an order under subrule (5), the court may consider the following:
(a) whether the offer to settle was one that ought reasonably to have been accepted, either on the date that the offer to settle was delivered or served or on any later date;
(b) the relationship between the terms of settlement offered and the final judgment of the court;
(7) A plaintiff who accepts an offer to settle for a sum within the jurisdiction of the Provincial Court under the Small Claims Act is not entitled to costs, other than disbursements, unless the court finds that there was sufficient reason for bringing the proceeding in the Supreme Court and so orders.
(8) An offer to settle does not expire by reason that a counter offer is made.
Rule 9-2 — Settlement Conferences
(1) If, at any stage of an action, the parties of record jointly request a settlement conference by filing a requisition in Form 17 or a judge or associate judge directs that the parties attend a settlement conference, the parties must attend before a judge or associate judge who must, in private and without hearing witnesses, explore all possibilities of settlement of the issues that are outstanding.
[am. B.C. Regs. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 3; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(2) Proceedings at a settlement conference must be recorded, but no part of that recording may be made available to or used by any person without court order.
(3) A judge who has presided at a settlement conference must not preside at the trial, unless all parties consent.
(1) The parties to a proceeding may concur in stating a question of law or fact, or partly of law and partly of fact, in the form of a special case for the opinion of the court.
(2) The court may order a question or issue arising in a proceeding, whether of fact or law or partly of fact and partly of law, and whether raised by the pleadings or otherwise, to be stated in the form of a special case.
(3) A special case must
(a) be divided into paragraphs numbered consecutively,
(b) state concisely such facts and set out or refer to such documents as may be necessary to enable the court to decide the questions stated, and
(4) On the hearing of a special case, the court and the parties may refer to any document mentioned in the special case, and the court may draw from the stated facts and documents any inference, whether of fact or law, that might have been drawn from them if proved at a trial or hearing.
(5) With the consent of the parties, on any question in a special case being answered, the court may grant specific relief or order judgment to be entered.
Rule 9-4 — Proceedings on a Point of Law
(1) A point of law arising from the pleadings in an action may, by consent of the parties or by order of the court, be set down by requisition in Form 17 for hearing and disposed of at any time before the trial.
(2) If, in the opinion of the court, the decision on the point of law substantially disposes of the whole action or of any distinct claim, ground of defence, set-off or counterclaim, the court may dismiss the action or make any order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(1) At any stage of a proceeding, the court may order to be struck out or amended the whole or any part of a pleading, petition or other document on the ground that
(a) it discloses no reasonable claim or defence, as the case may be,
(b) it is unnecessary, scandalous, frivolous or vexatious,
(c) it may prejudice, embarrass or delay the fair trial or hearing of the proceeding, or
(d) it is otherwise an abuse of the process of the court,
and the court may pronounce judgment or order the proceeding to be stayed or dismissed and may order the costs of the application to be paid as special costs.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 22.]
(2) No evidence is admissible on an application under subrule (1) (a).
(3) If, on the filing of a document, a registrar considers that the whole or any part of the document could be the subject of an order under subrule (1),
(a) the registrar may, despite any other provision of these Supreme Court Civil Rules,
(i) retain the document and all filed copies of it, and
(ii) refer the document to the court, and
(b) the court may, after a summary hearing, make an order under subrule (1).
(4) If the court makes an order referred to in subrule (3) (b),
(a) the registrar must give notification of the order, in the manner directed by the court, to the person who filed the document,
(b) the person who filed the document may, within 7 days after being notified, apply to the court, and
(1) In this rule:
"answering party", in relation to a claiming party's originating pleading, means a person who serves, on the claiming party, a responding pleading that relates to a claim made in the originating pleading;
"claiming party" means a party who filed an originating pleading.
(2) In an action, a person who files an originating pleading in which a claim is made against a person may, after the person against whom the claim is made serves a responding pleading on the claiming party, apply under this rule for judgment against the answering party on all or part of the claim.
(3) An answering party may respond to an application for judgment under subrule (2) as follows:
(a) the answering party may allege that the claiming party's originating pleading does not raise a cause of action against the answering party;
(b) if the answering party wishes to make any other response to the application, the answering party may not rest on the mere allegations or denials in the answering party's pleadings but must set out, in affidavit material or other evidence, specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 9.]
(4) In an action, an answering party may, after serving a responding pleading on a claiming party, apply under this rule for judgment dismissing all or part of a claim in the claiming party's originating pleading.
(5) On hearing an application under subrule (2) or (4), the court,
(a) if satisfied that there is no genuine issue for trial with respect to a claim or defence, must pronounce judgment or dismiss the claim accordingly,
(b) if satisfied that the only genuine issue is the amount to which the claiming party is entitled, may order a trial of that issue or pronounce judgment with a reference or an accounting to determine the amount,
(c) if satisfied that the only genuine issue is a question of law, may determine the question and pronounce judgment accordingly, and
(d) may make any other order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(6) If, under this rule, a claiming party obtains judgment against a person on a claim made against that person in the originating pleading, the judgment is without prejudice to the right of the claiming party to
(a) proceed with the action in respect of any other claim made, in the originating pleading, against the person against whom the judgment was obtained, and
(b) proceed with the action against any other person against whom a claim is made in the originating pleading.
(7) Subject to subrule (8), if the party applying under subrule (2) or (4) obtains no relief on the application, the court may
(a) fix the costs of the party responding to the application, and
(8) The court may decline to fix and order costs under subrule (7) if the court is satisfied that the application under subrule (2) or (4), although unsuccessful, was nevertheless reasonable.
(9) If it appears to the court that a party to an application under subrule (2) or (4) has acted in bad faith or primarily for the purpose of delay, the court may
(1) In this rule, "summary trial application" means an application referred to in subrule (2).
(2) A party may apply to the court for judgment under this rule, either on an issue or generally, in any of the following:
(a) an action in which a response to civil claim has been filed;
(b) a proceeding that has been transferred to the trial list under Rule 22-1 (7) (d);
(c) a third party proceeding in which a response to third party notice has been filed;
(d) an action by way of counterclaim in which a response to counterclaim has been filed.
(3) A summary trial application must be heard at least 42 days before the scheduled trial date.
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, a summary trial application must be set for hearing in accordance with Rule 8-1.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, on a summary trial application, the applicant and each other party of record may tender evidence by any or all of the following:
(b) an answer, or part of an answer, to interrogatories;
(c) any part of the evidence taken on an examination for discovery;
(d) an admission under Rule 7-7;
(e) a report setting out the opinion of an expert, if
(i) the report conforms with Rule 11-6 (1), or
(ii) the court orders that the report is admissible even though it does not conform with Rule 11-6 (1).
(6) Rule 12-5 (46), (49), (50), (51), (56) to (58) applies to subrule (5) of this rule.
(7) Rule 11-6 (2) applies to a summary trial application.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 23.]
(7.1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 207/2020, s. 1.]
(8) A party who applies for judgment under subrule (2)
(a) must serve, with the notice of application and the other documents referred to in Rule 8-1 (3), every expert report, not already filed, on which the party will rely in support of the application, and
(b) must not serve any further affidavits, expert reports or notices except
(i) to tender evidence that would, at a trial, be admitted as rebuttal evidence,
(ii) to respond to a notice of application filed and served by another party of record, or
(9) If a party intends, on a summary trial application, to rely on
(a) evidence taken on an examination for discovery,
(b) answers to interrogatories, or
the party must give notice of that fact in accordance with subrule (10).
(10) Notice under subrule (9) must be given
(a) by an applicant, in accordance with Rule 8-1 (7) and (8), and
(b) by a party who is not an applicant, in accordance with Rule 8-1 (9).
[am. B.C. Reg. 241/2010, Sch. A, s. 2.]
(11) On an application heard before or at the same time as the hearing of a summary trial application, the court may
(a) adjourn the summary trial application, or
(b) dismiss the summary trial application on the ground that
(i) the issues raised by the summary trial application are not suitable for disposition under this rule, or
(ii) the summary trial application will not assist the efficient resolution of the proceeding.
(12) On or before the hearing of a summary trial application, the court may order that
(a) a party file and serve, within a fixed time, any of the following on which the party intends to rely in support of the application:
(ii) a notice referred to in subrule (9),
(b) the person who swore or affirmed an affidavit, or an expert whose report is relied on, attend for cross-examination, either before the court or before another person as the court directs,
(c) cross-examinations on affidavits be completed within a fixed time,
(d) no further evidence be tendered on the application after a fixed time, or
(e) a party file and serve a brief, with such contents as the court may order, within a fixed time.
(13) An order under subrule (11) or (12) may be made by a judge or by an associate judge, and may be made before or at the same time as a summary trial application.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1.]
(14) A judge who makes an order under subrule (11) or (12) in relation to a summary trial application is not seized of the summary trial application unless the judge otherwise orders.
(15) On the hearing of a summary trial application, the court may
(a) grant judgment in favour of any party, either on an issue or generally, unless
(i) the court is unable, on the whole of the evidence before the court on the application, to find the facts necessary to decide the issues of fact or law, or
(ii) the court is of the opinion that it would be unjust to decide the issues on the application,
(b) impose terms respecting enforcement of the judgment, including a stay of execution, and
(16) If the court does not grant judgment under subrule (15), the applicant may not apply again under subrule (2) without leave of the court.
(17) If the court is unable to grant judgment under subrule (15) and considers that the proceeding ought to be expedited, the court may order the trial of a proceeding generally or on an issue and may
(a) order that the parties attend a case planning conference,
(b) make any order that may be made under Rule 5-3 (1), or
(c) make any other order the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(18) A court may, before or at trial, vary or set aside an order made under subrules (12) and (17) of this rule.
(19) A party may apply to the court for judgment under subrule (2) even though a party may have filed a notice under Rule 12-6 (3) requiring that the trial of the action be heard with a jury.
Rule 9-8 — Discontinuance and Withdrawal
(1) At any time before a notice of trial is filed in an action, a plaintiff may discontinue it in whole or in part against a defendant by filing a notice of discontinuance in Form 36 and serving a filed copy of the notice of discontinuance on all parties of record.
(2) After a notice of trial is filed in an action, a plaintiff may discontinue the action in whole or in part against a defendant with the consent of all parties of record or by leave of the court.
(3) A defendant may withdraw the defendant's response to civil claim or any part of it with respect to any plaintiff at any time by filing a notice of withdrawal in Form 37 and serving a filed copy of the notice of withdrawal on all parties of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 10 (a).]
(4) Subject to subrule (2), a person wholly discontinuing an action against a party or wholly withdrawing the person's response to civil claim filed in response to a notice of civil claim of a party must pay the costs of that party to the date of service of the notice of discontinuance or the notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, and if a plaintiff who is liable for costs under this subrule subsequently brings a proceeding for the same or substantially the same claim before paying those costs, the court may order the proceeding to be stayed until the costs are paid.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 10 (b).]
(5) If a plaintiff discontinues the whole or any part of an action in which a person has been joined as a third party, the third party, if the discontinuance disposes of the claim against the third party, is entitled to costs and may apply to the court for a direction as to who should pay them.
(6) A plaintiff's right to recover costs from a defendant under subrule (4) does not preclude the plaintiff recovering other costs properly incurred.
(7) If a defendant wholly or partly withdraws the defendant's response under this rule, the plaintiff may proceed under Rule 3-8 as if the defendant had served no response or only a partial response.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 10 (a).]
(8) Unless the court otherwise orders, the discontinuance of an action in whole or in part is not a defence to a subsequent proceeding for the same or substantially the same cause of action.
(9) This rule applies to a counterclaim, a third party proceeding and a petition.
Part 10 — Property and Injunctions
Rule 10-1 — Detention, Preservation and Recovery of Property
(1) The court may make an order for the detention, custody or preservation of any property that is the subject matter of a proceeding or as to which a question may arise and, for the purpose of enabling an order under this rule to be carried out, the court may authorize a person to enter on any land or building.
(2) If the right of a party to a specific fund is in dispute in a proceeding, the court may order the fund to be paid into court or otherwise secured.
(3) If property is the subject matter of a proceeding and the court is satisfied that the property will be more than sufficient to answer all claims on it, the court at any time
(a) may allow the whole or part of the income of the property to be paid, during such period as the court may direct, to a party who has an interest in it, or
(b) in the case of personal property, may order that part of the personal property be delivered or transferred to a party.
(4) If a party claims the recovery of specific property other than land, the court may order that the property claimed be given up to the party, pending the outcome of the proceeding, either unconditionally or on terms and conditions, if any, relating to giving security, time, mode of trial or otherwise.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, if an order is made under subrule (4) in favour of a party, the order must contain the party's undertaking to abide by any order that the court may make as to damages arising out of delivery of the property to the party or compliance with any other order.
(1) The court may appoint a receiver in any proceeding either unconditionally or on terms, whether or not the appointment of a receiver was included in the relief claimed by the applicant.
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, a receiver must give security as the court may direct in either Form 38 or Form 39 and, until that security is given, the order appointing the receiver must not be presented for entry.
(3) The court must fix any remuneration to be paid to a receiver.
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, a receiver must file and deliver the receiver's accounts annually.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 11.]
(1) If
(a) a person (in this rule called the "applicant")
(i) is sued or expects to be sued in respect of property in the person's possession or under the person's control or in respect of the proceeds from a disposition of the property, or
(ii) receives a claim in respect of
by or from 2 or more persons (in this rule called the "property claimants") making adverse claims, and
(b) the applicant claims no beneficial interest in the property,
the applicant may apply to the court for interpleader relief.
(2) A person who makes a claim to or in respect of property taken or intended to be taken by a sheriff in the execution of any writ of execution, or to the proceeds from a disposition of the property, must deliver to the sheriff written notice of the person's claim and the person's address.
(3) On receipt of a notice of claim under subrule (2), a sheriff must promptly deliver a copy of the notice to the person who caused the writ of execution to issue, and that person must, within 7 days after receiving the copy, deliver to the sheriff a written notice stating whether that person admits or disputes the claim.
(4) Promptly after receiving under subrule (3) a notice admitting a claim,
(a) a sheriff must release any property the claim to which is admitted, and
(b) the court may restrain the bringing of a proceeding against the sheriff for or in respect of having taken possession of the property, and
unless the court otherwise orders, the person who admitted the claim is only liable to the sheriff for any costs, fees and expenses incurred by the sheriff before receipt of the notice admitting the claim.
(5) A sheriff who receives a notice of claim under subrule (2) may apply for interpleader relief if
(a) the sheriff receives a notice under subrule (3) disputing the claim, or
(b) the person who caused the writ of execution to issue fails to give the sheriff the notice required under subrule (3) within the time required by that subrule.
(6) An application for interpleader relief must be made by petition, unless it is made in a proceeding that has already been started, in which case it may be made by notice of application.
(7) An application for interpleader relief must be supported by an affidavit stating the names and addresses of the property claimants of whom the applicant has knowledge and that the applicant
(a) claims no beneficial interest in the property in dispute, other than for costs, fees or expenses,
(b) does not collude with any property claimant, and
(c) is willing to deliver the property to the court or to dispose of it as the court may direct.
(8) An application for interpleader relief may be made without notice, and the court may deal with the application summarily or may give directions for service.
(9) On the hearing of an application for interpleader relief, the court may
(a) order a property claimant to be made a party to a proceeding that has already been started in substitution for or in addition to the applicant,
(b) order an issue between the property claimants to be stated and tried in an action and direct which property claimant is to be the plaintiff in the action and which property claimant is to be the defendant,
(c) on the request of the applicant or a property claimant, determine the rights of the property claimants summarily,
(d) if a property claimant fails to attend, or attends and fails or refuses to comply with an order made in the proceeding, make an order declaring that the property claimant and all persons claiming under the property claimant be forever barred from prosecuting the claim against the applicant, without affecting the rights of the property claimants as between themselves,
(e) stay any further step in a proceeding,
(f) if there are interpleader applications pending in several proceedings, make an order that is binding on all the parties to the various proceedings,
(g) order the costs of the applicant to be paid out of the property or proceeds,
(h) declare that the liability of the applicant with respect to the property or the proceeds is extinguished, and
(i) make any other order the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(1) An application for a pre-trial injunction may be made by a party whether or not a claim for an injunction is included in the relief claimed.
(2) An application for a pre-trial injunction may be made before the start of a proceeding and the injunction may be granted on terms providing for the start of the proceeding.
(3) If an application for a pre-trial injunction is made without notice, the court may grant an interim injunction.
(4) An injunction must be imposed by order of the court.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, an order for a pre-trial or interim injunction must contain the applicant's undertaking to abide by any order that the court may make as to damages.
(6) In a proceeding in which an injunction has been or might have been claimed, a party may apply by petition after judgment to restrain another party from the repetition or continuance of the wrongful act or breach of contract established by the judgment or from the commission of any act or breach of a like kind.
Rule 11-1 — Application of Part 11
(1) This Part does not apply to
(a) summary trials under Rule 9-7, except as provided in that rule,
(a.1) a petition proceeding, except as provided in Rule 16-1, or
(b) a witness giving evidence in an action in relation to a matter if that witness is an individual whose conduct is in issue in the action in relation to that matter.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 3.]
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a case planning conference has been held in an action, expert opinion evidence must not be tendered to the court at trial unless provided for in the case plan order applicable to the action.
Rule 11-2 — Duty of Expert Witnesses
(1) In giving an opinion to the court, an expert appointed under this Part by one or more parties or by the court has a duty to assist the court and is not to be an advocate for any party.
(2) If an expert is appointed under this Part by one or more parties or by the court, the expert must, in any report the expert prepares under this Part, certify that the expert
(a) is aware of the duty referred to in subrule (1),
(b) has made the report in conformity with that duty, and
(c) will, if called on to give oral or written testimony, give that testimony in conformity with that duty.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 12.]
Rule 11-3 — Appointment of Joint Experts
(1) If 2 or more parties who are adverse in interest wish to or are ordered under Rule 5-3 (1) (k) to jointly appoint an expert, the following must be settled before the expert is appointed:
(a) the identity of the expert;
(b) the issue in the action the expert opinion evidence may help to resolve;
(c) any facts or assumptions of fact agreed to by the parties;
(d) for each party, any assumptions of fact not included under paragraph (c) of this subrule that the party wishes the expert to consider;
(e) the questions to be considered by the expert;
(f) when the report must be prepared by the expert and given to the parties;
(g) responsibility for fees and expenses payable to the expert.
[am. B.C. Regs. 18/2019, Sch. 1, s. 2; 207/2020, s. 2.]
(2) If the parties agree on the matters referred to in subrule (1), they and the expert must enter into an agreement under subrule (6).
(3) If the parties referred to in subrule (1) are unable to agree on the matters referred to in subrule (1), any party may apply, on an application under Part 8, at a case planning conference or at an application to amend the case plan order, to settle the terms of the expert's appointment.
(4) Each of the parties referred to in subrule (1) must submit to the court, on any application for an order referred to in subrule (3), material that
(a) identifies the matters referred to in subrule (1) (a) to (h) that are in dispute and states that party's position on those matters,
(b) if the parties are unable to agree on the identity of the expert, names one or more persons who
(i) are qualified to give expert opinion evidence on the issue, and
(ii) have been made aware of the content of this Part and consent to being appointed as expert, and
(c) states any connection known to the party between a person named under paragraph (b) and a party to the action.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 13 (a).]
