Case information
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40556
His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia v. Apotex Inc., Apotex Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc., 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.
| Date | Proceeding | Filed By (if applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-06-21 | Close file on Leave | |
| 2023-05-25 | Copy of formal judgment sent to Registrar of the Court of Appeal and all parties | |
| 2023-05-25 | Judgment on leave sent to the parties | |
| 2023-05-25 |
Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to cross-appeal, The applications for leave to cross-appeal are dismissed with costs to the applicant. Côté and Rowe JJ. took no part in the judgment. Dismissed |
|
| 2023-05-25 |
Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgments of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver), Numbers CA48049, CA48050, CA48051, CA48052 CA48053, CA48054, CA48055, CA48056, CA48057, CA48058, CA48060, CA48062, and CA48067, 2022 BCCA 366, dated November 2, 2022, is dismissed with costs to the respondents, Apotex Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC, Janssen Inc., Sandoz Canada Inc., Teva Canada Limited, Teva Canada Innovation G.P. – S.E.N.C., Actavis Pharma Company, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Pharmascience Inc., Imperial Distributors Canada Inc., LPG Inventory Solutions, McKesson Canada Corporation, Noramco Inc., Sanis Health Inc., Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., Valeant Canada LP / Valeant Canada S.E.C., Bausch Health Companies Inc., Paladin Labs, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Endo International PLC and Endo Ventures Ltd. The applications for leave to cross-appeal are dismissed with costs to the applicant. Côté and Rowe JJ. took no part in the judgment. Dismissed, with costs |
|
| 2023-04-17 | All material on the application for leave to cross-appeal submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2023-04-17 | All materials on application for leave submitted to the Judges, for consideration by the Court | |
| 2023-04-03 | Reply to the memorandum in response to the argument on cross-appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-04-04, (Printed version filed on 2023-04-11) | Teva Canada Limited, Teva Canada Innovation G.P. – S.E.N.C., Actavis Pharma Company, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Pharmascience Inc. |
| 2023-04-03 | Reply to the memorandum in response to the argument on cross-appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-04-04, (Printed version filed on 2023-04-04) | Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC |
| 2023-03-29 | Correspondence received from, Supplemental reasons on costs in this proceeding | His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
| 2023-03-22 | Book of authorities, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-03-27, (Printed version filed on 2023-03-23) | His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
| 2023-03-22 | Applicant's reply to respondent's argument, (Book Form), (Included in the memorandum of argument in response to the cross-appeal), Completed on: 2023-03-27, (Printed version filed on 2023-03-23) | His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
| 2023-03-22 | Memorandum of argument in response to the cross-appeal, (Book Form), (Included in the applicant's reply to respondent's argument), Completed on: 2023-03-27, (Printed version due on 2023-03-29) | His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
| 2023-02-17 | Notice of name, (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2023-02-17) | Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company |
| 2023-02-17 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), (Printed version filed on 2023-02-17) | Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company |
| 2023-02-17 | Application for leave to cross-appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-04-04, (Printed version filed on 2023-02-17) | Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company |
| 2023-02-17 | Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-04-04, (Printed version filed on 2023-02-17) | Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company |
| 2023-02-17 | Notice of name | Janssen Inc., Johnson & Johnson |
| 2023-02-17 | Certificate (on limitations to public access) | Janssen Inc., Johnson & Johnson |
| 2023-02-17 | Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-02-26 | Janssen Inc., Johnson & Johnson |
| 2023-02-17 | Application for leave to cross-appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-02-26, (Printed version filed on 2023-02-24) | Janssen Inc., Johnson & Johnson |
| 2023-02-17 | Notice of name | Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC |
| 2023-02-17 | Certificate (on limitations to public access) | Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC |
| 2023-02-17 | Application for leave to cross-appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-02-27, (Printed version due on 2023-02-24) | Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company |
| 2023-02-17 | Respondent's response on the application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-02-26, (Printed version filed on 2023-02-17) | Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC |
| 2023-01-19 | Letter acknowledging receipt of an incomplete application for leave to appeal and without formal Court of Appeal order, FILE OPENED 2023-01-19 | |
| 2023-01-03 | Certificate (on limitations to public access), (Letter Form), 23A, (Printed version due on 2023-01-10) | His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
| 2023-01-03 | Book of authorities, (Book Form), Completed on: 2023-01-19, (Printed version filed on 2023-01-10) | His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
| 2023-01-03 |
Application for leave to appeal, (Book Form), (2 volumes), Required: CA Order (Court Order Form rec'd 2023-01-19 - Estimate as to when court order will be filed 2023-04-19), Completed on: 2023-04-18, (Printed version filed on 2023-01-10) |
His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia |
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
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia | Applicant / Respondent on cross-appeal | Active |
v.
