Dav.NonPec Flashcards
Define ‘non-pecuniary damages’.
- damages that are not readily quantified
- pain and suffering beyond compensation for medical care and loss of income
Describe the Trilogy ruling.
Supreme Court of Canada established a 100K cap on non-pecuniary damages
(later given an inflation adjustment, and subject to certain exceptions)
Describe 4 reasons for caps on general non-pecuniary damages.
- Awards for non-pecuniary damages are limitless
- Extravagant awards increase social burden
- Economic damages will already be fully compensated
- Ensure predictability & stability of awards
Identify 3 exceptions to Trilogy decision (caps removed).
- sexual abuse (S.Y. v F.G.C.)
- defamation (Hill v Church of Scientology, Young v Bella)
- negligence causing financial loss
Describe the rational behind Supreme Court’s exceptions to Trilogy cap.
no evidence that these exceptional cases would increase cost of insurance or social burden
Describe how the cap affects the level of equity between minor and severe injuries.
- minor injuries are OVER-compensated
- major injuries are UNDER-compensated
(because past a certain severity, there is no longer a distinction based on severity)
Identify 3 relevant cases subsequent to the original Trilogy ruling
- Fenn v City of Peterborough (only case where award exceeded cap)
- Lindal v Lindal (commented on inflation-adjustment)
- ter Neuzen v Korn (cap became rule of law versus just a “judicial policy directive”)