Federal Court hears 2-million-dollar suit involving vessel collision in Vancouver Harbour

This week’s Federal Court roundup includes Stikeman Elliott LLP for an admiralty action involving the collision of vessels and Gowling WLP and Bennett Jones for a patent infringement lawsuit. The federal court also heard cases about the abuse of women in military families and damages caused by the residential schools policy against First Nations band members.

Stikeman Elliott LLP represented Libra Voyage Limited in an admiralty action involving a collision when two barges broke loose from their moorings at the Navy Buoys in North Vancouver. The barges drifted together un-manned, unattended, and undetected across Vancouver Harbour and collided with a motor yacht owned by Libra Voyage. Repair and related expenses incurred by the plaintiff as a result of the collision were allegedly over $2 million. Whitelaw Twining Law Corporation represented the owners of the barges NA 5501 and MLT 6000-1.

Fulton & Company LLP acted for the representative plaintiffs in a proposed class action that asserted aboriginal rights against the Crown. The plaintiffs alleged that the residential school policy caused cultural, linguistic, and social damage and irreparable harm to the survivors and descendant class members of the shishalh band, Tk’emlups Indian Band, and other members of the First Nations band.

Gaertner Baron Professional Corporation acted for Mandy Easter in a $ 4,750,000 claim for damages against her common-law partner, Dominic Shale Alexander. Easter alleged that Alexander sexually, physically, and psychologically abused her while he was enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Easter also claimed that abuse of women in military families while living on CAF bases is a “systemic and pervasive problem that has long victimized partners of military personnel.”

In intellectual property, Sensus Design and Build Incorporated filed a copyright infringement claim against an entity registered as 2860765 Ontario Inc. Bereskin & Parr LLP acted as the legal counsel of Sensus, while Torkin Manes LLP represented 2860765 Ontario Inc.

Gowling WLG LLP represented Dizolve Group Corporation in a patent infringement action against Anbe Inc., which Bennett Jones LLP represented.

Under trademark infringement lawsuits, some notable firms which appeared in court were Smart & Biggar for Medisca Pharmaceutique Inc., Swainson Miki Peskett LLP for Maxima Pharmaceuticals, and Bereskin & Parr LLP for GDK International Ltd.

In the area of immigration and refugee law, the firms which appeared in court included Green & Spiegel LLP, Lorne Waldman Professional, Larlee & Associates, Grice & Associates, Citylaw Group, Mahdi Weinstock LLP, Waldman & Associates, and Kaminker & Associates.