(5) On an application under subrule (3), the court may do one or more of the following:
(a) settle the terms of the appointment referred to in subrule (1) (a) to (h);
(b) if the parties are unable to agree on the identity of the expert, identify the person to be appointed as expert, whether or not that expert is named under subrule (4) (b);
(c) if the application is made at a case planning conference or at an application to amend a case plan order, make or amend a case plan order to reflect the orders made under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subrule.
(6) The parties referred to in subrule (1) must enter into an agreement that reflects the terms agreed on under subrule (2) or ordered under subrule (5), and
(a) the agreement must be signed by each party to the agreement,
(b) the agreement must be signed by the expert to signify that the expert
(i) has been made aware of the content of this Part, and
(ii) consents to the appointment reflected in the agreement, and
(c) a copy of the agreement must be served, promptly after signing, on every party of record who is not a party to the agreement.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 13 (b).]
(7) Unless the court otherwise orders on an application referred to in subrule (8), if an agreement is made under this rule for a joint expert to give expert opinion evidence on an issue, the joint expert is the only expert who, in relation to the parties to the agreement, may give expert opinion evidence in the action on the issue.
(8) A party wishing to apply under subrule (7) for leave to tender the evidence of an additional expert at trial must, within 21 days after receipt of the joint expert's report, serve on all parties of record the documents that under Rule 8-1 (7) are required for the application.
(9) The court may, on an application referred to in subrule (8) of this rule, grant leave for the evidence of an additional expert to be tendered at trial if the court is satisfied that the evidence of that additional expert is necessary to ensure a fair trial.
(10) Each party of record, including each of the appointing parties, has the right to cross-examine at trial a joint expert appointed under this rule.
(11) Nothing in this rule prevents parties who are not adverse in interest from appointing a common expert.
Rule 11-4 — Appointment of Own Experts
(1) Subject to Rule 11-1 (2), parties to an action may each appoint their own experts to tender expert opinion evidence to the court on an issue.
Rule 11-5 — Appointment of Court's Own Expert
(1) Subject to this rule, the court may, on its own initiative at any stage of an action, appoint an expert if it considers that expert opinion evidence may help the court in resolving an issue in the action.
(2) In deciding whether to appoint an expert under this rule in relation to an issue in an action, the court may
(a) ask each party of record to name one or more persons who
(i) are qualified to give expert opinion evidence on the issue, and
(ii) have been made aware of the content of this Part and consent to being appointed,
(b) require each party of record to state any connection between an expert named under paragraph (a) and a party to the action, and
(c) receive other material and make other inquiries to help decide which expert to appoint.
(3) The court may appoint an expert under this rule whether or not that expert was named by a party under subrule (2) (a).
(4) The court may appoint an expert under this rule if the expert consents to the appointment after the expert has been made aware of the content of this Part.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 14 (a).]
(5) The court may appoint an expert under this rule in relation to an issue even if that expert has already given a report to a party on the issue or on another issue in the action.
(6) Unless the court otherwise orders, if an expert is appointed under this rule to give expert opinion evidence on an issue, each party of record has the right to cross-examine the expert.
(7) The court, after consultation with the parties of record, must
(a) settle the questions to be submitted to any expert appointed by the court under this rule,
(b) give the expert any directions the court considers appropriate, and
(c) give the parties of record any directions the court considers appropriate to facilitate the expert's ability to provide the required opinion.
(8) The order appointing an expert under this rule must contain the directions referred to in subrule (7) and the court may make additional orders to enable the expert to carry out the directions applicable to the expert, including, on application by a party, an order under Rule 7-6 for
(a) an examination with respect to the physical or mental condition of a party, or
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 14 (b).]
(9) The remuneration of an expert appointed under this rule
(a) must be fixed by the court and consented to by the expert, and
(i) a fee for the report, and any supplementary reports, required under Rule 11-6, and
(ii) an appropriate sum for each day that the expert's attendance in court is required.
(10) The court may make one or both of the following orders without prejudice to any party's right to costs:
(a) an order directing that the expert's remuneration be paid by the persons and at the time ordered by the court;
(11) An expert appointed under this rule must
(a) prepare a report that complies with Rule 11-6 and send it to the registry, with a copy to each party of record, within such time as the court directs, and
(b) if the expert's opinion changes in a material way after an expert's report is sent to the registry under paragraph (a), prepare a supplementary report that complies with Rule 11-6 and send it to the registry, with a copy to each party of record, within such time as the court directs.
(12) Each report and supplementary report of an expert appointed by the court under this rule must be tendered as evidence at the trial of the action, unless the trial judge otherwise orders.
(1) An expert's report that is to be tendered as evidence at the trial must be signed by the expert, must include the certification required under Rule 11-2 (2) and must set out the following:
(a) the expert's name, address and area of expertise;
(b) the expert's qualifications and employment and educational experience in the expert's area of expertise;
(c) the instructions provided to the expert in relation to the proceeding;
(d) the nature of the opinion being sought and the issues in the proceeding to which the opinion relates;
(e) the expert's opinion respecting those issues;
(f) the expert's reasons for the expert's opinion, including
(i) a description of the factual assumptions on which the opinion is based,
(ii) a description of any research conducted by the expert that led the expert to form the opinion, and
(iii) a list of every document, if any, relied on by the expert in forming the opinion.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 24; 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 15.]
(2) The assertion of qualifications of an expert is evidence of them.
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders, at least 84 days before the scheduled trial date, an expert's report, other than the report of an expert appointed by the court under Rule 11-5, must be served on every party of record, along with written notice that the report is being served under this rule,
(a) by the party who intends, with leave of the court under Rule 11-3 (9) or otherwise, to tender the expert's report at trial, or
(b) if 2 or more parties jointly appointed the expert, by each party who intends to tender the expert's report at trial.
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a party intends to tender an expert's report at trial to respond to an expert witness whose report is served under subrule (3), the party must serve on every party of record, at least 42 days before the scheduled trial date,
(a) the responding report, and
(b) notice that the responding report is being served under this rule.
(5) If, after an expert's report is served under subrule (3) (b), the expert's opinion changes in a material way,
(a) the expert must, as soon as practicable, prepare a supplementary report and ensure that that supplementary report is provided to the party who served the report under subrule (3), and
(b) the party to whom the supplementary report is provided under paragraph (a) of this subrule must promptly serve that supplementary report on every other party of record.
(6) If, after an expert's report is served under subrule (3) (a) or (4), the expert's opinion changes in a material way and the party who served the report intends to tender that expert's report at trial despite the change,
(a) the expert must, as soon as practicable, prepare a supplementary report and ensure that that supplementary report is provided to the party, and
(b) the party must promptly serve that supplementary report on every other party of record.
(7) A supplementary report under Rule 11-5 (11) or under subrule (5) (a) or (6) (a) of this rule must
(a) be identified as a supplementary report,
(c) include the certification required under Rule 11-2 (2), and
(d) set out the change in the expert's opinion and the reason for it.
(8) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a report of a party's own expert appointed under Rule 11-3 (9) or 11-4 is served under this rule, the party who served the report must,
(a) promptly after being asked to do so by a party of record, serve on the requesting party whichever one or more of the following has been requested:
(i) any written statement or statements of facts on which the expert's opinion is based;
(ii) a record of any independent observations made by the expert in relation to the report;
(iii) any data compiled by the expert in relation to the report;
(iv) the results of any test conducted by or for the expert, or of any inspection conducted by the expert, if the expert has relied on that test or inspection in forming the expert's opinion, and
(b) if asked to do so by a party of record, make available to the requesting party for review and copying the contents of the expert's file relating to the preparation of the opinion set out in the expert's report,
(i) if the request is made within 14 days before the scheduled trial date, promptly after receipt of that request, or
(ii) in any other case, at least 14 days before the scheduled trial date.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 15 (a).]
(9) The person who is required to serve the report or supplementary report of an expert under this rule must, promptly after the appointment of the expert or promptly after a trial date has been obtained, whichever is later, inform the expert of the scheduled trial date and that the expert may be required to attend at trial for cross-examination.
(10) A party who receives an expert report or supplementary report under this Part must, on the earlier of the date of the trial management conference and the date that is 21 days before the scheduled trial date, serve on every party of record a notice of any objection to the admissibility of the expert's evidence that the party receiving the report or supplementary report intends to raise at trial.
(11) Unless the court otherwise orders, if reasonable notice of an objection could have been given under subrule (10), the objection must not be permitted at trial if that notice was not given.
Rule 11-7 — Expert Opinion Evidence at Trial
(1) Unless the court otherwise orders, opinion evidence of an expert, other than an expert appointed by the court under Rule 11-5, must not be tendered at trial unless
(a) that evidence is included in a report of that expert that has been prepared and served in accordance with Rule 11-6, and
(b) any supplementary reports required under Rule 11-5 (11) or 11-6 (5) or (6) have been prepared and served in accordance with Rule 11-6 (5) to (7).
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, the following apply to a report or supplementary report of an expert:
(a) if, within 21 days after service of the report or within such other period as the court may order, a demand is made under subrule (3) of this rule that the expert who made the report attend at trial for cross-examination, the report must not be tendered or accepted as evidence at the trial unless the appointing party calls the expert at trial to be cross-examined in compliance with the demand;
(b) if no such demand is made under subrule (3) within the demand period referred to in paragraph (a) of this subrule,
(i) the expert whose report has been served under this Part need not attend at trial to give oral testimony, and
(ii) the report, if admissible, may be tendered and accepted as evidence at the trial.
(3) A party of record may demand that an expert whose report has been served on the parties of record under Rule 11-6 attend at the trial for cross-examination as follows:
(a) if the expert was jointly appointed under Rule 11-3 or was appointed by the court under Rule 11-5, any party of record may, within the demand period referred to in subrule (2) (a) of this rule, demand the attendance of the expert for cross-examination by that party or by any of the other parties of record;
(b) if the expert was appointed by a party under Rule 11-4 or by a party with leave of the court granted under Rule 11-3 (9), any party of record who is adverse in interest to the party who appointed that expert may, within the demand period referred to in subrule (2) (a) of this rule, demand the attendance of the expert for cross-examination.
(4) If an expert has been required to attend at trial for cross-examination by a demand under subrule (3) and the court is of the opinion that the cross-examination was not of assistance, the court may order the party who demanded the attendance of the expert to pay to the other party or to the expert costs in an amount the court considers appropriate.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, if a party appoints an expert under Rule 11-3 (9) or 11-4,
(a) the party must not call the expert to give oral evidence at trial unless
(i) the expert's attendance has been demanded under subrule (3) of this rule, or
(ii) the expert's report has been served in accordance with Rule 11-6, the party believes direct examination of the expert is necessary to clarify terminology in the report or to otherwise make the report more understandable and any direct examination of that expert is limited to those matters, and
(6) At trial, the court may allow an expert to provide evidence, on terms and conditions, if any, even though one or more requirements of this Part have not been complied with, if
(a) facts have come to the knowledge of one or more of the parties and those facts could not, with due diligence, have been learned in time to be included in a report or supplementary report and served within the time required by this Part,
(b) the non-compliance is unlikely to cause prejudice
(i) by reason of an inability to prepare for cross-examination, or
(ii) by depriving the party against whom the evidence is tendered of a reasonable opportunity to tender evidence in response, or
(c) the interests of justice require it.
[am. B.C. Regs. 18/2019, Sch. 1, s. 3; 207/2020, s. 3.]
Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 207/2020, s. 4.]
Rule 12-1 — How to Set Trial for Hearing
(1) This rule applies to
(b) a proceeding that is transferred to the trial list under Rule 22-1 (7) (d).
(2) To set a proceeding for trial, a party must file a notice of trial in Form 40.
[Special rules apply to fast track actions in relation to the setting of trials — see Rule 15-1 (13) and (14).]
(3) A notice of trial filed under subrule (2) must include the date set out in a case plan order for the trial or, if no trial date is set out in a case plan order, the trial date obtained from the registry.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 25.]
(4) The notice of trial must be filed in
(a) the registry where the notice of civil claim was filed unless paragraph (b) applies, or
(b) the registry to which the proceeding has been transferred if the proceeding has been transferred for all purposes to another registry.
(5) The place of trial must be the place named in the notice of civil claim, but the court may order that the place of trial be changed or that the trial be heard partly in one place and partly in another.
(6) Promptly after filing a notice of trial, the filing party must serve a copy of the filed notice of trial on all parties of record.
[am. B.C. Reg. 65/2013, Sch. A, s. 1.]
(7) If a party on whom a notice of trial is served under subrule (6) objects to the trial date set out in that notice of trial, the party must, within 21 days after service of the notice of trial,
(a) request a case planning conference, or
(b) make an application to the court to have the trial rescheduled.
(8) The trial is to be heard on the day appointed by the notice of trial or so soon after that day as may be convenient to the court.
(9) The court may
(a) order the adjournment of a trial,
(b) fix the date of trial of a proceeding,
(10) Each party to a proceeding that has been set for trial must advise the registry without delay
(a) if the proceeding settles, and
(b) of any circumstances affecting the estimated length of the trial.
(1) Unless the court otherwise orders, the plaintiff must, at least 56 days before the scheduled trial date,
(a) file a trial brief in Form 41, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed trial brief on all other parties of record.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
(2) Unless the court otherwise orders, each party of record, other than the plaintiff, must, at least 49 days before the scheduled trial date,
(a) file a trial brief in Form 41, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed trial brief on all other parties of record.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
(3) Unless the court otherwise orders, the plaintiff may, at least 42 days before the scheduled trial date,
(a) file an amended trial brief in Form 41, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed amended trial brief on all other parties of record.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
(4) If a party of record has failed to comply with subrule (1) (a) or (b) or (2) (a) or (b), the judge or associate judge at a trial management conference may order costs against that party.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9; am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, a trial must be removed from the trial list if neither the plaintiff nor any other party of record has filed a trial brief as required by subrule (1) or (2).
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
(6) If a party of record who has provided a witness list in a trial brief later learns that the witness list is inaccurate or incomplete, the party must promptly
(a) file an amended witness list, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed amended witness list on all parties of record.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
(7) Nothing in this rule requires a party to, at trial, lead evidence from a person listed in the witness list set out in the party's trial brief.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
(8) If the date for the hearing of a trial is rescheduled, a party of record who has already filed a trial brief as required under subrule (1) or (2) must file a new trial brief under those subrules, as applicable, in relation to the new scheduled trial date unless
(a) the new scheduled trial date is less than 6 months from the previously scheduled trial date, or
(b) the court otherwise orders.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 9.]
Rule 12-2 — Trial Management Conference
(1) A trial management conference must take place if
(a) required by order of the court, or
(b) unless the court otherwise orders,
(i) more than 15 days have been reserved for the trial,
(ii) any party of record is not represented by a lawyer, or may not be represented by a lawyer at the trial,
(iii) the trial is to be heard by the court with a jury, or
(iv) a party of record requests a trial management conference by filing a requisition not less than 42 days before the scheduled trial date.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 10.]
(1.1) Unless the court otherwise orders, the trial management conference must take place at least 28 days before the scheduled trial date, at a time and place to be fixed by a registrar.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 10.]
(2) A trial management conference must be conducted by a judge or associate judge.
[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2012, Sch. A, s. 1; 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 11; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(3)-(3.6) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 12.]
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, the following persons must attend a trial management conference in person:
(a) each lawyer representing a party of record;
(b) subject to the exception set out in subrule (5), each party of record.
(5) A party of record need not attend the trial management conference in person if the party is represented by a lawyer and one of the following is readily available for consultation during the trial management conference, either in person or by telephone, video conference or other communication medium:
(i) has full authority to make decisions for that party concerning the action, or
(ii) has ready access to a person who has, or to a group of persons who collectively have, full authority to make decisions for that party concerning the action.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 13.]
(6) An application made under subrule (4) for an order respecting the manner in which a person is to attend a trial management conference or exempting a person from attending a trial management conference must be made by requisition in Form 20.1.
[en. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 14.]
(7) If a person who, under subrule (4), is required to attend a trial management conference fails to attend at that trial management conference, the trial management conference judge or associate judge may do one or more of the following:
(a) proceed in the absence of the person who failed to attend;
(b) adjourn the trial management conference;
(c) order that the person, or the party on whose behalf the person was to attend, pay costs to one or more other parties.
[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2012, Sch. A, s. 1; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(8) Proceedings at a trial management conference must be recorded, but no part of that recording may be made available to or used by any person without court order.
(9) The judge or associate judge presiding at a trial management conference may consider the following and, without limiting the ability of the trial judge or associate judge to make other orders at trial, may, whether or not on the application of a party, make orders respecting one or more of the following:
(a) a plan for how the trial should be conducted;
(b) whether or not the trial or any part of it is to be heard without a jury, on any of the grounds set out in Rule 12-6 (5);
(c) amendment of pleadings within a fixed time;
(d) admissions of fact at trial;
(e) admission of documents at trial, including
(i) agreements as to the purposes for which documents may be admitted, and
(ii) the preparation of common books of documents and document agreements;
(f) imposing time limits for the direct examination or cross-examination of witnesses, opening statements and final submissions;
(g) directing that a party provide a summary of the evidence that the party expects one or more of the party's witnesses will give at trial;
(h) directing that evidence of witnesses be presented at trial by way of affidavit;
(i) respecting experts, including, without limitation, orders that the parties' experts must, before the service of their respective reports, confer to determine and report on those matters on which they agree and those matters on which they do not agree;
(j) directing that the parties present opening statements and final submissions in writing;
(k) respecting when and how an issue between the party filing a third party notice and the third party may be tried;
(m) directing that the number of days reserved for the trial be changed;
(n) directing the parties to attend a settlement conference;
(o) adjourning the trial management conference;
(p) directing the parties to attend a further trial management conference at a specified date and time;
(q) any other matter that may assist in making the trial more efficient;
(r) any other matter that may aid in the resolution of the proceeding;
(s) any orders the judge or associate judge considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2012, Sch. A, s. 1; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(10) Without limiting Rule 13-1 (2), if an order under subrule (9) of this rule is signed or initialled by the trial management conference judge or associate judge, that order need not be approved in writing by a lawyer or by a party.
[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2012, Sch. A, s. 1; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(11) A trial management conference judge or associate judge must not, at a trial management conference,
(a) hear any application for which affidavit evidence is required, or
(b) make an order for final judgment, except by consent.
[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2012, Sch. A, s. 1; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(1) The party who files a notice of trial must file a trial record for the court, which trial record must contain
(a) a cover page in Form 30.001,
(b) particulars served under a demand, together with the demand made,
(c) the case plan order, if any,
(d) any order relating to the conduct of the trial,
(d.1) the trial brief filed by each party of record, and
(e) any document required by a registrar under subrule (2).
