Scarff v. Wilson, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 776

 

Virginia Allison Scarff, an infant by her

next friend, Daphne Rose Scarff                                                                                     Appellant

 

and

 

Gordon Bruce Wilson, G. Wilson

Construction Co. Ltd., and Donna Jesse                                                                        Respondents

 

indexed as:  scarff v. wilson

 

File No.:  21329.

 

1989:  May 24; 1989:  September 28.

 

Present:  Dickson C.J. and Lamer, Wilson, La Forest, L'Heureux‑Dubé, Sopinka, Gonthier, Cory and McLachlin JJ.

 

on appeal from the court of appeal for british columbia

 

    Torts -- Damages -- Award for future care -- Taxation -- Impact of taxation may be taken into account in calculating amount of award for future care.

 

Cases Cited

 

    Followed:  Watkins v. Olafson, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 000.

 

    APPEAL from a judgment of the British Columbia Court of Appeal (1988), 33 B.C.L.R. (2d) 290, 47 C.C.L.T. 109, dismissing an appeal from a judgment of Cumming J. (1986), 10 B.C.L.R. (2d) 273, 39 C.C.L.T. 20.  Appeal allowed.

 

    John Laxton, Q.C., for the appellant.

 

    Edgar Sexton, Q.C., and Avon Mersey, for the respondents.

 

//McLachlin J.//

 

    The judgment of the Court was delivered by

 

    MCLACHLIN J. -- The only issue on this appeal is whether it is open to the Court to take the impact of taxation into account in calculating the amount of the award for future care.  For the reasons set out in Watkins v. Olafson, [1989] 2 S.C.R. 000, I would answer that question in the affirmative and allow the appeal.   The matter is remitted to the Supreme Court of British Columbia for determination of the amount which should be added to the award on account of taxation.   The plaintiff is entitled to costs throughout on the issue raised in this appeal.

 

    Appeal allowed with costs.

 

    Solicitors for the appellant:  Laxton, Pidgeon & Company, Vancouver.

 

    Solicitors for the respondent Donna Jesse:  Lyall McKercher Hanna, Vancouver.

 

    Solicitors for the respondents Gordon B. Wilson and G. Wilson Construction Co. Ltd.:  Guild, Yule, Lane, Sullivan, MacKenzie & Holmes, Vancouver.