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41191

Huntly Investments Limited, et al. v. Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd., et al.

(British Columbia) (Civil) (By Leave)

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

v.

Counsel

Party: Huntly Investments Limited

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Pacific Investment Corporation Limited

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Brent Newton

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Mark Frank

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Lisa Marie

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Kathleen May

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: DM Wolverton Trust

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton Alter Ego Trust

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd.

Counsel
Ronald Josephson
Barrister and Solicitor
1705 – 1680 Bayshore Drive
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6G 3H6
Telephone: (604) 377-2299
Email: ronjosephson@outlook.com
Agent
Michael J. Sobkin
331 Somerset Street West
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0J8
Telephone: (613) 282-1712
FAX: (613) 288-2896
Email: msobkin@sympatico.ca

Party: Wolverton, Anne Louise

Counsel
Paul A. Brackstone
Owen Bird Law Corporation
Vancouver Centre II, PO Box 1
2900-733 Seymour Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 0S6
Telephone: (604) 691-7554
FAX: (604) 688-2827
Email: pbrackstone@owenbird.com

Summary

Keywords

Commercial law — Corporations — Oppression remedy — Must an assessment of whether shareholder expectations are reasonable take into account a shareholder’s minority status? — When can the conduct of shareholders support a claim for oppression? — What is the standard of review applicable to oppression findings?<br>

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

The respondent Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd. (“Casa”) is a minority shareholder in the applicant company Huntly Investments Limited (“Huntly”), which is controlled by the personal applicants. Casa’s shares are owned by the estate of an individual who passed away in 2016. When Huntly refused to purchase Casa’s shares in order for the estate administrator to wind up that estate, Casa brought an action in oppression under s. 227, and, in the alternative under s. 324, of the Business Corporations Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 57, seeking to have Casa’s shares purchased by other shareholders.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia granted Casa’s claim in oppression. It found that Huntly’s affairs were conducted in a manner oppressive and unfairly prejudicial to Casa and ordered some of the applicants to purchase Casa’s shares.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the applicants’ appeal save to vary the order to remove Huntly as a potential purchaser of the shares of Casa.

Lower court rulings

May 30, 2023
Supreme Court of British Columbia

S190278, 2023 BCSC 907

Claim in oppression granted;

Casa’s shares in Huntly ordered to be purchased by some of the applicants

January 26, 2024
Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver)

2024 BCCA 31

Appeal dismissed save for varying order to remove Huntly as a potential purchaser of the Casa’s shares

Memorandums of argument on application for leave to appeal

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filing out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Factums on appeal

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Webcasts

Not available.

Docket

Judgments on applications for leave to appeal are rendered by the Court, but are not necessarily unanimous.

List of proceedings
Date Proceeding Filed By
(if applicable)
2024-09-27 Close file on Leave
2024-09-19 Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties
2024-09-19 Judgment on leave sent to the parties
2024-09-19 Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver), Number CA49174, 2024 BCCA 31, dated January 26, 2024, is dismissed with costs to Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd.
Dismissed, with costs
2024-07-29 All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court
2024-05-13 Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Book Form), Completed on: 2024-05-13, (Printed version filed on 2024-05-14) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-05-02 Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), Form 23A, (Printed version filed on 2024-05-02) Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd.
2024-05-02 Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2024-05-02) Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd.
2024-05-02 Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2024-05-02, (Printed version filed on 2024-05-02) Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd.
2024-04-11 Lower court order - e-filing, (Letter Form), CA Order, (Printed version due on 2024-04-18) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-04-02 Letter acknowledging receipt of an incomplete application for leave to appeal and without formal Court of Appeal order, FILE OPEN
2024-03-26 Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2024-03-26) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-03-26 Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2024-03-26) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-03-26 Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2024-03-26) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-03-26 Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2024-03-26) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-03-26 Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), FORM 23A, (Printed version filed on 2024-03-26) Huntly Investments Limited
2024-03-26 Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Missing:
- CA Order (Rec'd April 11, 2024)
- Filing fee (Rec'd April 5, 2024), Completed on: 2024-04-11, (Printed version filed on 2024-03-26)
Huntly Investments Limited

Parties

Please note that in the case of closed files, the “Status” column reflects the status of the parties at the time of the proceedings. For more information about the proceedings and about the dates when the file was open, please consult the docket of the case in question.