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 26; 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 15; 165/2024, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(2) A registrar may direct inclusion in the trial record of any document the registrar thinks necessary or may reject a trial record that, in the registrar's opinion,
(a) does not contain all the documents required under subrule (1),
(b) contains a document that is not a document required under subrule (1), or
(3) The party referred to in subrule (1) must
(a) file the trial record at least 14 days before but not more than 28 days before the scheduled trial date, and
(b) promptly after filing, serve a copy of the filed trial record on the other parties of record.
(4) If the whole or any part of a pleading is amended after service of the trial record, the party who filed the notice of trial must
(a) amend the trial record by substituting the amended pleading for the version of the pleading that had previously been included, and
(b) at least one day before the trial,
(5) If the court directs that a proceeding be set down for trial, it may also direct one of the parties to prepare, file and serve a trial record.
(1) Each party of record must file a trial certificate in Form 42 in the registry where the action was started.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 16.]
(2) A trial certificate must be filed at least 14 days before but not more than 28 days before the scheduled trial date.
(3) A trial certificate must contain the following:
(a) a statement that the party filing the trial certificate will be ready to proceed on the scheduled trial date;
(b) a statement certifying that the party filing the trial certificate has completed all examinations for discovery that the party intends to conduct;
(c) the party's current estimate of the length of the trial;
(d) a statement that a trial management conference has been conducted in the action or was not required.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 27; 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 16.]
(4) Promptly after filing a trial certificate, the filing party must serve a copy of the filed trial certificate on all parties of record.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, if no party of record files a trial certificate, the trial must be removed from the trial list.
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 4.]
(6) A party who fails to file a trial certificate under subrule (1) is not, without leave of the court, entitled to make further applications.
Rule 12-5 — Evidence and Procedure at Trial
(1) This rule does not apply to summary trials under Rule 9-7, except as provided in that rule.
Proof of Facts and Documents
(2) An order made under this rule concerning the mode of proving a fact or document or of tendering evidence may be revoked or varied by a subsequent order made at or before the trial.
(3) If a party omits or fails to prove some fact material to the party's case, the court may proceed with the trial, subject to that fact being afterwards proved as the court directs, and,
(a) if the case is being tried by a jury, the court may direct the jury to find a verdict as if that fact had been proved, and
(b) unless the court otherwise orders, judgment must be entered according to whether or not that fact is or is not afterwards proved as directed.
No Evidence and Insufficient Evidence Applications
(4) At the close of the plaintiff's case, the defendant may apply to have the action dismissed on the ground that there is no evidence to support the plaintiff's case.
(5) A defendant is entitled to apply under subrule (4) without being called on to elect whether or not to call evidence.
(6) At the close of the plaintiff's case, the defendant may apply to have the action dismissed on the ground that the evidence is insufficient to make out the plaintiff's case.
(7) Unless the court otherwise orders, an application under subrule (6) may be made only after the defendant has elected not to call evidence.
Documentary and Other Exhibits
(8) By serving a notice in Form 43 at least 2 days before a trial, a party of record may require any other party of record to bring to the trial
(a) any document listed by the other party in a list of documents prepared under Rule 7-1, and
(b) any physical object in the other party's possession or control that the party serving the notice contemplates tendering at the trial as an exhibit, but the notice must identify the object.
(9) If a copy of a document is tendered as an exhibit,
(a) each page of the exhibit must be numbered sequentially, beginning with the first page of the exhibit and ending with the last page of the exhibit, or
(b) if the exhibit is divided by tabs,
(i) each page of the exhibit that is not behind a tab must be numbered sequentially, beginning with the first of those pages and ending with the last of those pages, and
(ii) each page of the exhibit that is behind a tab must be numbered sequentially, beginning with the first page behind the tab and ending with the last page behind the tab.
(10) Unless the court otherwise orders or the parties of record otherwise agree, no plan, photograph or object may be received in evidence at the trial of an action unless, at least 7 days before the start of the trial, the parties of record have been given an opportunity to inspect it.
(11) A registrar must
(a) take charge of each document or object put in as an exhibit,
(b) mark or label each exhibit with a number, and
(c) make a list of the exhibits, giving a short description of each and stating by whom it was tendered.
(12) Subject to subrule (13), after the time for appeal from judgment has expired or after the disposition of an appeal, new trial or further appeal, whichever is latest, a registrar may return an exhibit to the party who tendered it.
(13) The parties of record may agree or the court may order that an exhibit be returned at an earlier time or to a person other than the party who tendered it.
(14) A registrar may, with the approval of the Deputy Attorney General, destroy or otherwise dispose of an exhibit tendered in evidence in a proceeding if the return of the exhibit has not been applied for within one year after the later of
(a) the date of the judgment at trial in, or any other final disposition of, the proceeding, and
(b) the date of the judgment on, or any other final disposition of, any appeal, new trial or further appeal.
(15) If an exhibit is tendered in evidence in a proceeding and nothing is filed in that proceeding for a period of 2 years, a registrar may notify the parties of record that the registrar intends to destroy or otherwise dispose of the exhibit unless, within 30 days after the date of the notice,
(a) an application is made for the return of the exhibit, or
(b) a notice of intention to proceed in Form 44 is served on all parties of record and a copy of the notice and proof of its service is filed in the proceeding.
(16) After giving notice of the intended destruction or disposition of an exhibit under subrule (15), a registrar may,
(a) if, within 30 days after the date of the notice, a person applies to the registrar for a return of the exhibit, return the exhibit to the party who tendered it or to such other person as the parties of record may agree or the court may order, or
(b) if no such application is made and if none of the parties comply with subrule (15) (b) within 30 days after the date of the notice, destroy or otherwise dispose of the exhibit with the approval of the Deputy Attorney General.
(17) If an exhibit is disposed of under subrule (14) or (16) (b),
(a) any money received as a result of the disposition must be paid to the Minister of Finance, and
(b) the exhibit list must be endorsed to indicate the date and method of disposition and the amount of any money recovered.
(18) If an exhibit is destroyed under subrule (14) or (16) (b), the exhibit list must be endorsed to indicate the date and method of destruction.
Adverse Witnesses
(19) For the purpose of subrules (20) to (23), "adverse party" means a party who is adverse in interest.
(20) Subrules (21) to (24) apply if a party wishes to call as a witness at the trial
(b) a person who, at the time the notice referred to in subrule (21) is served, is a director, officer, partner, employee or agent of an adverse party.
(21) If a party wishes to call as a witness a person referred to in subrule (20) (a) or (b), the party must serve on the adverse party a notice in Form 45 together with proper witness fees at least 7 days before the date on which the attendance of the intended witness is required.
(22) Despite subrule (21), a party may
(a) call as a witness, without payment of witness fees or previous notice, a person referred to in subrule (20) (a) or (b) if the person called is in attendance at the trial, or
(b) subpoena a person referred to in subrule (20) (a) or (b).
(23) The court may set aside a notice served under subrule (21) on the grounds that
(a) the adverse party is unable to procure the attendance of the person named in the notice,
(b) the evidence of the person is unnecessary,
(c) it would work a hardship on the person or the adverse party to require the person to attend the trial, or
(d) the person named in the notice is not a person referred to in subrule (20) (a) or (b).
(24) On an application under subrule (23), the court may make any order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules, including, without limitation, an order adjourning the trial.
(25) If a person called as a witness in accordance with subrule (21) or (22) refuses or neglects to attend at the trial, to be sworn or to affirm, to answer a proper question put to the person or to produce a document that the person is required to produce, the court may do one or more of the following:
(a) grant judgment in favour of the party who called the witness;
(c) make an order as to costs;
(d) make any other order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(26) If, in accordance with subrule (21) or (22), a party calls as a witness a person referred to in subrule (20) (a) or (b), the following apply:
(a) the party calling the witness is entitled to cross-examine the witness generally on one or more issues;
(b) the adverse party must not cross-examine the witness except to obtain an explanation of matters brought out in the examination-in-chief;
(c) other parties may cross-examine the witness generally on one or more issues, as the court may direct;
(d) the party calling the witness must not re-examine the witness except in relation to new matters brought out in cross-examination.
Rules Applicable to All Witnesses
(27) Subject to any enactment and these Supreme Court Civil Rules,
(a) a witness at a trial of an action must testify in open court, and
(b) unless the parties otherwise agree, the witness must testify orally.
(28) Unless the court otherwise orders, a party must not, at trial, lead evidence from a witness unless that witness is listed in the witness list set out in a party's trial brief.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 4.]
(29) The court may permit a party
(a) to examine a witness, either generally or with respect to one or more issues,
(i) by the use of leading questions,
(ii) by referring the witness to a prior statement made by the witness, whether or not made under oath,
(iii) respecting the interest of the witness, if any, in the outcome of the proceeding, or
(iv) respecting any relationship or connection between the witness and a party, or
(b) to cross-examine a witness, either generally or with respect to one or more issues.
(30) A party may contradict or impeach the testimony of any witness.
(31) A party of record may prepare a subpoena and serve it on any person.
(32) A subpoena must be in Form 25 and may contain any number of names.
(33) A subpoena need not be filed in or bear the seal of the court.
(34) A subpoena must be served and, if an affidavit is filed for the purpose of proving the service, the affidavit must state when, where, how and by whom service was effected.
(35) A person served with a subpoena is entitled to tender of the proper fees at the time of service.
(36) A party of record, by subpoena in Form 25, may require any person other than a party of record or a representative of a party of record to bring to the trial
(a) any document in the person's possession or control relating to the matters in question in the action, without the necessity of identifying the document, and
(b) any physical object in the person's possession or control that the party contemplates tendering at the trial as an exhibit, but the subpoena must identify the object to be brought.
(37) The court may order the attendance of a witness who is in the lawful custody of another person, including the custodian of a penal institution.
(38) On proof
(a) of the service of a subpoena on a witness who fails to attend or to remain in attendance in accordance with the requirements of the subpoena,
(b) that proper witness fees have been paid or tendered to that witness, and
(c) that the presence of that witness is material to the ends of justice,
the court, by its warrant in Form 46 directed to a sheriff or other officer of the court or to a peace officer, may cause that witness to be apprehended and promptly brought before the court and to be detained in custody or released on terms the court may order, and the court may order that witness to pay the costs arising from that witness's failure to attend or to remain in attendance.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 16 (a).]
(39) A person who has been served with a subpoena may apply to the court for an order setting aside the subpoena on the grounds that compliance with it is unnecessary or that it would work a hardship on the person, and the court may make any order, as to postponement of the trial or otherwise, it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
Deposition Evidence
(40) A transcript or video recording of a deposition under Rule 7-8 may be given in evidence at the trial by any party and, even though the deposition of a witness has or may be given in evidence, the witness may be called to testify orally at the trial.
(41) If a video recording of a deposition is given in evidence under subrule (40) of this rule, a transcript of the deposition may also be given.
(42) If a transcript of a deposition is certified as an accurate transcription by the person taking the deposition, the transcript may be tendered in evidence without proof of the signature of that person.
(43) A video recording of a deposition may be tendered in evidence without proof of its accuracy or completeness, but the court may order an investigation to verify the accuracy or completeness of the video recording.
(44) A video recording of a deposition tendered in evidence becomes an exhibit at the trial.
(45) If a transcript or video recording of a deposition is given in evidence,
(b) the deposition must be presented in full, unless otherwise agreed by the parties or ordered by the court.
Evidence from Examinations for Discovery
(46) If otherwise admissible, the evidence given on an examination for discovery by a party or by a person examined under Rule 7-2 (5) to (10) may be tendered in evidence at trial by any party adverse in interest, unless the court otherwise orders, but the evidence is admissible against the following persons only:
(a) the adverse party who was examined;
(b) the adverse party whose status as a party entitled the examining party to conduct the examination under Rule 7-2 (5) to (10);
(c) if the person was examined under section 17 of the Class Proceedings Act as a member of a class, the members of that class.
(47) If a person examined for discovery was, at the time of the examination, a former director, officer, employee, agent or external auditor of a party, any part of the person's evidence may be tendered at trial if notice has been served on all parties of record at least 14 days before trial specifying the part of the evidence intended to be given at trial.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 16 (b).]
(48) Any party of record may require the attendance at trial of a person whose evidence taken on examination for discovery is intended to be tendered under subrule (47), and, if the evidence is tendered, all parties of record may cross-examine that person.
(49) If part of an examination for discovery is tendered in evidence, the court may review the whole of that examination and if, following the review, the court considers that another part of the examination is closely connected with the part tendered in evidence, it may direct that the other part be tendered as evidence.
(50) If, at the time of an examination for discovery, the person examined was an infant or a mentally incompetent person, the examination must not be tendered in evidence unless the trial judge, at the time the evidence is tendered, determines that the person, at the time of the examination, was competent to give evidence.
(51) If a transcript of an examination for discovery is certified as an accurate transcription by the official reporter, the transcript may be tendered in evidence without proof of the reporter's signature.
Pre-trial Examinations
(52) A party may tender in evidence at the trial all or part of the examination of a person taken under Rule 7-5
(a) to contradict or impeach the testimony of the person at trial, or
(b) if it is necessary in the interests of justice and
(ii) the person is unable to attend and testify because of age, infirmity, sickness or imprisonment,
(53) If part of an examination of a person taken under Rule 7-5 is tendered in evidence, the court may review the whole of that examination and if, following the review, the court considers that another part of the examination is so closely connected with the part tendered in evidence that the last mentioned part ought not to be used without the other part, it may direct that the other part be tendered as evidence.
Transcripts and Interrogatories
(54) If a witness is dead, or is unable to attend and testify because of age, infirmity, sickness or imprisonment or is out of the jurisdiction or the witness's attendance cannot be secured by subpoena, the court may permit a transcript of any evidence of that witness taken in any proceeding, hearing or inquiry at which the evidence was taken under oath, whether or not involving the same parties, to be put in as evidence, but reasonable notice must be given of the intention to give that evidence.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 16 (c).]
(55) In an action in which evidence or argument is taken down by an official reporter or is recorded digitally or on audio tape, it is the duty of the plaintiff, if required by the court, to furnish the court with a certified transcript of the evidence or argument or any portion of it, the costs of which form part of the costs of the action, but if payment of the costs of providing a transcript would be a hardship on a party, the court may order that the transcript be prepared at the expense of the government.
(56) At a trial, a party may object to the admissibility of any question and answer in a transcript or video recording tendered in evidence, although no objection was taken at the examination.
(57) If a transcript is made of a deposition examination, examination for discovery or pre-trial examination of a witness, the party at whose instance the examination was held must keep the original transcript unmarked and must have it available at the trial.
(58) At the trial of an action, a party may give in evidence an answer, or part of an answer, to interrogatories, but the court may look at the whole of the answers and, if it is of the opinion that any other answer or part of an answer is so connected with an answer or part of it given in evidence that the one ought not to be used without the other, it may direct that the other answer or part of it be put in as evidence.
Evidence Given by Affidavit
(59) On the application of a party of record at or before trial, a judge or associate judge may order that the evidence in chief of a witness may be given by affidavit.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(60) A party seeking to tender evidence by affidavit must serve a copy of the affidavit on all parties of record at least 28 days, or such lesser period as may be ordered by the court, before the application referred to in subrule (59).
(61) If a copy of an affidavit of a witness is served under subrule (60), any party may, unless the court otherwise orders, require the witness to be called for cross-examination at trial, provided that that party gives to the party seeking to tender the evidence by affidavit notice of the requirement within 14 days after receiving the affidavit.
(62) If a copy of an affidavit is served under subrule (60) less than 28 days before the application referred to in subrule (59), the court may extend or abridge the time referred to in subrule (61) within which parties may require the attendance of the witness at trial for cross-examination.
(63) The person swearing or affirming an affidavit referred to in subrule (59) may state only what the person would be permitted to state were the evidence to be given orally.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 16 (d).]
(64) Cross-examination under subrule (61) or (62) is not confined to matters contained in the affidavit.
(65) If a witness has been required to give evidence under subrule (61) or (62), and the court is of the opinion that the evidence obtained does not materially add to the information in the affidavit furnished under subrule (60), the court may order the party that required the attendance of the witness to pay, as costs, an amount the court considers appropriate.
Trial Procedures
(66) The court may at any time order a trial to be heard wholly or partially by the court sitting with an assessor, and the court may fix the remuneration for the assessor and the remuneration forms part of the costs of the action.
(67) The court may order that one or more questions of fact or law arising in an action be tried and determined before the others.
(68) The court may order that different questions of fact arising in an action be tried by different modes of trial.
(69) In an action in which it appears that the amount to be recovered is substantially a matter of calculation, the court may direct an inquiry, assessment or accounting under Rule 18-1.
(70) If authorized by the court to do so, a party may use a recording device to record evidence.
(71) At or before a trial, the court may order that evidence of a fact or document may be presented at the trial in any manner, including
(a) by statement on oath of information and belief,
(b) by documents or entries in books,
(c) by copies of documents or entries in books, or
(d) by a specified publication that contains a statement of that fact.
(72) Addresses to the jury or the court must be as follows:
(a) the party on whom the onus of proof lies may open that party's case before giving evidence;
(b) at the close of the case of the party who began, the opposite party, if that party announces that party's intention to give evidence, may open that party's case;
(c) at the close of all of the evidence, the party who began may address the jury or the court, and the opposite party may then address the jury or the court and the party who began may then reply and the court may allow the opposite party to be heard in response to a point raised in the reply;
(d) if a defendant claims relief against another defendant, the defendant claiming relief may address the jury after the defendant against whom relief is claimed;
(e) if a party is represented by a lawyer, the rights conferred by this rule must be exercised by the party's lawyer.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 16 (e).]
(73) At or before a trial, the court may make one or both of the following orders in respect of a party's submissions to the court at the trial:
(a) an order that all or any part of the submissions be in writing;
(b) an order that all or any part of the submissions be of limited length.
(74) On each day of a trial, the clerk must record the following:
Failure to Attend
(75) Without limiting any other power of the court under these Supreme Court Civil Rules, if no party is in attendance when the trial of an action is called, the action must be struck off the trial list unless the court otherwise orders.
(76) If a party is not in attendance when the trial of an action is called, the court may proceed with the trial, including hearing a counterclaim, in the absence of that party.
(77) The court may set aside a verdict or judgment obtained if a party does not attend the trial.
(0.1)-(0.4) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 232/2020, Sch. 2, as am. by B.C. Reg. 53/2021, s. (a) (ii).]
(1) Subject to subrule (3), a trial must be heard by the court without a jury.
(2) A trial must be heard by the court without a jury if the trial relates to
(a) the administration of the estate of a deceased person,
(b) the dissolution of a partnership or the taking of partnership or other accounts,
(c) the redemption or foreclosure of a mortgage,
(d) the sale and distribution of the proceeds of property subject to any lien or charge,
(f) the rectification, setting aside or cancellation of a deed or other written instrument,
(g) the specific performance of a contract,
(h) the partition or sale of real estate,
(i) the custody or guardianship of an infant or the care of an infant's estate, or
(3) Subject to Rule 15-1 (10) and subrules (2) and (4) of this rule, a party may require that the trial of an action be heard by the court with a jury by doing the following:
(a) within 21 days after service of the notice of trial but at least 45 days before trial,
(i) filing a notice in Form 47, and
(ii) serving a copy of the filed notice on all parties of record;
(b) at least 45 days before trial, paying to the sheriff a sum sufficient to pay for the jury and the jury process.
