It is always an interesting question as to what rights a lender has with respect to a motor vehicle owned by a consumer who becomes insolvent, and whether a secured creditor is able to seize a motor vehicle in order to satisfy an obligation due under a loan. The answer may be surprising. The recent BC Court of Appeal case, Atwal (Re) (2011 BCSC 687), highlights the rights of a debtor vis-à-vis a trustee in bankruptcy with respect to the ownership of a motor vehicle.
In the latest decision of the British Columbia Supreme Court (the “Court”) regarding the bankruptcy of Ted LeRoy Trucking Ltd.
In the recently released Judgment in Bank of Montreal v. Peri Formwork Systems Inc.1, the British Columbia Court of Appeal was called upon to decide whether a Monitor, under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (“CCAA”)2, or a Receiver, under the Builders Lien Act 3, could borrow monies to complete a development project in priority to claims of builder’s liens registered against the project.
The appellant insurer sought leave to appeal the order of the Chambers Judge who dismissed it’s application to be added as a party or intervener in an underlying liability action in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
[2011] B.C.J. No. 1336
2011 BCCA 326
British Columbia Court of Appeal (In Bankruptcy and Insolvency)
P.A. Kirkpatrick J.A. (In Chambers)
July 8, 2011
INTRODUCTION
May a deceased person who dies in bankruptcy having failed to complete his duties under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act be discharged from bankruptcy?
This was the question that the British Columbia Supreme Court wrestled with earlier this year in a reported decision that began by noting that there was no jurisdiction on point.
Century Services Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), [2010] S.C.C.A. No. 259, on appeal from (2009) 319 D.L.R. (4th) 735 (BCCA)
The union on behalf of the unionized employees of Ted Leroy Trucking Ltd., the bankrupt employer, had applied to the B.C.S.C. for directions and obtained a decision of that Court that the “wages” protected under the WEPPA “superpriority” for unpaid employees included amounts paid by the employer to third parties on behalf of the employees.
In an important recent decision of the BC Court of Appeal, Davis LLP successfully represented its clients Century McMynn Leasing Partnership and GE Finance in Re Perimeter Transportation Ltd., 2010 BCCA 509.
In May of 2010, we reported on the decision of the British Columbia Court of Appeal in Ted Leroy Trucking v. Century Services Inc. In that decision, the Court of Appeal upheld a decision of the B.C.
Lenders should be aware that a broad definition of “wages” owing to employees of a borrower/customer in bankruptcy or receivership can take priority over what a lender might otherwise believe is its “first ranking charge” against the borrower.