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Date: 20040601

Docket: A-352-03

Citation: 2004 FCA 215

CORAM:           RICHARD C.J.

ROTHSTEIN J.A.

NADON J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                            BOSTON PIZZA INTERNATIONAL INC. and

                                   BOSTON PIZZA ROYALTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                                                                                                                              Plaintiffs

                                                                           and

              BOSTON MARKET CORPORATION, MCDONALD'S RESTAURANTS OF CANADA

                                   LIMITED, BOSTON MARKET CANADA COMPANY and

                             GLOBAL RESTAURANT OPERATIONS OF IRELAND LIMITED

                                                                                                                                           Defendants

AND BETWEEN:

                                           BOSTON MARKET CANADA COMPANY and

                             GLOBAL RESTAURANT OPERATIONS OF IRELAND LIMITED

                                                                                                                    Plaintiffs by Counterclaim

                                                                                                                                      (Respondents)

                                                                           and

                                            BOSTON PIZZA INTERNATIONAL INC. and

                                   BOSTON PIZZA ROYALTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                                                                                                  Defendant by Counterclaim

                                                                                                                                         (Appellants)

                                       Heard at Vancouver, British Columbia on June 1, 2004.

                  Judgment delivered from the Bench at Vancouver, British Columbia on June 1, 2004.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT BY:                                                         ROTHSTEIN J.A.


Date: 20040601

Docket: A-352-03

Citation: 2004 FCA 215

CORAM:        RICHARD C.J.

ROTHSTEIN J.A.

NADON J.A.

BETWEEN:

                                       BOSTON PIZZA INTERNATIONAL INC. and

                            BOSTON PIZZA ROYALTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                                                                                                                             Plaintiffs

                                                                           and

   BOSTON MARKET CORPORATION, MCDONALD'S RESTAURANTS OF CANADA

                            LIMITED, BOSTON MARKET CANADA COMPANY and

                     GLOBAL RESTAURANT OPERATIONS OF IRELAND LIMITED

                                                                                                                                         Defendants

AND BETWEEN:

                                     BOSTON MARKET CANADA COMPANY and

                     GLOBAL RESTAURANT OPERATIONS OF IRELAND LIMITED

                                                                                                                 Plaintiffs by Counterclaim

                                                                                                                                    (Respondents)

                                                                           and

                                       BOSTON PIZZA INTERNATIONAL INC. and

                            BOSTON PIZZA ROYALTIES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                                                                                              Defendant by Counterclaim

                                                                                                                                        (Appellants)


                                     REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

               (Delivered from the Bench at Vancouver, British Columbia on June 1, 2004)

ROTHSTEIN J.A.

[1]                This is an appeal from a decision of a Motions Judge refusing, in part, an application for summary judgment. In spite of the able argument of counsel for the Appellants, we have not been persuaded to interfere with the discretion exercised by the Motions Judge to refer the matter for trial.

[2]                However, from the reasons of the Motions Judge, it appears that she may have intended to foreclose a determination at trial based on issue estoppel. On the basis of the arguments made before us, we are not at all satisfied that issue estoppel may not apply. It should be open for the parties to address issue estoppel at trial and for the Trial Judge to consider the question of issue estoppel should it be raised.

[3]                The appeal will be dismissed with costs in the cause.

(Sgd.) "Marshall E. Rothstein"

     J.A.


                                                  FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                            NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                                                               A-352-03

Appeal from the Order of the Honourable Madam Justice Tremblay-Lamer dated July 17, 2003 dismissing the Counterclaim in part.

STYLE OF CAUSE:                                                       Boston Pizza International Inc. Et Al. v.                                                                                                                            Boston Market Corporation Et Al.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

PLACE OF HEARING:                                                        Vancouver

DATE OF HEARING:                                                           June 1, 2004

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT:                                          Richard C.J.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT OF THE COURT:           Richard C.J.

Rothstein J.A.

Nadon J.A.

DELIVERED FROM THE BENCH BY:                            Rothstein, J.A.

APPEARANCES:

Gregory Harney

FOR THE APPELLANT

(Respondent by Counterclaim)

Glen Bloom

FOR THE RESPONDENT

(Appellant by Counterclaim)

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Shields Harney

Vancouver, B.C.

   FOR THE APPELLANT

Osler Hoskin Harcourt

FOR THE RESPONDENT

Ottawa, Ontario


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