[am. B.C. Regs. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 5; 65/2013, Sch. A, s. 2.]
(4) The court may transfer a proceeding to the Provincial Court of British Columbia under section 15 of the Supreme Court Act even though a party has filed a notice under subrule (3).
(5) Except in cases of defamation, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution, a party on whom a notice under subrule (3) has been served may apply
(a) within 7 days after service for an order that the trial or part of it be heard by the court without a jury on the ground that
(i) the issues require prolonged examination of documents or accounts or a scientific or local investigation that cannot be made conveniently with a jury,
(ii) the issues are of an intricate or complex character, or
(iii) the extra time and cost involved in requiring that the trial be heard by the court with a jury would be disproportionate to the amount involved in the action, or
(b) at any time for an order that the trial be heard by the court without a jury on the ground that the trial relates to a fast track action or to one of the proceedings referred to in subrule (2).
(6) An application for judgment is not necessary unless an enactment or these Supreme Court Civil Rules otherwise provides.
(7) If, after any redirection the court considers appropriate, a jury answers some but not all of the questions directed to it, or if the answers are conflicting, so that judgment cannot be pronounced on the findings, the action must be retried.
(8) If the answers of the jury entitle either party to judgment in respect of some but not all of the claims for relief in the notice of civil claim, the court may pronounce judgment on those claims and the remaining claims must be retried.
(9) If the jury fails to reach a verdict in accordance with the Jury Act, the action must be retried.
(10) A retrial under subrules (7) to (9) may take place at the same or subsequent sittings as the court may direct.
(11) If, for any reason other than the misconduct of a party or the party's lawyer, a trial with a jury would be retried, the court, with the consent of the party who required a jury trial, may continue the trial without a jury.
(12) If, by reason of the misconduct of a party or the party's lawyer, a trial with a jury would be retried, the court, with the consent of all parties adverse in interest to the party whose conduct, or whose lawyer's conduct, is complained of, may continue the trial without a jury.
(1) An order of the court
(a) subject to subrule (15), may be drawn up by any party,
(b) subject to subrules (1.3) and (2) and paragraph (c) of this subrule, must, unless the court otherwise orders, be approved in writing by all parties of record or their lawyers,
(c) need not be approved by a party who has not consented to it and who did not attend or was not represented at the trial or hearing following which the order was made, and
(d) after approval under this rule, must be left with a registrar to have the seal of the court affixed.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 5.]
(1.1) If an order of the court must be approved in writing by a party of record or their lawyer, the party who draws up the order must serve the order on the party of record along with signing instructions in Form 33.1.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 6.]
(1.2) A party who is served with an order under subrule (1.1) or the party's lawyer must, within 14 days after being served,
(a) if the party or lawyer approves the terms of the order, sign the order and return it to the party who drew up the order, or
(b) if the party or lawyer disagrees with the accuracy of the terms of the order, deliver to the party who drew up the order a written objection that sets out in detail the reasons why the terms of the order are not accurate.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 6.]
(1.3) If a party who is served with an order under subrule (1.1) or the party's lawyer does not return the approved order or deliver a written objection within the time limit set out in subrule (1.2), the order need not be approved by that party or that party's lawyer.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 6.]
(1.4) The registrar may enter an order that has not been approved by a party of record or their lawyer if the party who drew up the order files
(a) proof of service on the party of record of the order and the signing instructions referred to in subrule (1.1),
(b) proof that the party who was served with the order or that party's lawyer did not return the approved order, or deliver a written objection, within the time limit set out in subrule (1.2), and
(c) a requisition in Form 17 requesting entry of the order.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 6.]
(2) If an order is signed or initialled by the presiding judge or associate judge, that order need not be approved in writing by a lawyer or by a party.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(3) Unless these Supreme Court Civil Rules otherwise provide,
(a) an order made without a hearing and by consent must be in Form 34,
(a.1) an order made at a trial management conference must be in Form 47.1,
(b) an order made after a trial must be in Form 48, and
(c) any other order must be in Form 35.
[am. B.C. Reg. 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 17.]
(4) If an order has been made substantially in the same terms as requested, and if the court endorses the notice of application, petition or other document to show that the order has been made or made with any variations or additional terms shown in the endorsement, it is not necessary to draw up the order, but the endorsed document must be filed.
(5) If an order may be entered on the filing of a document, the party seeking entry of the order must file the document when leaving the draft order with a registrar, and the registrar must examine the document and, if satisfied that it is sufficient, must enter the order accordingly.
(6) If a person who has obtained an order on condition does not comply with the condition, the person is deemed to have abandoned the order so far as it is beneficial to the person and, unless the court otherwise orders, any other person interested in the proceeding may take either the steps the order may warrant or the steps that might have been taken if the order had not been made.
(7) An order of a single judge or associate judge is an order of the court.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(8) An order
(a) must be dated as of the date on which it was pronounced or, if made by a registrar, as of the date on which it is signed by the registrar, and
(b) unless the court otherwise orders, takes effect on the day of its date.
(9) An order may be approved by any judge.
(10) A consent order must not be entered unless the consent of each party of record affected by the order is signified as follows:
(a) if the party is represented by a lawyer, by the signature of the lawyer;
(b) if the party is not represented by a lawyer,
(i) by the oral consent of the party who attends before the court or a registrar, or
(11) An order must be settled, when necessary, by a registrar, who may refer the draft to the judge or associate judge who made the order.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(12) A party may file an appointment in Form 49 to settle an order and must, at least one day before the time fixed by the appointment, serve on all parties whose approval of the order is required under subrule (1) the following documents:
(a) a copy of the filed appointment;
(c) any written objections to the draft order that have been delivered to the party.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 7.]
(13) If a party fails to attend at the time appointed for the settlement of an order, a registrar may settle the order in the party's absence.
(14) The court may review and vary the order as settled.
(15) The court may direct a registrar to draw up and enter an order.
(16) The court may give special directions respecting the entry or service of an order.
(17) The court may at any time correct a clerical mistake in an order or an error arising in an order from an accidental slip or omission, or may amend an order to provide for any matter that should have been but was not adjudicated on.
(18) The opinion, advice or direction of the court must be entered in the same manner as an order of the court and is to be termed a "judicial opinion", "judicial advice" or "judicial direction", as the case may require.
(19) When making an order under these Supreme Court Civil Rules, the court may impose terms and conditions and give directions it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
Rule 13-2 — Enforcement of Orders
(1) An order for the payment of money to a person may be enforced by writ of seizure and sale in Form 50.
(2) An order for the payment of money into court may be enforced by writ of sequestration in Form 51.
(3) An order for the recovery or the delivery of the possession of land may be enforced by writ of possession in Form 52.
(4) An order for the recovery or the delivery of the possession of any property other than land or money may be enforced by writ of delivery in Form 53 or 54 or by writ of sequestration in Form 51.
(5) An order may be enforced by the appointment of a receiver under Rule 10-2.
(6) A person not a party to a proceeding, who obtains an order or in whose favour an order is made, may enforce the order in the same manner as if the person were a party to the proceeding, and an order that may be enforced against a person not a party to a proceeding may be enforced against that person as if that person were a party to the proceeding.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 17 (a).]
(7) If a mandatory order or an order for the specific performance of a contract is not obeyed, the court, in addition to or instead of proceeding against the disobedient person for contempt, may direct that the act required to be done may be done so far as is practicable by the person who obtained the order, or by some other person appointed by the court, at the expense of the disobedient person, and on the act being done, the expenses incurred may be ascertained in such manner as the court may direct, and execution may issue for the amount so ascertained and costs.
(8) If an order is to the effect that a person (the "entitled person") is entitled to relief subject to or on compliance with a condition or the happening of a contingency, the entitled person, after compliance with the condition or the happening of the contingency, and after demand is made on the person against whom the entitled person is entitled to relief, may apply to the court for leave to issue execution.
[en. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 17 (b).]
(9) The court, if satisfied that the right to relief referred to in subrule (8) has arisen, may
(a) order that execution issue, or
(b) direct that any issue or question necessary for the determination of the rights of the persons be tried.
(10) If a change has taken place, by death or otherwise, in the persons entitled or liable to execution, the person claiming to be entitled to execution may apply to the court for leave to issue execution, and the court may order
(a) that execution may issue, or
(b) that any issue or question necessary to determine the rights of the person be tried.
(11) A writ of execution must not issue without the production to the registry of a copy of the order on which the writ is to issue.
(12) A writ of execution must be endorsed with the name and address of the lawyer or person causing it to be issued.
(13) A writ of sequestration, a writ of possession or a writ of delivery must not be issued unless there has been filed proof satisfactory to a registrar that,
(a) in the case of an order, the order sought to be enforced
(i) has been served on the person against whom the order is sought to be enforced, and
(ii) has not been complied with, or
(b) in the case of a document, issued under an enactment, that on being filed in the court may be enforced as if it were an order of the court, the document
(i) has been filed in the court,
(ii) has, before or after being filed in the court, been served in accordance with the enactment or these Supreme Court Civil Rules on the person against whom the order is sought to be enforced, and
(14) If the order sought to be enforced is for the payment of money within a specified period, a writ of execution must not be issued until the expiration of the period.
(15) Subject to these Supreme Court Civil Rules or an order of the court, a writ of execution may be issued by a registrar at any time during the lifetime of the order sought to be enforced.
(16) A writ of execution must be prepared by the person seeking to enforce the order or by the person's lawyer, must be sealed by a registrar and is, after that, deemed to be issued.
(17) The person seeking to enforce the order or the person's lawyer, on presenting a writ of execution for sealing, must provide a copy of the writ of execution to the registry.
(18) A writ of execution, if unexecuted, remains in force for one year only, unless renewed.
(19) At any time before the expiration of a writ of execution, or a renewed writ of execution, the writ of execution may, on the application of the party issuing the writ of execution, be renewed for a one year period beginning on the date of the renewal.
(20) An application to renew a writ of execution may be heard by
(21) A renewed writ of execution must be endorsed, by the court or a registrar, with the date of the order granting renewal and the date of the renewal.
(22) Unless the court otherwise orders, a party who is entitled to enforce an order is entitled to the costs, fees and expenses of enforcement including proceedings under the Court Order Enforcement Act, this rule and Rules 13-3 and 13-4.
(23) Subject to subrule (24) of this rule, if these Supreme Court Civil Rules provide or some other enactment provides that enforcement costs may be included in the amount endorsed on any writ of execution, a registrar may fix the amount to be endorsed on the writ of execution.
(24) If a judgment debtor alleges that the judgment debtor has satisfied an order for the payment of money or otherwise, whether or not the costs of enforcement and interest on those costs have been paid,
(a) either the judgment creditor or the judgment debtor may apply to have the costs of enforcement assessed before a registrar, and Rule 14-1 applies, or
(b) the judgment debtor may apply to the registrar for an accounting.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 17 (c).]
(25) On an accounting referred to in subrule (24) (b) of this rule, Rule 18-1 applies and a registrar may certify one or more of the following:
(a) the amount, if any, then due to the judgment creditor;
(b) the amount, if any, then due to the judgment debtor as a result of an overpayment;
(26) A certificate under subrule (25) (c) of this rule has the same effect as if it were an order under subrule (30).
(27) On an order granting relief and costs, there may be, at the election of the person entitled, either one writ of execution or separate writs of execution for the relief granted and for the recovery of the costs.
(28) If an order for the recovery of property other than land or money is to be enforced by writ of delivery, the court may, on the application of the judgment holder,
(a) order that execution issue for the delivery of the property without giving the other party the option of retaining the property on paying the assessed value, and
(b) if the property cannot be found, and unless the court otherwise orders, order that the sheriff take possession of all the other party's lands, goods and chattels
(i) until the other party delivers the property, or
(ii) at the option of the judgment holder, until the sheriff realizes from the other party's goods and chattels the assessed value of the property.
(29) A debtor may require, as a condition of paying a money judgment, that the judgment creditor promptly execute, file and serve an acknowledgment of payment in Form 55.
(30) If a judgment debtor claims to have paid the judgment but has not obtained an acknowledgment of payment from the judgment creditor, the debtor may apply to the court for an order certifying that the judgment has been paid.
(31) The court may, at or after the time of making an order,
(a) stay the execution of the order until such time as it thinks fit, or
(b) provide that an order for the payment of money be payable by instalments.
(32) Unless the court in an order under subrule (31) (b) otherwise provides, if an instalment is not paid by the time fixed for payment, the balance of the money remaining unpaid under the order is, at that time, due and payable without notice being given to the judgment debtor.
(33) Without limiting subrule (31), a party against whom an order has been made may apply to the court for a stay of execution or other relief on grounds with respect to which the supporting facts arose too late for them to be pleaded, and the court may give relief it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(34) A sheriff, judgment creditor or judgment debtor may apply to the court for directions under Rule 13-5 concerning the sale of any property taken in execution.
(35) If a certificate under Rule 14-1 (27) or 18-1 (2) has been filed, it may be enforced as if it were an order of the court.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 28.]
Rule 13-3 — Subpoena to Debtor
(1) A creditor who has obtained an order of the court for the recovery or payment of money or costs or both may issue out of the registry a subpoena in Form 56 on filing an affidavit showing that the order is not satisfied and that no writ of execution issued by the creditor is outstanding against the debtor.
(2) A subpoena issued under subrule (1) must be directed,
(a) if the debtor is an individual, to the debtor,
(b) if the debtor is a corporation, to an officer or director of the debtor, or
(c) if the debtor is a partnership or firm, to a person liable to execution on an order against the debtor.
(3) A subpoena issued under subrule (1) must be served at least 7 days before the date of the examination under subrule (4), and with the subpoena must be tendered any expenses the person served would be entitled to were the person required to attend the court as a witness.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 18 (a).]
(4) The examination referred to in a subpoena issued under subrule (1) must take place before an examiner and must be on oath as to the following matters:
(a) the income and property of the debtor;
(b) the debts owed to and by the debtor;
(c) the disposal the debtor has made of any property;
(d) the means the debtor has, or has had, or in future may have, of satisfying the order.
(5) The examiner must be
(c) a registrar designated as an examiner by the Chief Justice.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1.]
(6) At an examination under this rule, the creditor and the person subpoenaed may, with leave of the examiner, call witnesses who may be cross-examined.
(7) The examiner may adjourn an examination under this rule from time to time.
(8) If the person subpoenaed under subrule (1)
(a) does not attend as required at the examination under subrule (4) or an adjournment of it,
(b) refuses to be sworn or to affirm, or to answer one or more of the questions put to the person,
(c) after an order to that effect, refuses or neglects to produce or permit to be inspected any document or property, or
(d) does not give answers that are to the satisfaction of the examiner,
then
(e) if the examiner is an associate judge or registrar,
(i) in the case of default under paragraph (a), the examiner must make a report in Form 57 and fix a time and place at which the creditor may attend before the court, and at that time and place the court may, at the request of the creditor and without notice to the person subpoenaed, order
(B) apprehension under Rule 22-8 (5), and
(ii) in the case of default under paragraph (b), (c) or (d) of this subrule, the examiner must make a report in Form 57 and fix a time and place for the person subpoenaed to attend before the court, and at that time and place the court may, at the request of the creditor and without further notice to the person subpoenaed, order
(B) apprehension under Rule 22-8 (5), or
(f) if the examiner is the court, the examiner may order committal.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1.]
(9) If the creditor who issued a subpoena under subrule (1) fails to attend at the examination under subrule (4), or if the examiner is of the opinion that the proceedings are unnecessary or vexatious, the examiner may order the creditor to pay to the person subpoenaed a sum of money by way of compensation and may order that sum to be paid promptly or to be set off against the debt.
(10) If it appears to the examiner that
(a) the debtor has, with intent to defraud the creditor, made or caused to be made any gift, delivery or transfer of property, or has removed or concealed property,
(b) the debtor has unreasonably neglected or refused to pay the debt in whole or in part or to pay any instalment ordered to be paid, or
(c) the debtor is a corporation and the person subpoenaed has done, authorized, permitted or acquiesced in an act or omission described in paragraph (a) or (b),
then
(d) if the examiner is an associate judge or registrar, the examiner may make a report of the examiner's findings and fix a time and place for the person subpoenaed to attend before the court, and at that time and place the creditor may apply without notice for committal, or
(e) if the examiner is the court, the examiner may order committal.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(11) At an examination under this rule, the examiner may make one or more of the following orders:
(a) for the payment of the debt by instalments;
(b) for the payment of the debt on or before a fixed date;
(c) varying or rescinding any previous order;
(d) for payment to be made to a registrar, to the creditor or to the creditor's lawyer;
(e) fixing the costs payable by the debtor without assessment,
and if the examiner is an associate judge or registrar, the order has the effect of an order made by the court and must be entered accordingly.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1.]
(12) If a debtor fails to pay in accordance with an order made under subrule (11) by an examiner, the creditor may file a notice of application for committal in Form 58 on filing an affidavit showing that the default has occurred, and subrules (2) and (3) apply.
(13) The court may order committal of a debtor if satisfied that
(a) the order to pay has not been obeyed,
(b) the debtor knew of the order, and
(c) the debtor has not shown good cause why an order of committal should not be made against the debtor.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, ss. 18 (b) and (c).]
(14) The court may fix the costs payable by the debtor without assessment.
(15) An order of committal must be in Form 59 and must commit the person named in it to prison for a term not exceeding 40 days.
(16) An order of committal must not be enforced after the expiration of one year after the date the order was made.
(17) A creditor seeking to enforce an order of committal must pay to the sheriff for the maintenance of the person committed the sum of $10 per day for each day of imprisonment by weekly payments of $70 in advance.
(18) The maintenance money paid by a creditor under subrule (17) is a disbursement recoverable by the creditor from the debtor as costs of execution, without order.
(19) Subject to subrule (21), a sheriff or peace officer executing an order of committal must promptly bring the person arrested before the court, and the person arrested may be examined by the court, and if the court considers that imprisonment is not appropriate, the court may stay execution of the order of committal and, in that event, must
(a) fix a time and place for a hearing to determine whether or not the order of committal should be set aside or varied, and
(b) give directions for notice of that hearing to be given to the creditor.
(20) A person who is the subject of an order of committal may apply to the court to set aside or vary the order, and the court may order a stay of execution of the order pending the hearing of the application and give directions for service of notice of the hearing.
(21) A person who is the subject of an order of committal may pay the amount payable endorsed on the order either to a registrar or to the sheriff, peace officer or warden in whose custody the person is.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 18 (d).]
(22) On payment under subrule (21) to a registrar of the amount payable, the registrar must issue a receipt to that effect.
(23) On payment under subrule (21) to any of them of the amount payable or on being shown a registrar's receipt to that effect, a sheriff, peace officer or warden must release the person committed from custody and must endorse the order accordingly and return it to the registry.
(24) All money received under this rule must be paid promptly to the creditor.
