Federal Court of Appeal Decisions

Decision Information

Decision Content

Date: 20160519


Docket: A-284-15

Citation: 2016 FCA 153

CORAM:

GAUTHIER J.A.

TRUDEL J.A.

SCOTT J.A.

 

 

BETWEEN:

ROBERT LAVIGNE

Appellant

and

MICHEL PARE, JOCELYNE CANTIN, LUCIE VEILLETTE, MELANIE MATTE, DANIELLE DESROSIERS,
JACINTHE MARLEAU, DAVID LANTRY

AND

CANADIAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

AND

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondents

Heard at Montréal, Quebec, on May 18, 2016.

Judgment delivered at Montréal, Quebec, on May 19, 2016.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY:

GAUTHIER J.A.

CONCURRED IN BY:

TRUDEL J.A.

SCOTT J.A.


Date: 20160519


Docket: A-284-15

Citation: 2016 FCA 153

CORAM:

GAUTHIER J.A.

TRUDEL J.A.

SCOTT J.A.

 

 

BETWEEN:

ROBERT LAVIGNE

Appellant

and

MICHEL PARE, JOCELYNE CANTIN, LUCIE VEILLETTE, MELANIE MATTE, DANIELLE DESROSIERS,
JACINTHE MARLEAU, DAVID LANTRY

AND

CANADIAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

AND

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

Respondents

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

GAUTHIER J.A.

[1]  This is an appeal from a decision of Justice Luc Martineau (2015 FC 631), granting a motion brought by the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Attorney General of Canada declaring that Mr. Robert Lavigne is a vexatious litigant and ordering that no further proceedings be instituted by him in the Federal Court without leave of the Court. The motion judge also ordered that Mr. Lavigne’s action shall be dismissed without any possibility of amendment, on the basis that it is a vexatious proceeding and otherwise constitutes an abuse of process.

[2]  The decision of the motion judge was made pursuant to subsection 40(1) of the Federal Courts Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-7 and Rules 221(1)(c) and (f) of the Federal Courts Rules, SOR/98-106. These types of decisions are discretionary, and the judge’s exercise of his discretion is entitled to deference on appeal.

[3]  The appellant essentially submitted the same arguments he had raised before the motion judge, adding that the judge gave insufficient reasons, including by failing to review each and every argument the appellant had raised. According to the appellant, the judge erred in several respects in failing to apply what the appellant considers to be the appropriate approach to determine whether his action should be dismissed.

[4]  I was not persuaded that there is any error, in law or otherwise, justifying the intervention of the Court in the instant case. In my view, the conclusions of the motion judge are supported by the extensive materials that were before him. The judge gave sufficient weight to all relevant considerations, and his reasons are adequate and intelligible and they allowed this Court to ascertain his reasoning. There is no need for us to add anything further to the detailed explanations already given by the judge.

[5]  I therefore propose to dismiss the appeal with costs in the amount of $1350 (inclusive of tax and disbursements).

“Johanne Gauthier”

J.A.

“I agree

Johanne Trudel J.A.”

“I agree

A.F. Scott J.A.”


FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

APPEAL FROM A JUDGMENT OF THE FEDERAL COURT DATED MAY 13, 2015, DOCKET NUMBER: T-1632-13 (2015 FC 631)


DOCKET:

A-284-15

 

 

STYLE OF CAUSE:

ROBERT LAVIGNE v. MICHEL PARE, JOCELYNE CANTIN, LUCIE VEILLETTE, MELANIE MATTE, DANIELLE DESROSIERS, JACINTHE MARLEAU, DAVID LANTRY AND CANADIAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA

 

 

PLACE OF HEARING:

Montréal, Quebec

 

DATE OF HEARING:

May 18, 2016

 

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT BY:

GAUTHIER J.A.

 

CONCURRED IN BY:

TRUDEL J.A.

SCOTT J.A.

 

DATED:

May 19, 2016

 

APPEARANCES:

Robert Lavigne

 

For The Appellant

(on his own behalf)

 

Caroline Laverdière

Erin Morgan

For The Respondents

 

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

William F. Pentney

Deputy Attorney General of Canada

 

For The Respondents

 

 

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