| Name | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Apotex Inc., Apotex Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Janssen Inc., Johnson & Johnson | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Sandoz Canada Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Teva Canada Limited, Teva Canada Innovation G.P. – S.E.N.C., Actavis Pharma Company, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Pharmascience Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Imperial Distributors Canada Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| LPG Inventory Solutions | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| McKesson Canada Corporation, McKesson Corporation | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Noramco Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Sanis Health Inc., Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Valeant Canada LP, Bausch Health Companies Inc. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Paladin Labs, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Endo International PLC, Endo Ventures Ltd. | Respondent / Applicant on cross-appeal | Active |
| Ethypharm Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Pro Doc Limitée | Respondent | Active |
| The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Purdue Frederick Inc., Purdue Pharma Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick Company Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, Hikma Labs Inc., West-Ward Columbus Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Roxane Laboratories Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. / Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltée. | Respondent | Active |
| Amerisourcebergen Canada Corporation, Kohl & Frisch Distribution Inc. Kohl & Frisch Limited, Procurity Inc., Procurity Pharmacy Services Inc., Unipharm Wholesale Drugs Ltd. | Respondent | Active |
| Nu-Quest Distribution Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. | Respondent | Active |
| Joddes Limited | Respondent | Active |
| Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | Respondent | Active |
| Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. | Respondent | Active |
Counsel
Party: His Majesty the King in Right of the Province of British Columbia
Counsel
Katie I. Duke
400-856 Homer Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 2W5
Telephone: (604) 689-7555
FAX: (604) 689-7554
Email: rmogerman@cfmlawyers.ca
Agent
50, O'Connor Street
Suite 1313
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6B9
Telephone: (613) 702-5566
FAX: (613) 702-5566
Email: DBosse@juristespower.ca
Party: Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Counsel
Rebecca von Ruti
Monika Gehlen
2800 - 666 Burrard Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 2Z7
Telephone: (604) 643-2961
FAX: (604) 605-3751
Email: david.neave@dlapiper.com
Agent
1800 - 275 Slater Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5H9
Telephone: (613) 691-1224
FAX: (613) 691-1338
Email: mdillon@supremelawgroup.ca
Party: Paladin Labs, Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Endo International PLC, Endo Ventures Ltd.
Counsel
Jill Yates
Patrick Williams
Suite 2400, 745 Thurlow Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6E 0C5
Telephone: (604) 643-5983
FAX: (604) 622-5614
Email: mfeder@mccarthy.ca
Party: Imperial Distributors Canada Inc.
Counsel
K.C. Craig Ferris
3700, 205 5th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 2V7
Telephone: (604) 631-9260
FAX: (604) 694-2953
Email: mvesely@lawsonlundell.com
Party: Janssen Inc., Johnson & Johnson
Counsel
Gordon McKee
595 Burrard Street
Suite 2600, Three Bentall Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7X 1L3
Telephone: (604) 631-3300
FAX: (604) 631-3309
Email: robin.reinertson@blakes.com
Party: LPG Inventory Solutions
Counsel
Owen J. James
900-980 Howe Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6Z 0C8
Telephone: (604) 238-7740
Email: cdennis@mcewanpartners.com
Party: McKesson Canada Corporation, McKesson Corporation
Counsel
Rui Gao
155 Wellington Street West
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 3J7
Telephone: (416) 863-5574
FAX: (416) 863-0871
Email: sforbes@dwpv.com
Party: Mylan Pharmaceutical ULC
Counsel
Joan M. Young
Jennifer Dent
BCE Place, Suite 4400
181 Bay Street, Bay Wellington Tower
Toronto, Ontario
M5J 2T3
Telephone: (416) 865-7911
FAX: (416) 865-7048
Email: scott.maidment@mcmillan.ca
Agent
100- 340 Gilmour Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K2P 0R3
Telephone: (613) 695-8855 Ext: 102
FAX: (613) 695-8580
Email: mfmajor@supremeadvocacy.ca
Party: Noramco Inc.