(25) A creditor who has obtained an order of committal may file in the registry a requisition in Form 17 requesting discharge of the person committed, and a registrar must endorse the requisition and a copy with the words "This is your authority to discharge ...................[name]............................... from custody" above the registrar's signature, and, on being shown the copy of the requisition, a sheriff, peace officer or warden must release the person committed from custody and must endorse the order accordingly and return it to the registry.
(26) A sheriff who has not received maintenance money as provided in subrule (17) must,
(a) if the person committed is in the sheriff's custody, release the person committed, or
(b) if the person committed is in the warden's custody, must notify the warden, who must release the person committed,
and each must endorse the order accordingly and return it to the registry.
(27) Imprisonment under these Supreme Court Civil Rules does not extinguish the liability imposed by an order.
(28) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 29.]
Rule 13-4 — Examinations in Aid of Execution
(1) In this rule:
"judgment creditor" means a person entitled to enforce an order of the court, whether for payment of money or otherwise;
"judgment debtor" means a person against whom the order may be enforced.
(2) If a judgment creditor is entitled to issue execution on or otherwise enforce an order of the court, the judgment creditor may examine the judgment debtor for discovery as to
(a) any matter pertinent to the enforcement of the order,
(b) the reason for nonpayment or nonperformance of the order,
(c) the income and property of the judgment debtor,
(d) the debts owed to and by the judgment debtor,
(e) the disposal the judgment debtor has made of any property either before or after the making of the order,
(f) the means the judgment debtor has, had or may have of satisfying the order, and
(g) whether the judgment debtor intends to obey the order or has any reason for not doing so.
(3) An officer or director of a corporate judgment debtor, or a person liable to execution on the order in the case of a partnership or firm judgment debtor, may, without an order, be examined for discovery on the matters set out in subrule (2).
(4) Unless the court otherwise orders, a person examined under subrule (2) or (3) must not be further examined in the same proceeding for a year.
(5) On being satisfied that any other person may have knowledge of the matters set out in subrule (2), the court may order that other person to be examined for discovery concerning the person's knowledge.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 30.]
(6) If a difficulty arises in or about the execution or enforcement of an order, the court may make any order for the attendance and examination of a party or person it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(7) Rule 7-2 (4), (5), (11), (12), (14), (17), (18), (22) to (28) applies to an examination under this rule.
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 6 (a).]
(8) Any part of an examination for discovery under this rule may be given in evidence in the same or any subsequent proceeding between the parties to the proceeding or between the judgment creditor and the person examined for discovery.
(9) Unless the court otherwise orders, the party conducting an examination under this rule is entitled to recover the costs of the examination from the judgment debtor.
(10) Before conducting an examination for discovery under this rule, the party wishing to conduct that examination must do the following:
(a) if the person to be examined is a party of record to, and has a lawyer in, the action, ensure that, at least 7 days before the examination,
(i) an appointment in Form 59.1 is served on that lawyer, and
(ii) witness fees in the amount required under Schedule 3 of Appendix C are tendered to that lawyer;
(b) in any other case, ensure that, at least 7 days before the examination,
(i) an appointment in Form 59.1 is served on the person to be examined, and
(ii) witness fees in the amount required under Schedule 3 of Appendix C are tendered to the person to be examined.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 6 (b).]
(11) Unless the court otherwise orders, the person to be examined for discovery under this rule must produce for inspection on the examination all documents in the person's possession or control, not privileged, relating to the matters referred to in subrule (2).
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 6 (b); am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 19.]
Rule 13-5 — Sales by the Court
(1) If in a proceeding it appears necessary or expedient that property be sold, the court may order the sale and may order a person in possession of the property or in receipt of the rents, profits or income from it to join in the sale and transfer of the property and deliver up the possession or receipt to the purchaser or person designated by the court.
(2) In a debenture holder's proceeding in which the debenture holder is entitled to a charge on any property, the court, if it is of the opinion that eventually there must be a sale of the property, may order the sale before or after judgment, whether or not all interested persons are ascertained or served.
(3) If an order is made directing property to be sold, the court may permit any person having the conduct of the sale to sell the property in the manner the person considers appropriate or as the court directs.
(4) The court may give directions for the purpose of effecting a sale, including directions
(a) appointing the person who is to have conduct of the sale,
(b) fixing the manner of sale, whether by contract conditional on the approval of the court, private negotiation, public auction, sheriff's sale, tender or some other manner,
(c) fixing a reserve or minimum price,
(d) defining the rights of a person to bid, make offers or meet bids,
(e) requiring payment of the purchase price into court or to trustees or to other persons,
(f) settling the particulars or conditions of sale,
(g) obtaining evidence of the value of the property,
(h) fixing the remuneration to be paid to the person having conduct of the sale and any commission, costs or expenses resulting from the sale,
(i) that any conveyance or other document necessary to complete the sale be executed on behalf of any person by a person designated by the court, and
(5) A person having conduct of a sale may apply to the court for further directions.
(6) The result of a sale by order of the court must be certified in Form 60 by the person having conduct of the sale and that certificate must be filed promptly after completion of the sale.
(7) The person having conduct of the sale may apply to the court for a vesting order in favour of a purchaser.
[Special rules apply to costs in fast track actions — see Rule 15-1 (15) to (17).]
(1) If costs are payable to a party under these Supreme Court Civil Rules or by order, those costs must be assessed as party and party costs in accordance with Appendix B unless any of the following circumstances exist:
(a) the parties consent to the amount of costs and file a certificate of costs setting out that amount;
(i) the costs of the proceeding be assessed as special costs, or
(ii) the costs of an application, a step or any other matter in the proceeding be assessed as special costs in which event, subject to subrule (10), costs in relation to all other applications, steps and matters in the proceeding must be determined and assessed under this rule in accordance with this subrule;
(c) the court awards lump sum costs for the proceeding and fixes those costs under subrule (15) in an amount the court considers appropriate;
(d) the court awards lump sum costs in relation to an application, a step or any other matter in the proceeding and fixes those costs under subrule (15), in which event, subject to subrule (10), costs in relation to all other applications, steps and matters in the proceeding must be determined and assessed under this rule in accordance with this subrule;
(e) a notice of fast track action in Form 61 has been filed in relation to the action under Rule 15-1, in which event Rule 15-1 (15) to (17) applies;
(f) subject to subrule (10) of this rule,
(i) the only relief granted in the action is one or more of money, real property, a builder's lien and personal property and the plaintiff recovers a judgment in which the total value of the relief granted is $100 000 or less, exclusive of interest and costs, or
(ii) the trial of the action was completed within 3 days or less,
in which event, Rule 15-1 (15) to (17) applies to the action unless the court orders otherwise.
(2) On an assessment of party and party costs under Appendix B, a registrar must
(a) allow those fees under Appendix B that were proper or reasonably necessary to conduct the proceeding, and
(3) On an assessment of special costs, a registrar must
(a) allow those fees that were proper or reasonably necessary to conduct the proceeding, and
(b) consider all of the circumstances, including the following:
(i) the complexity of the proceeding and the difficulty or the novelty of the issues involved;
(ii) the skill, specialized knowledge and responsibility required of the lawyer;
(iii) the amount involved in the proceeding;
(iv) the time reasonably spent in conducting the proceeding;
(v) the conduct of any party that tended to shorten, or to unnecessarily lengthen, the duration of the proceeding;
(vi) the importance of the proceeding to the party whose bill is being assessed, and the result obtained;
(vii) the benefit to the party whose bill is being assessed of the services rendered by the lawyer;
(4) The officer before whom costs are assessed is a registrar.
(5) When assessing costs under subrule (2) or (3) of this rule, a registrar must
(a) determine which disbursements have been necessarily or properly incurred in the conduct of the proceeding, and
(6) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 44/2014, Sch. 2, s. 2.]
(7) If the court has made an order for costs,
(a) any party may, at any time before a registrar issues a certificate under subrule (27), apply for directions to the judge or associate judge who made the order for costs,
(b) the judge or associate judge may direct that any item of costs, including any item of disbursements, be allowed or disallowed, and
(c) the registrar is bound by any direction given by the judge or associate judge.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(8) If tax is payable by a party in respect of legal services or disbursements, a registrar must, on an assessment under subrule (2) or (3), allow an additional amount to compensate for that tax as follows:
(a) if the tax is payable in respect of legal services, the additional amount to compensate for the tax must be determined by multiplying the percentage rate of the tax by,
(i) in the case of a judgment entered on default of response to civil claim, the costs allowed under Item 1 or 2, as the case may be, of Schedule 1 of Appendix B,
(ii) in the case of a writ of execution, a garnishing order, a subpoena to debtor in Form 56, a notice of application for committal in Form 58 or an order of committal in Form 59, the costs allowed under Item 1 or 2, as the case may be, of Schedule 2 of Appendix B, or
(iii) in any other case, the monetary value of the units assessed;
(b) if the tax is payable in respect of disbursements, the additional amount to compensate for the tax must be determined by multiplying the percentage rate of the tax by the monetary value of the disbursements as assessed.
(9) Subject to subrule (12), costs of a proceeding must be awarded to the successful party unless the court otherwise orders.
(10) A plaintiff who recovers a sum within the jurisdiction of the Provincial Court under the Small Claims Act is not entitled to costs, other than disbursements, unless the court finds that there was sufficient reason for bringing the proceeding in the Supreme Court and so orders.
(11) A party is not disentitled to costs merely because the party's lawyer is an employee of the party.
(12) Unless the court hearing an application otherwise orders,
(a) if the application is granted, the party who brought the application is entitled to costs of the application if that party is awarded costs at trial or at the hearing of the petition, but the party opposing the application, if any, is not entitled to costs even though that party is awarded costs at trial or at the hearing of the petition, and
(b) if the application is refused, the party who brought the application is not entitled to costs of the application even though that party is awarded costs at trial or at the hearing of the petition, but the party opposing the application, if any, is entitled to costs if that party is awarded costs at trial or at the hearing of the petition.
(13) If an entitlement to costs arises during a proceeding, whether as a result of an order or otherwise, those costs are payable on the conclusion of the proceeding unless the court otherwise orders.
(14) If anything is done or omitted improperly or unnecessarily, by or on behalf of a party, the court or a registrar may order
(a) that any costs arising from or associated with any matter related to the act or omission not be allowed to the party, or
(b) that the party pay the costs incurred by any other party by reason of the act or omission.
(15) The court may award costs
(b) that relate to some particular application, step or matter in or related to the proceeding, or
(c) except so far as they relate to some particular application, step or matter in or related to the proceeding
and in awarding those costs the court may fix the amount of costs, including the amount of disbursements.
(16) If it is ordered that any costs are to be paid out of an estate or property, the court may direct out of what portion of the estate or property the costs are to be paid.
(17) If a party entitled to receive costs is liable to pay costs to another party, a registrar may assess the costs the party is liable to pay and may adjust them by way of deduction or set-off or may delay the allowance of the costs the party is entitled to receive until the party has paid or tendered the costs the party is liable to pay.
(18) If the costs of one defendant against a plaintiff ought to be paid by another defendant, the court may order payment to be made by one defendant to the other directly, or may order the plaintiff to pay the costs of the successful defendant and allow the plaintiff to include those costs as a disbursement in the costs payable to the plaintiff by the unsuccessful defendant.
(19) If after pronouncement of judgment a party puts another party to unnecessary proceedings or expense, a registrar may award costs as the registrar considers appropriate against the offending party.
(20) A bill of costs must be in Form 62 or, if the bill of costs pertains to a judgment under Rule 3-8, Form 63.
(21) Except as provided in subrule (26), a person who seeks a review of a bill or an examination of an agreement under the Legal Profession Act or who seeks to have costs assessed must
(a) obtain a date for an appointment before a registrar,
(b) file an appointment in Form 49 to which is attached
(ii) the agreement to be examined, or
(iii) the bill of costs to be assessed, and
(c) at least 5 days before the date of the appointment, serve a copy of the filed Form 49 appointment and any affidavit in support,
(i) in the case of a bill to be reviewed, on the lawyer whose bill is to be reviewed, on the person who is charged with the bill or on the person who has agreed to indemnify the person charged, as the case may be,
(ii) in the case of an agreement to be examined, on the lawyer who is a party to the agreement to be examined, or
(iii) in the case of a bill of costs to be assessed, in accordance with subrule (25).
(22) An appointment for review of a bill, examination of an agreement or assessment of costs must be taken out,
(a) in the case of a bill to be reviewed or an agreement to be examined,
(i) if the bill or agreement relates to a court proceeding, at the registry at which the proceeding is being conducted, or
(ii) if the bill or agreement does not relate to a court proceeding, at the registry nearest to the place of business of the lawyer concerned,
(b) in the case of a bill of costs to be assessed, at the registry at which the proceeding is being conducted, or
(c) at any other registry to which the parties to the appointment may agree.
(23) A registrar may order further particulars or details of
(24) If a sheriff who has charged fees for services set out in Schedule 2 of Appendix C or a person affected by those fees wishes to have those fees assessed, the person seeking the assessment must
(a) obtain an appointment from a registrar in Form 49 and attach to that appointment a copy of the bill to be assessed, if available, and
(b) at least 5 days before the assessment, serve a copy of the filed appointment and any filed affidavit in support on all persons affected by the fees.
(25) A person seeking an assessment of costs must serve an appointment in Form 49, to which is attached the bill of costs, and any affidavit in support on
(a) the person against whom costs are to be assessed, and
(b) every other person whose interest, whether in a fund or estate or otherwise, may be affected.
(26) On signing a default judgment, a registrar may, without an appointment, fix the costs to which the plaintiff is entitled against the defendant in default, and set out the amount allowed in
(27) On the conclusion of an assessment of costs, or if the party charged has consented to the amount, a registrar must, either by endorsing the original bill or by issuing a certificate of costs in Form 64, certify the amount of costs awarded, and the party assessing costs must file the certificate.
(28) On the conclusion of a review of a bill under the Legal Profession Act, or if the parties to the review have consented to the amount due under the bill, a registrar must, by issuing a certificate of fees in Form 65, certify the amount due, and either party to the review may file the certificate.
(29) A party who is dissatisfied with a decision of a registrar on an assessment of costs may, within 14 days after the registrar has certified the costs, apply to the court for a review of the assessment.
(30) A bill for special costs or a bill under the Legal Profession Act may be rendered on a lump sum basis.
(31) A lump sum bill must contain a description of the nature of the services and of the matter involved as would, in the opinion of a registrar, afford any lawyer sufficient information to advise a client on the reasonableness of the charge made.
(32) A party to an assessment of costs or a review of a lump sum bill may put in evidence the opinion of a lawyer as to the nature and importance of the services rendered and of the matter involved and the reasonableness of the charges made, but a party must not put in evidence the opinions of more than 2 lawyers, and a lawyer giving an opinion may be required to attend for examination and cross-examination.
(33) If the court considers that a party's lawyer has caused costs to be incurred without reasonable cause, or has caused costs to be wasted through delay, neglect or some other fault, the court may do any one or more of the following:
(a) disallow any fees and disbursements between the lawyer and the lawyer's client or, if those fees or disbursements have been paid, order that the lawyer repay some or all of them to the client;
(b) order that the lawyer indemnify the lawyer's client for all or part of any costs that the client has been ordered to pay to another party;
(c) order that the lawyer be personally liable for all or part of any costs that the lawyer's client has been ordered to pay to another party;
(d) make any other order that the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 20.]
(34) If the court makes an order under subrule (33), the court may
(a) direct a registrar to conduct an inquiry and file a report with recommendations as to the amount of costs, or
(b) subject to subrule (37), fix the costs with or without reference to the tariff in Appendix B.
(35) An order against a lawyer under subrule (33) or (34) must not be made unless the lawyer is present or has been given notice.
(36) A lawyer against whom an order under subrule (33) or (34) has been made must promptly serve a copy of the entered order on the lawyer's client.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 20.]
(37) An order by the court under subrule (34) (b) in respect of the costs of an application must not exceed $1 000.
(38) If a party entitled to costs fails to assess costs and prejudices another party by failing to do so, a registrar may certify the costs of the other party and certify the failure and disallow all costs of the party in default.
(39) Unless the court otherwise orders, fees to lawyers, accountants, engineers, actuaries, valuators, merchants and other scientific persons to whom any matter or question is referred by the court must be determined by a registrar, subject to an appeal to the court.
Part 15 — Fast Track Litigation Proceedings
Rule 15-1 — Fast Track Litigation
(1) Subject to subrule (4) and unless the court otherwise orders, this rule applies to an action if
(a) the only claims in the action are for one or more of money, real property, a builder's lien and personal property and the total of the following amounts is $100 000 or less, exclusive of interest and costs:
(i) the amount of any money claimed in the action by the plaintiff for pecuniary loss;
(ii) the amount of any money to be claimed in the action by the plaintiff for non-pecuniary loss;
(iii) the fair market value, as at the date the action is commenced, of
(A) all real property and all interests in real property, and
(B) all personal property and all interests in personal property
claimed in the action by the plaintiff,
(b) the trial of the action can be completed within 3 days,
(c) the parties to the action consent, or
(d) the court, on its own motion or on the application of any party, so orders.
(2) If this rule applies to an action,
(a) any party may file a notice of fast track action in Form 61,
(a.1) the filing party must serve a copy of the filed notice of fast track action on each of the other parties of record, and
(b) the words "Subject to Rule 15-1" must be added to the style of proceeding, immediately below the listed parties, for all documents filed after the notice of fast track action is filed under paragraph (a) or the court order is made under subrule (1) (d), as the case may be.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 31.]
(3) Nothing in this rule prevents a court from awarding damages to a plaintiff in a fast track action for an amount in excess of $100 000.
(4) This rule does not apply to a class proceeding within the meaning of the Class Proceedings Act.
(5) These Supreme Court Civil Rules apply to a fast track action but in the event of a conflict between this rule and another rule, this rule applies.
(6) This rule ceases to apply to a fast track action if the court, on its own motion or on the application of any party, so orders.
(7) Subject to subrule (8), a party to a fast track action must not serve on another party a notice of application or an affidavit in support of an application unless a case planning conference or a trial management conference has been conducted in relation to the action.
(8) Subrule (7) does not apply to an application made
(a) for an order under subrule (6) that this rule cease to apply to the action,
(b) to obtain leave to bring an application referred to in subrule (9),
(c) under Rule 9-5, 9-6 or 9-7,
(9) On application by a party, a judge or associate judge may relieve a party from the requirements of subrule (7) if
(a) it is impracticable or unfair to require the party to comply with the requirements of subrule (7), or
(b) the application referred to in subrule (7) is urgent.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(10) A trial of a fast track action must be heard by the court without a jury.
(11) Unless the court otherwise orders, in a fast track action the examinations for discovery of a party of record, including any person referred to in Rule 7-2 (1) (b) who is examined in relation to that party of record, by all parties of record who are adverse in interest must not, in total, exceed in duration
(b) any greater period to which the person to be examined consents.
(12) Unless the court otherwise orders or the parties to the examination consent, all examinations for discovery in a fast track action must be completed at least 14 days before the scheduled trial date.
(12.1) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 207/2020, s. 4.]