Main parties

Main parties - Appellants
Name Role Status
Huntly Investments Limited Applicant Active
Pacific Investment Corporation Limited Applicant Active
Wolverton, Brent Newton Applicant Active
Wolverton, Mark Frank Applicant Active
Wolverton, Lisa Marie Applicant Active
Wolverton, Kathleen May Applicant Active
DM Wolverton Trust Applicant Active
Wolverton Alter Ego Trust Applicant Active

v.

Main parties - Respondents
Name Role Status
Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd. Respondent Active
Wolverton, Anne Louise Respondent Active

Counsel

Party: Huntly Investments Limited

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Pacific Investment Corporation Limited

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Brent Newton

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Mark Frank

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Lisa Marie

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton, Kathleen May

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: DM Wolverton Trust

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Wolverton Alter Ego Trust

Counsel
Robert S. Anderson, K.C.
Ludmila B. Herbst, K.C.
Mohnaam Kaur Shergill
Farris LLP
2500-700 West Georgia St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 684-9151
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: randerson@farris.com
Agent
Marie-France Major
Supreme Advocacy LLP
340 Gilmour Street
Suite 100
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca

Party: Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd.

Counsel
Ronald Josephson
Barrister and Solicitor
1705 – 1680 Bayshore Drive
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6G 3H6
Telephone: (604) 377-2299
Email: ronjosephson@outlook.com
Agent
Michael J. Sobkin
331 Somerset Street West
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0J8
Telephone: (613) 282-1712
FAX: (613) 288-2896
Email: msobkin@sympatico.ca

Party: Wolverton, Anne Louise

Counsel
Paul A. Brackstone
Owen Bird Law Corporation
Vancouver Centre II, PO Box 1
2900-733 Seymour Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 0S6
Telephone: (604) 691-7554
FAX: (604) 688-2827
Email: pbrackstone@owenbird.com

Summary

Keywords

Commercial law — Corporations — Oppression remedy — Must an assessment of whether shareholder expectations are reasonable take into account a shareholder’s minority status? — When can the conduct of shareholders support a claim for oppression? — What is the standard of review applicable to oppression findings?<br>

Summary

Case summaries are prepared by the Office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Canada (Law Branch). Please note that summaries are not provided to the Judges of the Court. They are placed on the Court file and website for information purposes only.

The respondent Casa Margarita Enterprises Ltd. (“Casa”) is a minority shareholder in the applicant company Huntly Investments Limited (“Huntly”), which is controlled by the personal applicants. Casa’s shares are owned by the estate of an individual who passed away in 2016. When Huntly refused to purchase Casa’s shares in order for the estate administrator to wind up that estate, Casa brought an action in oppression under s. 227, and, in the alternative under s. 324, of the Business Corporations Act, S.B.C. 2002, c. 57, seeking to have Casa’s shares purchased by other shareholders.

The Supreme Court of British Columbia granted Casa’s claim in oppression. It found that Huntly’s affairs were conducted in a manner oppressive and unfairly prejudicial to Casa and ordered some of the applicants to purchase Casa’s shares.

The British Columbia Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the applicants’ appeal save to vary the order to remove Huntly as a potential purchaser of the shares of Casa.

Lower court rulings

May 30, 2023
Supreme Court of British Columbia

S190278, 2023 BCSC 907

Claim in oppression granted;

Casa’s shares in Huntly ordered to be purchased by some of the applicants

January 26, 2024
Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver)

2024 BCCA 31

Appeal dismissed save for varying order to remove Huntly as a potential purchaser of the Casa’s shares

Memorandums of argument on application for leave to appeal

The memorandums of argument on an application for leave to appeal will be posted here 30 days after leave to appeal has been granted unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of the memorandum by filing out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a memorandum of argument or want to use a memorandum of argument, please contact the author of the memorandum of argument directly. Their name appears at the end of the memorandum of argument. The contact information for counsel is found in the “Counsel” tab of this page.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Factums on appeal

The factums of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here at least 2 weeks before the hearing unless they contain personal information, information that is subject to a publication ban, or any other information that is not part of the public record. You may also obtain copies of factums by filling out the Request for Court records form or by contacting the Court’s Records Centre either by email at records-dossiers@scc-csc.ca or by telephone at 613‑996‑7933 or at 1‑888‑551‑1185.

If you have questions about a factum or want permission to use a factum, please contact the author of the factum directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each factum.

Downloadable PDFs

Not available

Webcasts

Not available.

Date modified: 2025-02-27