(13) If a party to a fast track action applies for a trial date within 4 months after the date on which this rule becomes applicable to the action, the registrar must set a date for the trial that is not later than 4 months after the application for the trial date.
(14) If, as a result of the trial management conference in a fast track action, the trial management conference judge or associate judge considers that the trial will likely require more than 3 days, the trial management conference judge or associate judge
(a) may adjourn the trial to a date to be fixed as if the action were not subject to this rule, and
(b) is not seized of the action.
[am. B.C. Regs. 58/2012, Sch. A, s. 2; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
(15) Unless the court otherwise orders or the parties consent, and subject to Rule 14-1 (10), the amount of costs, exclusive of disbursements, to which a party to a fast track action is entitled is as follows:
(a) if the time spent on the hearing of the trial is one day or less, $8 000;
(b) if the time spent on the hearing of the trial is 2 days or less but more than one day, $9 500;
(c) if the time spent on the hearing of the trial is more than 2 days, $11 000.
(16) In exercising its discretion under subrule (15), the court may consider an offer to settle as defined in Rule 9-1.
(17) If tax is payable by a party to a fast track action in respect of legal services, an additional amount to compensate for that tax must be added to the costs to which the party is entitled under subrule (15), which additional amount must be determined by multiplying the amount of costs to which the party is entitled under subrule (15) by the percentage rate of the tax.
Part 16 — Petition Proceedings
(1) In this rule, "petition respondent" means a person who files a response to petition under subrule (4).
(2) A person wishing to bring a proceeding referred to in Rule 2-1 (2) by filing a petition must file a petition in Form 66 and each affidavit in support.
(3) Unless these Supreme Court Civil Rules otherwise provide or the court otherwise orders, a copy of the filed petition and of each filed affidavit in support must be served by personal service on all persons whose interests may be affected by the order sought.
(4) A person who has been served with a copy of a filed petition under subrule (3) of this rule must, if the person wishes to receive notice of the time and date of the hearing of the petition, do the following:
(a) file a response to petition in accordance with subrule (5);
(b) file, with the response to petition, all affidavits that have not already been filed and on which the person intends to rely at the hearing of the petition;
(c) unless the court otherwise orders, serve on the petitioner 2 copies and on every other party of record one copy of each document filed under paragraph (a) or (b) as follows:
(i) if the petition respondent was served with the petition anywhere in Canada, within 21 days after that service;
(ii) if the petition respondent was served with the petition anywhere in the United States of America, within 35 days after that service;
(iii) if the petition respondent was served with the petition anywhere else, within 49 days after that service.
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 7 (a).]
(5) A response to petition must be in Form 67 and must
(a) indicate, for each order sought, whether the petition respondent consents to, opposes or takes no position on the order, and
(b) if the petition respondent wishes to oppose any of the relief sought in the petition,
(i) briefly summarize the factual and legal bases on which the orders sought should not be granted,
(ii) list the affidavits and other documents on which the petition respondent intends to rely at the hearing of the petition, and
(iii) set out the petition respondent's estimate of the time the petition will take for hearing.
(6) A petitioner may file affidavits in response to any document served on the petitioner under subrule (4) (c) and, in that event, must serve copies of those filed responding affidavits on each petition respondent no later than the date on which the notice of hearing is served on that petition respondent under subrule (8) (b).
(6.1) Unless the court otherwise orders, a party of record may tender a report setting out the opinion of an expert if
(a) the report conforms with Rule 11-6 (1), or
(b) the court orders that the report is admissible even though it does not conform with Rule 11-6 (1).
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 8.]
(6.2) Unless the court otherwise orders, expert reports must be served as follows:
(a) a petitioner must, at the same time that a copy of the filed petition is served on a person under subrule (3), serve on the person a copy of each expert report in support along with written notice that the expert report is being served under this rule;
(b) a petition respondent must, within 42 days after being served with a copy of the filed petition under subrule (3), serve on the petitioner and every other party of record a copy of each expert report of the petition respondent along with written notice that the expert report is being served under this rule;
(c) a party must, within 49 days after being served with an expert report under paragraph (b), serve on every other party of record a copy of the serving party's responding expert reports, if any, along with written notice that the expert reports are being served under this rule.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 8.]
(6.3) Rule 11-6 (2) applies to a petition proceeding.
[en. B.C. Reg. 149/2022, Sch. 1, s. 8.]
(7) Unless all parties of record consent or the court otherwise orders, a party must not serve any affidavits additional to those served under subrules (3), (4) and (6).
(8) A petitioner wishing to set a petition down for hearing must,
(a) in the case of a petition to which no response to petition has been served under subrule (4) (c), file a notice of hearing in Form 68 at any time before the hearing of the petition, or
(b) in the case of a petition to which a response to petition has been filed and served under subrule (4) (c), file a notice of hearing in Form 68, and serve a copy of the filed notice of hearing on each petition respondent, at least 7 days before the date set for the hearing of the petition.
(9) The hearing of a petition must be set for 9:45 a.m. on a date on which the court hears petitions or at such other time or date as has been fixed by the court or a registrar.
(10) If the estimate, set out in the petition, of the time that the hearing of the petition will take is more than 2 hours, the date and time of hearing must be fixed by a registrar.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 32 (a).]
(11) Subject to subrule (13), the petitioner must provide to the registry where the hearing is to take place a petition record as follows:
(a) the petition record must be in a ring binder or in some other form of secure binding;
(b) the petition record must contain, in consecutively numbered pages, or separated by tabs, the following documents in the following order:
(i) a cover page in Form 30.001;
(iii) a copy of the filed petition;
(iv) a copy of each filed response to petition;
(v) a copy of each filed affidavit that is to be referred to at the hearing;
(c) the petition record may contain
(i) a draft of the proposed order,
(iii) a list of authorities, and
(d) the petition record must not contain
(ii) copies of authorities, including case law, legislation, legal articles or excerpts from text books, or
(iii) any other documents unless they are included with the consent of all the parties;
(e) the petition record must be provided to the registry
(i) no earlier than 9 a.m. on the business day that is three full business days before the date set for the hearing and no later than 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before the date set for the hearing, or
(ii) if an earlier date is fixed by a registrar, on or before that date.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 32 (b) and (c); 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 18 (a); 165/2024, Sch. 1, s. 3 (a).]
(11.1) The petitioner must, concurrently with the filing of the petition record under subrule (11), provide to the registry a copy of the filed petition that
(a) is kept separate from the ring binder or other form of secure binding referred to in subrule (11) (a), and
(b) clearly indicates the orders sought by way of highlighting or other marking of the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of the copy of the filed petition.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 3.]
(11.2) Unless the court otherwise orders, if the petitioner fails to provide a petition record to the registry in accordance with subrule (11), the petition must be removed from the hearing list.
[en. B.C. Reg. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 3.]
(12) The petitioner must serve a copy of the petition record index on each petition respondent no later than 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before the date set for the hearing.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 32 (d); 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 18 (b).]
(13) If a petition respondent intends to set an application for hearing at the same time as the hearing of the petition, the parties must, so far as is possible, prepare and file a joint petition record and agree to a date for the hearing of both applications.
(14) Unless the court otherwise orders, the applicant must retrieve the petition record
(a) at the conclusion of the hearing, or
(b) if the hearing of the petition is adjourned to a date later than the following court day, after the hearing is adjourned.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 32 (e).]
(15) If the petition record has been retrieved by the petitioner under subrule (14) (b), the petitioner must return the petition record to the registry between 9:00 a.m. on the second court day before, and 4 p.m. on the business day that is one full business day before, the new date set for the hearing of the petition.
[am. B.C. Regs. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 18; 176/2023, Sch. 1, s. 18 (b).]
(16) If any additional affidavits are filed and served under subrule (7), the petitioner must provide to the registry an amended petition record containing those affidavits.
(16.1) To reset the hearing of a petition that has been adjourned without a date being set for it to be heard ("adjourned generally") or that has been removed from the hearing list under subrule (11.2), the petitioner must
(a) file a requisition in Form 17 setting out the following:
(i) the date and time of the hearing of the petition;
(ii) the date the petition was filed;
(iii) a brief description of the orders sought;
(iv) the petitioner's estimate of the time the petition will take for hearing;
(v) whether the orders sought are within the jurisdiction of an associate judge, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed requisition on the petition respondents at least 2 days before the date set for the hearing.
[en. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 32 (f); am. B.C. Regs. 239/2023, Sch. 1, s. 4; 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1; 165/2024, Sch. 1, s. 3 (b).]
(17) If the petitioner does not
(a) set the petition for hearing within a reasonable time after being requested to do so by a petition respondent, or
(b) after the hearing of the petition has been adjourned generally, reset the petition for hearing within a reasonable time after being requested to do so by a petition respondent,
a petition respondent may apply, by requisition in Form 17 on 2 days' notice, for directions.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 7 (b).]
(18) Without limiting the court's right under Rule 22-1 (7) (d) to transfer the proceeding referred to in this rule to the trial list, the court may, whether or not on the application of a party, apply any other of these Supreme Court Civil Rules to a proceeding referred to in this rule.
(19) A party may amend a petition or response to petition filed by the party
(a) at any time with leave of the court, and
(b) subject to Rules 6-2 (7) and (10) and 7-7 (5),
(i) once without leave of the court, at any time before service of the notice of hearing, and
(ii) at any time with the written consent of all the parties,
and for that purpose Rule 6-1 (2) to (7) applies.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 10.]
(20) An original petition does not remain in force for more than 12 months, but if a respondent named in a petition has not been served, the court, on the application of the petitioner made before or after the expiration of the 12 months, may order that the original petition be renewed for a period of not more than 12 months.
(21) If a renewed petition has not been served on a respondent named in the petition, the court, on the application of the petitioner made during the currency of the renewed petition, may order the renewal of the petition for a further period of not more than 12 months.
(22) Unless the court otherwise orders, a renewal period ordered under subrule (20) or (21) begins on the date of the order.
(23) Unless the court otherwise orders, a copy of each entered order granting renewal of a petition must be served with the renewed petition, and the renewed petition remains in force and is available to prevent the operation of any statutory limitation and for all other purposes.
Part 17 — Requisition Proceedings
(1) A proceeding referred to in Rule 2-1 (2) may be brought under this rule if
(a) all persons affected by the orders sought within the proceeding consent, or
(b) the proceeding is one of which notice need not be given.
(2) A proceeding referred to in subrule (1) may be brought by filing
(b) a draft of the proposed order
(i) if the order is by consent, in Form 34, or
(ii) in any other case, in Form 35,
(c) in the case of a proceeding referred to in subrule (1) (a),
(i) evidence that the order sought is consented to, and
(ii) any consent or comments of the Public Guardian and Trustee required under section 40 of the Infants Act, and
(d) in the case of a proceeding referred to in subrule (1) (b), evidence in support of the order sought.
(3) On being satisfied that a proceeding referred to in subrule (1) (a) is consented to and that the materials appropriate for the order sought have been filed in accordance with subrule (2), a registrar may,
(a) if the registrar is satisfied that none of the parties applying for or consenting to the order sought is under a legal disability or that, if a party is under a legal disability, section 40 (7) of the Infants Act applies,
(ii) refer the documents filed under subrule (2) to a judge or, if the order sought is within the jurisdiction of an associate judge, to a judge or associate judge, or
(b) in any other case, refer the documents filed under subrule (2) to a judge, or, if the order sought is within the jurisdiction of an associate judge, to a judge or associate judge.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, ss. 1 and 5.]
(4) On being satisfied that the documents appropriate for a proceeding referred to in subrule (1) (b) have been filed in accordance with subrule (2), a registrar may refer those documents to a judge, or, if the order sought is within the jurisdiction of an associate judge, to a judge or associate judge.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, ss. 1 and 5.]
(5) If documents filed under subrule (2) are referred by a registrar to a judge or associate judge under subrule (3) or (4), the judge or associate judge to whom the documents are referred may
(b) give directions respecting the proceeding.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 5.]
Part 18 — Other Court Proceedings
Rule 18-1 — Inquiries, Assessments and Accounts
(1) At any stage of a proceeding, the court may direct that an inquiry, assessment or accounting be held by an associate judge, registrar or special referee.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 1.]
(2) The court may direct that the result of an inquiry, assessment or accounting be certified by the associate judge, registrar or special referee and, in that event, the certificate, if filed under subrule (9), is binding on the parties to the proceeding.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 6.]
(3) If the court does not direct that the result of an inquiry, assessment or accounting be certified, the result of the inquiry, assessment or accounting must be stated in the form of a report and recommendation to the court.
(4) On application by a party, the court may
(a) vary or confirm the recommendation contained in the report and recommendation referred to in subrule (3),
(b) remit the inquiry, assessment or accounting with directions, or
(c) order that the subject matter of the inquiry, assessment or accounting be determined as directed by the court.
(5) An associate judge, registrar or special referee may hold a hearing in relation to an inquiry, assessment or accounting and, in that event, may
(a) hold the hearing at a convenient time and place,
(b) adjourn the hearing from time to time, and
(c) administer oaths, take evidence, direct production of documents and give general directions for the conduct of the hearing.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 2.]
(6) If a party wishes to proceed with an inquiry, assessment or accounting directed by the court under subrule (1), the party must
(a) take out an appointment in Form 49, and
(b) serve notice of the appointment on all parties of record or as directed by the court.
(7) A party of record to a proceeding in which an inquiry, assessment or accounting is held may subpoena any person, including a party, to give evidence at the hearing of the inquiry, assessment or accounting and to produce documents.
(8) An associate judge, registrar or special referee must state the result of an inquiry, assessment or accounting in the form of a certificate or a report and recommendation as directed under subrule (2) or (3) respectively, with or without reasons, and must
(a) provide the certificate to the party requesting the certificate, or
(b) file the report and recommendation and provide a copy to all persons who appeared at the hearing.
[am. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 3, s. 2.]
(9) A party to whom a certificate is provided under subrule (8) (a) may file that certificate.
(10) Before the associate judge, registrar or special referee has concluded a hearing of an inquiry, assessment or accounting, the associate judge, registrar or special referee may, in a summary or other manner, ask the opinion of the court on any matter arising in the hearing.
[en. B.C. Reg. 277/2023, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(11) A person may apply by petition for the furnishing of accounts by the executor or administrator of an estate, a trustee, a receiver, a liquidator, a guardian or a partner.
(12) The court may give special directions as to the manner in which an inquiry, assessment or accounting is to be taken or made, and the directions may include
(a) the manner in which the inquiry, assessment or accounting is to be prosecuted,
(b) the evidence to be tendered in support,
(c) the parties required to attend all or any part of the proceedings,
(d) the time within which each proceeding is to be taken, and
(e) a direction that persons whose interest can be classified constitute a class and are to be represented by the same lawyer,
and the court may fix a time for the further attendance of the parties.
(13) If the court makes a direction under subrule (12) (e) and the persons cannot agree on the lawyer to represent them, the court may appoint the lawyer to represent them.
(14) The court may vary or rescind a direction given under subrule (12).
(15) If an accounting is directed to be held, unless the court otherwise orders, the party required to account must make out that party's account and verify it by an affidavit to which the account must be exhibited.
(16) If an account is made out under subrule (15), the items on each side of the account must be numbered consecutively, and the party required to account must file the affidavit and the account referred to in that subrule and serve copies of those filed documents on all parties of record.
(17) A party who alleges that there are errors or omissions in an account must file and serve on all parties of record a notice of those errors with brief particulars.
(18) If the court makes an order directing that an inquiry, assessment or accounting be held in a proceeding relating to
(a) the administration of the estate of a deceased person,
(b) the execution of a trust, or
the court may direct that notice of the order in Form 69 be served on any person interested
(19) Any person served with notice of an order in accordance with subrule (18) is, subject to subrule (21), bound by the order to the same extent as the person would have been if the person had originally been made a party to the action.
(20) In any case in which it appears that it is impracticable for any reason to serve a person with a notice of order under subrule (18),
(a) the court may dispense with service on the person,
(b) the court may order that that person be bound by any order made to the same extent as if the person had been served with notice of the order, and
(c) the person referred to in an order under paragraph (b) is bound by the order to the same extent as if the person had been served with notice of the order unless the order was obtained by fraud or non-disclosure of material facts.
(21) Within 28 days after service of a notice of order under subrule (18) on a person, the person may, without becoming a party of record to the proceeding, apply to the court to vary or rescind the order.
(22) A person served with a notice of order under subrule (18) may, after filing a notice of interest in Form 70, take part in the proceeding.
(1) In this rule:
"applicant" means the person identified as the applicant under subrule (4) (a);
, in relation to a stated case, means the enactment under which the stated case is referred to the court;
"deliver" means
(a) mail or deliver to the recipient's address for service,
(b) if the recipient is the original tribunal, mail or deliver to the address for that entity, or
(c) if the recipient is a person, other than the original tribunal, for whom an address for service has not been given, mail or deliver to the address for that person included in the latest materials filed by that person with, or submitted by that person to, the original tribunal in relation to the original proceeding;
"original proceeding", in relation to a stated case, means the tribunal proceeding from which the stated case is brought;
"original tribunal", in relation to a stated case, means the entity by which the original proceeding is heard;
"person" has the same meaning as in the Interpretation Act, and includes an entity by which a tribunal proceeding is heard;
"respondent" means a person identified as a respondent under subrule (4) (b);
"stated case" means a reference to the court of a question that arises in or as a result of a tribunal proceeding, if an enactment provides that that reference be made by way of stated case, and includes a question of law submitted to the court under section 34 of the Commercial Arbitration Act;
"tribunal proceeding" means any judicial or quasi-judicial proceeding conducted by an entity other than the court.
(2) A stated case is governed by these Supreme Court Civil Rules but, in the event of a conflict between this rule and
(a) the authorizing enactment, the authorizing enactment prevails, and
(3) To start a stated case, the original tribunal must file in a registry
(a) a notice of stated case in Form 71, and
(b) any material that, under the authorizing enactment, is required to start a stated case.
(4) A notice of stated case must
(a) identify as the applicant the person requesting the stated case,
(b) identify as respondents all other parties to the original proceeding, including the original tribunal if that entity is not the applicant, and
(i) any persons who are identified in, or identified in the manner provided for under, the authorizing enactment or the Constitutional Question Act as being persons to whom notice of the stated case must be provided,
(ii) any intervenor in the original proceeding, and
(iii) any other person to whom the original tribunal considers the notice of stated case should be delivered.
(5) In addition to including the information required by subrule (4), a notice of stated case must set out the following:
(a) a statement of the relevant facts and evidence;
(b) the questions to be determined by the court;
(c) the applicant's address for service, the most recent address provided to the original tribunal by each of the respondents and the most recent address known to the original tribunal for each of the persons referred to in subrule (4) (c).
(6) After a notice of stated case and any material required under subrule (3) (b) is filed under subrule (3),
(a) the original tribunal, if not the applicant, must deliver a copy of the filed notice of stated case and material to the applicant, and
(b) the applicant must deliver a copy of the filed notice of stated case and material to
(ii) all other persons named in the notice of stated case under subrule (4) (c).
(7) The court may
(a) give directions for the proper hearing and determination of the stated case,
(b) without limiting paragraph (a), make one or more of the following orders:
(i) that documents, including transcripts and minutes, or other things be produced;
(ii) that evidence be tendered by way of affidavit, or that it be given orally;
(iii) that sets time limits for taking steps in, and for the hearing of, the stated case;
(iv) that the stated case be disposed of summarily, and
(c) exercise any of the powers of the court exercisable in a petition proceeding.
(8) The original tribunal, if it is not the applicant, and any person who has received a notice of stated case under subrule (6), must, if that tribunal or person wishes to be heard on the hearing of the stated case, file a notice of interest in Form 70.
(9) The applicant or a respondent must, if that person wishes to proceed with the stated case, set it for hearing by
(a) filing a notice of hearing of stated case in Form 72, and
(b) delivering a copy of the filed notice of hearing of stated case, at least 14 days before the date set for hearing, to
(i) each other party of record, and
(ii) the original tribunal, unless that entity filed or received a copy under this subrule.
(1) If an appeal or an application in the nature of an appeal from a decision, direction or order of any person or body, including the Provincial Court, is authorized by an enactment to be made to the court or to a judge, the appeal is governed by this rule to the extent that this rule is not inconsistent with any procedure provided for in the enactment.
(2) An appeal is to be started by filing in a registry a notice of appeal in Form 73 or 74.
(3) A notice of appeal must include
(a) the standard set of directions, in the form directed by the Chief Justice, governing the conduct of the appeal, or
(b) an application for directions as to the conduct of the appeal.
(4) If the notice of appeal includes a standard set of directions under subrule (3) (a), the appeal must be conducted in accordance with those directions unless the court otherwise orders.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders, an application for directions under subrule (3) (b) must be set for hearing on a date that is at least 7 days after the date on which the notice of appeal is served in accordance with subrule (6).
(6) Unless the court otherwise orders, a notice of appeal must be served on
(a) the person or body that gave the decision or direction, or made the order, being appealed, and
(b) all other persons who may be affected by the order sought.
(7) The court may give directions for the proper hearing and determination of an appeal and, without limiting this, may make an order
(a) that documents, transcripts or minutes be produced,
(b) that evidence be tendered by way of affidavit, or that it be given orally,
(c) that the appeal be determined by way of stated case or argument on a point of law,
(d) prescribing time limits for taking steps in and for the hearing of the appeal, or
(e) that the appeal be disposed of summarily,
and may exercise any of the powers of the court exercisable in a petition proceeding.
(8) A person who intends to oppose an appeal must,
(a) file a notice of interest in Form 70 within the following period:
(i) if the person was served with the notice of appeal anywhere in Canada, within 14 days after that service;
(ii) if the person was served with the notice of appeal anywhere in the United States of America, within 28 days after that service;
(iii) if the person was served with the notice of appeal anywhere else, within 42 days after that service, and
(b) promptly after filing the notice of interest, serve a copy of the filed notice of interest on the appellant.
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 8.]
(9) After obtaining from a registrar a date for the hearing of the appeal, the appellant must, if the appellant wishes to proceed with the appeal, set the appeal for hearing on that date by
(a) filing a notice of hearing of appeal in Form 75, and
(b) serving a copy of the filed notice of hearing of appeal on all parties of record.
(10) An appellant may abandon an appeal by
(a) filing a notice of abandonment of appeal in Form 76, and
(b) serving a copy of the filed notice of abandonment of appeal on all parties of record.
Part 19 — Judgments from Other Courts
Rule 19-1 — Transfer of Proceedings from Provincial Court
(1) In this rule, "transfer order" means the order of the Provincial Court referred to in subrule (2).
(2) If a proceeding has been started in the Provincial Court and a judge of that court orders that the proceeding be transferred to the Supreme Court, these Supreme Court Civil Rules apply to the proceeding as if it had been started in the Supreme Court.
(3) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 9.]
(4) If a proceeding is transferred to the Supreme Court in the manner referred to in subrule (2),
(a) the notice of claim filed in the Provincial Court is deemed to be the notice of civil claim filed in the proceeding in the Supreme Court,
(b) the reply filed in the Provincial Court is deemed to be the response to civil claim filed in the proceeding in the Supreme Court, and
(c) a counterclaim filed in the Provincial Court is deemed to be a counterclaim filed in the proceeding in the Supreme Court.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 9.]
(5) If the claimant in the Provincial Court proceeding wishes to continue with that proceeding after its transfer to the Supreme Court, the claimant must, as plaintiff in the Supreme Court action,
(a) amend the notice of claim that is, under subrule (4) (a), deemed to be the notice of civil claim filed in the proceeding in the Supreme Court
(i) by adding "Transferred Proceeding" above the style of proceeding, and
(ii) by otherwise making the notice of claim accord with Rule 3-1,
(b) within 21 days after the transfer order, file, in the Supreme Court registry nearest to the Provincial Court registry in which the Provincial Court proceeding was started, that notice of civil claim as it has been amended by the amendment referred to in paragraph (a) of this subrule, and
(c) serve a copy of that filed notice of civil claim in accordance with Rule 3-2.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 9.]
(6) A defendant must, within 14 days after the date of service of the amended notice of claim under subrule (5) (c) of this rule,
(a) amend the reply that is, under subrule (4) (b), deemed to be the response to civil claim filed in the proceeding in the Supreme Court
(i) by adding "Transferred Proceeding" above the style of proceeding, and
(ii) by otherwise making the reply accord with Rule 3-3,
(b) amend the counterclaim, if any, that is, under subrule (4) (c) of this rule, deemed to be a counterclaim filed in the proceeding in the Supreme Court
(i) by adding "Transferred Proceeding" above the style of proceeding, and
(ii) by otherwise making the counterclaim accord with Rule 3-4,
(c) file in the Supreme Court registry referred to in subrule (5) (b) of this rule
(i) that response to civil claim as it has been amended by the amendment referred to in paragraph (a) of this subrule, and
(ii) that counterclaim, if any, as it has been amended by the amendment referred to in paragraph (b) of this subrule, and
(d) serve in accordance with Part 3
(i) a copy of that filed response to civil claim, and
(ii) a copy of that filed counterclaim, if any.
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 9.]
(6.1) Rule 6-1 does not apply to an amendment under subrule (5) (a) or (6) (a) or (b) of this rule, and, for greater certainty, an amendment under subrule (5) (a) or (6) (a) or (b) of this rule does not constitute an amendment for the purposes of Rule 6-1 (1).
[en. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 9.]
(7) For the purposes of Rule 4-2 and subrules (3) to (6) of this rule, a party who filed a document under subrule (5) or (6) is deemed to have, as an address for service,
(a) the address for service set out in the filed document, or
(b) if the filed document does not contain an address for service, the address set out for that party on the latest document, filed by that party in the Provincial Court proceeding, that contains an address for that party.
(8) Despite any other provision of these Supreme Court Civil Rules, the following apply:
(a) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 112/2012, Sch. A, s. 3.]
(b) the fee for filing an amended notice of claim under subrule (5) is the fee payable under Appendix C for commencing a proceeding in the Supreme Court less any amount that the person filing the amended notice of claim paid for filing the notice of claim in the Provincial Court proceeding;
(c) the fee for filing an amended reply or an amended counterclaim referred to in subrule (6) is the fee payable under Appendix C for filing a response to civil claim or a counterclaim, respectively, in the Supreme Court less any amount that the person filing the amended reply or amended counterclaim paid for filing the reply or counterclaim in the Provincial Court proceeding.
[am. B.C. Reg. 112/2012, Sch. A, s. 3.]
Rule 19-2 — Canadian Judgments
(1) In this rule, "Canadian judgment" has the same meaning as in the Enforcement of Canadian Judgments and Decrees Act.
(2) A person wishing to register a Canadian judgment under the Enforcement of Canadian Judgments and Decrees Act must, for the purposes of section 3 (1) (b) of that Act, file a certified English translation of the Canadian judgment if the judgment was made in a language other than English.
(1) In this rule:
"convention" means the Convention for the Reciprocal Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters, the English language version of which is set out in Schedule 4 of the Court Order Enforcement Act;
"reciprocally enforceable judgment" means a judgment that may be registered under Part 2 or 4 of the Court Order Enforcement Act.
(2) A proceeding to register a reciprocally enforceable judgment must be started by petition or, if Rule 17-1 (1) applies, by requisition.
(3) The application for registration of a reciprocally enforceable judgment must be supported by an affidavit
(i) a certified copy of the judgment under the seal of the original court,
(ii) if section 29 (2) of the Court Order Enforcement Act applies to the application, the certificate referred to in section 29 (3) of that Act, and
(iii) a certified translation of the judgment or certificate if made in a language other than English, and
(b) stating, to the best of the information and belief of the person swearing or affirming the affidavit,
(i) that the judgment creditor is entitled to enforce the judgment,
(ii) the amount presently owing on the judgment,
(iii) the full name, occupation and usual or last known residence or place of business of the judgment creditor and judgment debtor respectively,
(iv) whether the judgment debtor
(A) was personally served with the process of the original court,
(B) was served with the process of the original court other than by personal service, or
(C) participated in the proceeding or otherwise submitted to the jurisdiction of the original court, and
(v) that the judgment is not one that is disqualified from registration either under section 29 (6) of the Court Order Enforcement Act or under Article II, paragraph 2, or Article IV, paragraph 1, of the convention, whichever is applicable.
(4) Notice of an application to register a reciprocally enforceable judgment need not be given to the judgment debtor if
(a) the application is made under Part 4 of the Court Order Enforcement Act, or
(b) the application is made under Part 2 of the Court Order Enforcement Act and section 29 (2) of that Act applies to the application.
(5) The order to register the judgment must be in Form 77.
(6) If a reciprocally enforceable judgment is registered, and the judgment debtor had no notice of the application for registration, notice of the registration must be given to the judgment debtor within one month after the registration.
(7) The court may order that the registration of a judgment under Part 4 of the Court Order Enforcement Act be set aside if the judgment debtor was not duly served with the process of the original court, unless the judgment debtor participated in the proceeding or otherwise submitted to the jurisdiction of the original court.
(8) The court may make an order staying or limiting the enforcement of a judgment registered under Part 4 of the Court Order Enforcement Act, subject to any terms and for any period the court considers appropriate, if
(9) A defendant in an action on a foreign judgment, whether or not it is a reciprocally enforceable judgment, on proof that an appeal or other proceeding in the nature of an appeal is pending or the time for appeal has not expired, may apply for an order staying the proceeding until the determination of the appeal or other proceeding on terms that the court may impose.
Rule 19-4 — Transfer of Proceedings from Foreign Courts
(1) On an application under the Court Jurisdiction and Proceedings Transfer Act for an order that the court accept a transfer to it of a proceeding within the meaning of that Act, the court may order that the person applying for that order do one or both of the following:
(a) pay any expenses that have been or may be incurred by the court in having the documents in the transferring court's file relating to the proceeding translated into English by a person satisfactory to the court;
(b) pending the payment required under paragraph (a), give security in the form and manner the court may direct for payment of the expenses referred to in that paragraph.
(2) If the court requires the provision of security under subrule (1) (b) in relation to the transfer of a proceeding, any order to accept the transfer
(a) is of no force or effect until that security is given, and
(b) must not be presented for entry until that security is given.
(3) Nothing in subrule (1) or (2) precludes a party from claiming either or both of the following as disbursements in conjunction with any costs the party may be awarded in the transferred proceeding:
(a) the expenses referred to in subrule (1) (a) that have been paid for by the party;
(b) the expenses incurred by the party in obtaining the security required under subrule (1) (b).
Rule 19-5 — Documents Required by Judicial Authority of Other Jurisdictions
(1) A person may request a certified copy of a document with formalities that are in addition to those used by the court by filing a request in Form 30.1, if the additional formalities are required by a judicial authority of another jurisdiction.
[en. B.C. Reg. 115/2019, s. 2.]
(2) A request under subrule (1) must include any supplies required under the other jurisdiction, other than blue or black ink, a Supreme Court adhesive seal, a Supreme Court impression seal or an ink stamp certifying a document to be a true copy.
[en. B.C. Reg. 115/2019, s. 2.]
(3) A person may request production of certification or other formal documentation that is not otherwise contemplated in these Supreme Court Civil Rules by filing a request in Form 30.1, if the certification or other formal documentation is required by a judicial authority of another jurisdiction.
[en. B.C. Reg. 115/2019, s. 2.]
(4) A request under subrule (3) must include the document the person wishes to be certified or issued under this rule.
[en. B.C. Reg. 115/2019, s. 2.]
(5) The registrar may provide a certified copy of a document requested under subrule (1) or production of certification or other formal documentation under subrule (3) on receipt of satisfactory information and, if required by the registrar, additional materials in respect of the requirements of a judicial authority of another jurisdiction.
[en. B.C. Reg. 115/2019, s. 2.]
Part 20 — Special Rules for Certain Parties
(1) Two or more persons claiming to be entitled, or alleged to be liable, as partners may sue or be sued in the name of the firm in which they were partners at the time when the alleged right or liability arose.
(2) Service is effected on a firm by leaving a copy of the document to be served with
(a) a person who was a partner at the time the alleged right or liability arose, or
(b) a person at a place of business of the firm who appears to manage or control the partnership business there.
(3) A responding pleading or a response to petition by a partnership must be in the name of the firm, but a partner or a person served as a partner may file a responding pleading or a response to petition and defend in the person's own name, whether or not named in the originating pleading or petition.
(4) If a firm is a party to a proceeding, any other party may serve a notice requiring one of the partners to serve, within 10 days, an affidavit setting out the names and addresses of all persons who were partners when the alleged right or liability arose.
(5) If the affidavit requested under subrule (4) is not served, the court may order service.
(6) If an order is made against a firm, execution to enforce the order may issue against any property of the firm.
(7) Without limiting subrule (8), if an order is made against a firm, execution to enforce the order may issue against any person who
(a) filed a responding pleading or response to petition in the proceeding in the person's own name as a partner,
(b) having been served with the originating pleading or petition as a partner, failed to file a responding pleading or response to petition in the proceeding,
(c) admitted in a pleading or affidavit that the person is a partner, or
(8) If a party who has obtained an order against a firm claims that a person who is not a person described in subrule (7) is liable to satisfy the order as being a member of the firm, the party may apply to the court for leave to issue execution against that person.
(9) If the person against whom an application under subrule (8) is made disputes liability, the court may order that the liability of the person be determined in any manner in which an issue or question in an action may be determined.
(10) A person carrying on business in a name or style other than the person's own name may be sued in that name or style as if it were the name of a firm, and this rule applies as if the person were a partner and the name in which the person carries on business were the name of that firm.
Rule 20-2 — Persons under Disability
(1) In this rule, "committee" means the committee, appointed under the Patients Property Act, of the estate of a patient.
(2) A proceeding brought by or against a person under legal disability must be started or defended by the person's litigation guardian.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 21 (a).]
(3) Unless a rule otherwise provides, anything that is required or authorized by these Supreme Court Civil Rules to be done by or invoked against a party under disability must
(a) be done on the party's behalf by the party's litigation guardian, or
(b) be invoked against the party by invoking the same against the party's litigation guardian.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 21 (b).]
(4) A litigation guardian must act by a lawyer unless the litigation guardian is the Public Guardian and Trustee.
(5) Unless the court otherwise orders or an enactment otherwise provides, a person ordinarily resident in British Columbia may be a litigation guardian of a person under disability without being appointed by the court.
(6) If a person is appointed committee, that person must be the litigation guardian of the patient in any proceeding unless the court otherwise orders.
(7) Before the name of a person is used in a proceeding as a litigation guardian, that person's consent, signed by the person or the person's lawyer, must be filed, unless the person
(a) has been appointed by the court, or
(b) is the litigation guardian under section 35 (1) of the Representation Agreement Act of a party to that proceeding.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 21 (a).]
(8) Unless a committee has been appointed, the lawyer for a person under disability, before acting in a proceeding, must, unless subrule (9) applies, file a certificate that the lawyer knows or believes that
(a) the person to whom the certificate relates is an infant or mentally incompetent person, giving the grounds of that knowledge or belief, and if the person to whom the certificate relates is a mentally incompetent person, that a committee has not been appointed for the person, and
(b) the proposed litigation guardian of the person under disability has no interest in the proceeding adverse to that person.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 21 (c).]
(9) The lawyer for a person who, under section 35 (1) of the Representation Agreement Act, has a litigation guardian must, before acting in a proceeding to which the person is a party, file a certificate certifying that the lawyer knows or believes that
(a) the person has entered into a representation agreement,
(b) the litigation guardian is a representative under that representation agreement and is authorized under section 7 (1) (d) of the Representation Agreement Act in relation to the proceeding, and
(c) the litigation guardian has no interest in the proceeding adverse to the person.
(10) If a party to a proceeding becomes a mentally incompetent person, the court must appoint a litigation guardian for the party unless
(a) a committee has been appointed for the party, or
(b) the party has a litigation guardian under section 35 (1) of the Representation Agreement Act.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 21 (d).]
(11) If it is in the interest of a party who is under disability, the court may remove, appoint or substitute a litigation guardian.
(12) A party to a proceeding who attains the age of majority may, if the party is then under no legal disability,
(a) file an affidavit, in Form 78, confirming the attainment of the age of majority, and
(b) serve a copy of the filed affidavit on all parties of record.
(13) After an affidavit is filed under subrule (12) (a),
(a) the party on whose behalf the affidavit was filed assumes conduct of that party's claim or defence in the proceeding, and
(b) the style of proceeding must no longer refer to a litigation guardian for that party.
(14) A party must not take a step in default against a person under disability without leave of the court.
(15) Unless the court otherwise orders, notice of an application for leave under subrule (14) must be served, in the manner provided by Part 4, on the person under disability at least 10 days before the hearing of the application.
(16) If no response to civil claim, response to counterclaim, response to third party notice or response to petition has been filed to an originating pleading or petition on behalf of a person under disability, the person who started the proceeding, before continuing the proceeding against the person under disability, must obtain an order from the court appointing a litigation guardian for the person under disability.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 33.]
(17) Unless an enactment otherwise provides, if a claim is made by or on behalf of a person under disability, no settlement, compromise, payment or acceptance of money paid into court, whenever entered into or made, so far as it relates to that person's claim, is binding without the approval of the court.
(18) If, before a proceeding is started, an agreement is reached for the settlement or compromise of a claim of a person under disability, whether alone or with others, and it is desired to obtain the court's approval, application may be made by petition or, if Rule 17-1 (1) applies, by requisition, and the court may make any order it considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
Rule 20-3 — Representative Proceedings
(1) If numerous persons have the same interest in a proceeding, other than a proceeding referred to in subrule (10), the proceeding may be started and, unless the court otherwise orders, continued by or against one or more of them as representing all or as representing one or more of them.
(2) At any stage of a proceeding referred to in subrule (1), the court, on the application of a party, may appoint one or more of the defendants or respondents or another person to represent one or more of the persons having the same interest in the proceeding, and if the court appoints a person not named as a defendant or a respondent, the court must make an order under Rule 6-2 adding that person as a defendant or respondent.
(3) An order made in a proceeding referred to in subrule (1) of this rule is binding on all the persons represented in the proceeding as parties, but must not be enforced against a person not a party to the proceeding except with leave of the court.
(4) An application for leave under subrule (3) must be served on the person against whom the applicant seeks to enforce the order, and the person served with the application for leave may dispute liability to have the order enforced against the person.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 22 (a).]
(5) On an application for leave under subrule (3), the court may order that the question of whether the order is enforceable against the person served with the application for leave be determined in the manner the court considers will further the object of these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
(6) In a proceeding concerning
(a) the administration of the estate of a deceased person,
(b) property subject to a trust, or
(c) the construction of a written instrument, including an enactment,
the court may appoint one or more persons to represent a person, including
(d) an unborn or unascertained person, or
(e) the members of a class of persons who have a present, future, contingent or unascertained interest in, or who may be affected by, the proceeding, and who, or some of whom, cannot readily be ascertained or found.
(7) If an appointment of a representative is made under subrule (6), an order in the proceeding is binding on a person or class so represented.
(8) If, in a proceeding referred to in subrule (6), a compromise is proposed and a person who is interested in the compromise, either in the person's own right or as a member of a class, is not a party to the proceeding, the court may approve the compromise and order that it is binding on the interested person if
(a) the court is satisfied that the compromise will be for the benefit of the interested person, and
(b) one of the following applies:
(i) there is another person, with the same interest as the interested person, who is a party to the proceeding and who assents to the compromise;
(ii) the interested person is represented by a person appointed under subrule (6) who so assents.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 22 (b).]
(9) If the court makes an order under subrule (8), the interested person referred to in the order is bound by it unless the order has been obtained by fraud or non-disclosure of material facts.
(10) A proceeding may be brought by or against trustees or personal representatives without joining a person having a beneficial interest in the trust or estate and, unless the court otherwise orders on the ground that the trustees or personal representatives could not or did not represent the interest of the person having the beneficial interest, an order granted or made in the proceeding is binding on that person.
(11) Subrule (10) does not limit the power of the court to
(a) order a person having an interest to be made a party, or
(12)-(13) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 1.]
(14) Before the name of a person is used in a proceeding as a relator,
(a) the person must give a written authorization to the person's lawyer authorizing use of the person's name, and
(b) that authorization must be filed.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 22 (b).]
(15) The court may give the conduct of a proceeding to any person the court considers appropriate.
Rule 20-4 — Declaratory Relief
(1) A proceeding is not open to objection on the ground that only a declaratory order is sought, and the court may make binding declarations of right whether or not consequential relief is or could be claimed.
Rule 20-5 — Persons Who Are Not Required to Pay Fees
(1) If the court, on application made in accordance with subrule (3) before or after the start of a proceeding, finds that a person
(a) receives benefits under the Employment and Assistance Act or the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act, or
(b) cannot, without undue hardship, afford to pay the fees under Schedule 1 of Appendix C in relation to the proceeding,
the court may order that no fees are payable by the person to the government under Schedule 1 of Appendix C in relation to the proceeding unless the court considers that the claim or defence
(c) discloses no reasonable claim or defence, as the case may be,
(d) is scandalous, frivolous or vexatious, or
(e) is otherwise an abuse of the process of the court.
[en. B.C. Reg. 103/2015, s. 2.]
(2) An order under subrule (1) may apply to one or more of the following:
(3) An application under subrule (1) may be made by filing
(b) a draft of the proposed order in Form 79, and
[am. B.C. Reg. 95/2011, Sch. A, s. 10.]
(4) On application or on the court's own motion, the court may review, vary or rescind any order made under subrule (1) or (2).
(5) Despite anything in this rule, if the court makes an order in relation to a person under this rule, no fee is payable by the person to the government under Schedule 1 of Appendix C in relation to
(b) the part of the proceeding,
to which the order applies.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 34 (b).]
Rule 20-6 — Litigation Representatives
(1) In this rule, "litigation representative", in relation to the estate of a deceased, means a person referred to in subrule (3) (a) who is starting, conducting or defending a proceeding referred to in subrule (2) on behalf of the deceased's estate.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(2) This rule applies if
(a) a person who has or may have a cause of action dies before starting a proceeding in relation to that cause of action,
(b) a person against whom a cause of action may be asserted dies before a proceeding is started in relation to that cause of action,
(c) a person who has started a proceeding dies before judgment is pronounced in that proceeding, or
(d) a person against whom a proceeding has been started dies before judgment is pronounced in that proceeding,
and the cause of action, in relation to which the proceeding may be or has been started, survives.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(3) If there is no personal representative for a deceased's estate, the court may,
(a) on application brought in accordance with subrule (5), appoint a person as a litigation representative to start, conduct or defend a proceeding referred to in subrule (2) on behalf of the deceased's estate, or
(b) on application or otherwise, order that the matter proceed in the absence of a person representing the deceased's estate.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(4) Before making an order under subrule (3), the court may require notice of the application to be given to a person having an interest in the deceased's estate.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(5) An application under subrule (3) may be brought without notice under Rule 8-4 or, if there is no existing proceeding within which it is appropriate to bring that application, under Rule 17-1.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(6) Nothing in this rule authorizes a person who is not the personal representative of the deceased to distribute proceeds of a proceeding that belong to the deceased's estate to anyone other than the personal representative.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(7) A litigation representative conducting or defending a proceeding referred to in subrule (2) (c) or (d) must, under Rule 6-2, be substituted for the deceased as a party in the proceeding.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
(8) If
(a) a person becomes a personal representative for a deceased's estate after a litigation representative is appointed, and
(b) a proceeding referred to in subrule (2) has been started in relation to the deceased,
the personal representative must, on application under Rule 6-2,
(c) be substituted for the deceased as a party in the proceeding, or
(d) if a litigation representative is conducting or defending the proceeding, be substituted for the litigation representative as a party in the proceeding,
unless an order is made in respect of the proceeding under section 151 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act.
[en. B.C. Reg. 90/2014, Sch. 1, s. 2.]
Part 21 — Special Rules for Certain Proceedings
(1) This rule applies if an action may be brought in rem against a ship or other property.
(2) Except to the extent that jurisdiction has been otherwise specially assigned, an action may be brought in rem against a ship or other property that may be brought in rem in the Federal Court of Canada in all cases in which a claim for relief is made under or by virtue of Canadian maritime law or any other law of Canada relating to navigation and shipping.
(3) An action in rem must be started by issuing a notice of civil claim in Form 81.
(4) An action in rem may be started with an action in personam by the issuance of a notice of civil claim in Form 82 and may be joined with another proceeding in accordance with Rule 22-5.
(5) In an action in rem, the notice of civil claim may be served in British Columbia,
(a) on a ship or other property on board a ship, by affixing a copy of the filed notice of civil claim to a conspicuous part of the ship that is protected from the elements to the extent practicable, and
(b) on property that is not on board a ship, by
(i) attaching a copy of the filed notice of civil claim to a conspicuous part of the property protected from the elements to the extent practicable, or
(ii) by personal service on the person having apparent custody of the property.
(6) In an action in rem, a response to civil claim may be filed in the name of the property named.
(7) A person who files a response to civil claim to an action in rem must set out the nature of the interest that the person claims in the ship or other property.
(8) A party may, at any time after an action in rem has been started, apply for a warrant for the arrest of the property named by filing with a registrar an "Affidavit to Lead Warrant" in Form 83.
(9) If an affidavit to lead warrant is filed under subrule (8), a registrar may, after reading the affidavit,
(b) refer the matter to the court and the court may issue the warrant, subject to any directions that the court may give.
(10) A warrant to arrest under this rule must be in Form 84.
(11) The warrant must be served in the manner provided by subrule (5) by a person authorized to serve a writ of execution.
(12) The person who serves a warrant must file proof of service promptly after service is effected.
(13) The arrest of property that is authorized by the warrant to be arrested takes effect at the time the warrant is served.
(14) After arrest, a person must not move the property that has been arrested, unless the court permits it or all parties interested in the action consent.
(15) After property has been arrested, the court may make an order for the property's safety and preservation on terms and conditions, if any, and, in particular, may
(a) authorize the property to be moved, and
(b) order that perishable property be disposed of with the proceeds to be paid as directed by the court.
(16) The court may, on application of any interested party, authorize a person to take possession of, and assume responsibility for, property that has been arrested under this rule, but, if no such order is made, the possession and responsibility continues in the person or persons who were in possession of the property immediately before the arrest.
(17) The court must not make an order under subrule (16) unless the court is satisfied that the applicant has paid or given adequate security for all fees, charges and expenses that will be incurred while the property is in the possession of the person authorized under subrule (16).
Caveats
(18) A person who wishes to prevent the release of any property that has been arrested under this rule or who wishes to prevent the payment out of court of proceeds of the disposition of property that has been arrested must file a caveat in Form 85 in the registry from which the warrant was issued.
(19) A person who has filed a caveat may withdraw it by filing a notice to that effect in Form 86.
(20) Any person who suffers damages or costs as a result of a caveat being filed without sufficient justification may apply to the court to have those damages and costs summarily determined.
(21) An application under subrule (20) must be served on the caveator.
(22) If the court finds that the caveator cannot show that there was sufficient justification for the filing of the caveat, the court must summarily determine the amount of damages and costs suffered by the applicant and make an order for payment accordingly.
Release of Property
(23) The court may, on application of any person having an interest in property arrested under this rule, order the release of the property arrested on bail being posted.
(24) Bail to answer judgment and obtain the release of property arrested under this rule may be posted
(a) by making a payment into court as bail in Form 87,
(b) by delivering to a registrar the guarantee of a chartered bank of Canada or the bond of any surety company licensed to do business in British Columbia in Form 88, or
(c) in the manner the parties may agree or the court may order.
(25) The amount of bail to be posted must be the lesser of
(a) an amount sufficient to answer judgment in the proceedings against the property arrested, and
(26) Unless the court otherwise orders, notice of an application for the release of property arrested under this rule must be served at least one day before the application is heard
(a) on the party to the action at whose instance the arrest was made, and
(b) on any person having filed a caveat to prevent the property from being released from arrest.
(27) Notice of an application for the release of property arrested under this rule must set out the amount of any bail to be posted and the name of the bank or surety company that will post the bail.
(28) A registrar must issue a release from arrest in Form 89 when
(a) the court orders the release of the property arrested under this rule, or
(b) consent to the release of the property arrested under this rule is given by
(i) the party at whose instance the property was arrested, and
(ii) the persons who filed caveats to prevent the release of the property from arrest.
(29) On delivery of the release from arrest to the person in possession and on payment to the person in possession of all fees and charges incurred in respect of the arrest and custody, if any, of the property arrested, the property is released from arrest.
Collisions at Sea — the "Preliminary Act"
(30) Unless the court otherwise orders, if there is an action arising out of a collision of ships at sea, subrules (31) to (35) apply.
(31) If this rule applies, the notice of civil claim, response to civil claim, counterclaim and any other pleadings need not contain any particulars concerning the collision other than those particulars that are necessary to identify the collision to an opposing party.
(32) The notice of civil claim, response to civil claim and any counterclaim must be accompanied by a sealed envelope that bears the style of proceeding and in which has been enclosed a statement of particulars, to be known as a "preliminary act", that contains the following particulars:
(a) the names of the ships that came into collision and the names of their masters;
(b) the time of the collision;
(c) the place of the collision;
(d) the direction and force of the wind;
(f) the state and force of the tide or, if the collision occurred in non-tidal waters, of the current;
(g) the course being steered and the speed through the water of the ship when the other ship was first seen or immediately before any measures were taken with reference to the other ship's presence, whichever was the earlier, and all subsequent alterations to the course or speed of the ship up to the time of the collision;
(h) the lights, if any, carried by the ship;
(i) the distance and bearing of the other ship if and when the other ship's echo was first observed by radar;
(j) the distance, bearing and approximate heading of the other ship when it was first seen;
(k) the lights, if any, of the other ship that were first seen;
(l) the lights, if any, of the other ship other than those first seen that came into view before the collision;
(m) the measures that were taken to avoid the collision and when they were taken;
(n) the parts of each ship that first came into contact and the approximate angle, as illustrated by an appropriate sketch annexed, between the two ships at the moment of contact;
(o) the sound signals that were given, if any, and when they were given;
(p) the fault or default, if any, attributed to the other ship;
(q) the sound signals, if any, that were heard from the other ship and when they were heard.
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 23.]
(33) The preliminary act must be in parallel columns such that the respective particulars referred to in subrule (32) (a) to (q) in respect of each ship can easily be compared.
(34) A preliminary act must not be opened unless all parties consent or the court, on application of one of the parties, orders it to be opened.
(35) After a preliminary act has been opened, it forms part of the appropriate pleadings of the party.
Rule 21-2 — Carriage by Air Act
(1) In an action under the Carriage by Air Act (Canada) and the convention set out in that Act, a high contracting party to the convention who, for the purposes of that action and by virtue of that Act, is deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court may be made a defendant subject to these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
Rule 21-3 — Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari and Habeas Corpus
(1) Applications for relief in the nature of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari or habeas corpus are governed by these Supreme Court Civil Rules and must be started by petition under Rule 16-1.
(2) Directions respecting applications referred to in subrule (1) must be made by order and no writ of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari or habeas corpus is to be issued.
(3) The court may order that a person who may be affected by a proceeding for an order in the nature of mandamus may take part in the proceeding to the same extent as if served with the petition.
Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 4.]
Rule 21-6 — Wills, Estates and Succession Act Wills Variation Proceedings
(1) A proceeding under section 60 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act must be started by a notice of civil claim.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 5 (b).]
(2) In a proceeding referred to in subrule (1),
(a) the following persons must be parties to the proceeding:
(i) the surviving spouse and children of the will-maker;
(ii) all beneficiaries under the will-maker's will whose interest may be affected by the order sought;
(iii) the executor of the will, and
(b) the court may order that any other person be joined as a party.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 5 (c) and (d).]
(3) In a response to civil claim, a defendant may raise a claim under section 60 of the Wills, Estates and Succession Act on the defendant's own behalf, and any other party may serve a reply.
[am. B.C. Regs. 149/2013, s. 5 (b); 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 24.]
(4) A proceeding referred to in this rule is governed by these Supreme Court Civil Rules.
[am. B.C. Reg. 149/2013, s. 5 (e).]
Rule 21-7 — Foreclosure and Cancellation
(1) A proceeding for foreclosure of the equitable right to redeem mortgaged property or for redemption must be started by petition.
(2) In a proceeding referred to in subrule (1), all persons whose interest in or claim to the mortgaged property is sought to be extinguished and all persons against whom any relief is sought must be made respondents and, unless the court otherwise orders, it is not necessary to join any other person as a respondent.
(3) A petitioner under this rule may join in the proceeding any claim arising out of the mortgage or out of any bond or collateral security or obligation given for the mortgage debt and may join as a party any person who is liable to pay the mortgage debt.
(4) If a petitioner under this rule registers a certificate of pending litigation in respect of the proceeding against the mortgaged property, a person who subsequently registers or files in a land title office an interest, right or claim in or to the mortgaged property
(a) need not be served with the petition,
(4.1) A petitioner under this rule who serves a petition referred to in subrule (1) must include with the petition an informational notice for foreclosure proceedings in Form 125.
[en. B.C. Reg. 321/2021, Sch. 1, s. 5.]
(5) The court may do one or more of the following in a proceeding under subrule (1):
(a) make a final order of foreclosure;
(b) order that a respondent must, within a redemption period that the court may fix, pay to the petitioner what is due under the mortgage and for costs, and that, in default of payment, the respondent is to be foreclosed of the respondent's equity of redemption;
(c) determine summarily, or order that an account be taken of and that a registrar certify, the amount that is due to the petitioner or to any person on the date of the hearing of the petition or on the date of the accounting, as the case may be;
(d) determine summarily, or order that an account be taken of and that the registrar certify, in relation to the amount determined under paragraph (c),
(i) the daily amount of interest from the date of the hearing of the petition or from the date of the accounting, as the case may be, to the expiration of the period of redemption, or
(ii) if the daily amount of interest referred to in subparagraph (i) may fluctuate over the period referred to in that subparagraph, the method for calculating such interest;
(e) pronounce judgment for any amount determined to be due or for any amount that has been certified to be due on an accounting;
(f) determine summarily, or order an inquiry to determine, any issues raised between respondents, including priorities;
(g) determine summarily, or order an inquiry to determine, whether a person should be served with the petition;
(h) order at what times, on what terms and in what order of priority respondents may redeem the mortgaged property and that in default they are to be foreclosed of any interest, right or claim in or to the mortgaged property;
(i) order a sale of the mortgaged property;
(j) grant further or corollary relief;
(k) make an order under Rule 22-1 (7).
[am. B.C. Reg. 28/2024, Sch. A, s. 25.]
(6) In default of payment in accordance with an order made under subrule (5), a final order of foreclosure may be granted against a respondent on application by the petitioner.
(7) A party of record may apply at any time for an order that the mortgaged property be sold or be put up for sale.
(8) The court may order an inquiry to settle the terms of a sale.
(9) Even though the time for redemption has not expired, the person having conduct of a sale may apply to the court for an order confirming the sale, directing the disposition of the proceeds and vesting title in the purchaser.
(10) A respondent wishing to redeem may, on paying to the petitioner the amount due under the mortgage, serve notice on the petitioner to assess costs, and if, within 14 days after service of the notice, the petitioner has not filed a bill of costs for assessment, the petitioner is not entitled to costs.
(11) This rule applies to a proceeding by a vendor on an agreement for sale of land in which a claim is made for specific performance of an agreement for sale and for its cancellation on failure to perform.
Rule 21-8 — Jurisdictional Disputes
(1) A party who has been served with an originating pleading or petition in a proceeding, whether that service was effected in or outside British Columbia, may, after filing a jurisdictional response in Form 108,
(a) apply to strike out the notice of civil claim, counterclaim, third party notice or petition or to dismiss or stay the proceeding on the ground that the notice of civil claim, counterclaim, third party notice or petition does not allege facts that, if true, would establish that the court has jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the proceeding,
(b) apply to dismiss or stay the proceeding on the ground that the court does not have jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the proceeding, or
(c) allege in a pleading or in a response to petition that the court does not have jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the proceeding.
[am. B.C. Reg. 119/2010, Sch. A, s. 35.]
(2) Whether or not a party referred to in subrule (1) applies or makes an allegation under that subrule, the party may apply to court for a stay of the proceeding on the ground that the court ought to decline to exercise jurisdiction over that party in respect of the claim made against that party in the proceeding.
(3) If a party who has been served with an originating pleading or petition in a proceeding, whether served in or outside British Columbia, alleges that the notice of civil claim, counterclaim, third party notice or petition is invalid or has expired or that the purported service of the notice of civil claim, counterclaim, third party notice or petition was invalid, the party may, after filing a jurisdictional response in Form 108, apply for one or both of the following:
(a) an order setting aside the notice of civil claim, counterclaim, third party