Counsel
Laura Cundari
595 Burrard Street, Suite 2600
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7X 1L3
Telephone: (604) 631-3383
Email: joe.mcarthur@blakes.com
Party: Sandoz Canada Inc.
Counsel
333 Bay Street, Suite 2400
Bay Adelaide Centre, Box 20
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2T6
Telephone: (604) 631-3195
Email: ppliszka@fasken.com
Party: Sanis Health Inc., Shoppers Drug Mart Inc.
Counsel
Kevin O'Brien
100 King Street West, 1 First Canadian Place
Suite 6200, P.O. Box 50
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1B8
Telephone: (416) 862-4714
FAX: (416) 862-6666
Email: dglendinning@osler.com
Party: Teva Canada Limited, Teva Canada Innovation G.P. – S.E.N.C., Actavis Pharma Company, Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc., Pharmascience Inc.
Counsel
Craig Lockwood
Robert Carson
1 First Canadian Place
PO Box 50
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1B8
Party: Valeant Canada LP, Bausch Health Companies Inc.
Counsel
190 Bay Street, Suite 4000
Toronto, Ontario
M5L 1A9
Telephone: (416) 863-4029
FAX: (416) 863-2653
Email: andrew.skodyn@blakes.com
Party: Ethypharm Inc.
Counsel
P.O. Box 61
1915 – 1030 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6E 2Y3
Telephone: (604) 649-7966
Email: bolthuis@ovcounsel.com
Party: Pro Doc Limitée
Counsel
Fadi Amine
400 - 725 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1G5
Telephone: (604) 687-2242
FAX: (604) 643-1200
Email: ksherriff@millerthomson.com
Party: The Jean Coutu Group (PJC) Inc.
Counsel
Scotia Plaza
2100-40 King St. W.
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 3C2
Telephone: (416) 869-5347
FAX: (416) 350-6928
Email: gshaw@casselsbrock.com
Party: Nu-Quest Distribution Inc.
Counsel
P.O. Box 23135
St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
A1B 4J9
Telephone: (709) 724-3804
Email: kmorgan@bfma-law.com
Party: Amerisourcebergen Canada Corporation, Kohl & Frisch Distribution Inc. Kohl & Frisch Limited, Procurity Inc., Procurity Pharmacy Services Inc., Unipharm Wholesale Drugs Ltd.
Counsel
Tim Farrell
Mahdi Hussein
2 Queen St. E
15th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 3G5
Telephone: (416) 593-3938
FAX: (416) 593-5437
Email: rhorst@blaney.com
Party: Purdue Frederick Inc., Purdue Pharma Inc.
Counsel
Henry Ngan
22 Adelaide Street West, Suite 3400
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 4E3
Telephone: (416) 367-6000
Email: cclarke@blg.com
Party: Purdue Pharma L.P., The Purdue Frederick Company Inc.
Counsel
Lesley Mercer
5300 Commerce Court West
199 Bay Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5L 1B9
Telephone: (416) 869-5254
Email: droyal@stikeman.com
Party: Roxane Laboratories Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd. / Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Ltée.
Counsel
Place Alexis Nihon - Tour 2
3500, boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Bureau 1400
Montréal, Quebec
H3Z 3C1
Telephone: (514) 935-4460
FAX: (514) 935-2999
Email: dmitchell@imk.ca
Party: Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC, Hikma Labs Inc., West-Ward Columbus Inc.
Counsel
2500 - 700 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V7Y 1B3
Telephone: (604) 661-9371
FAX: (604) 661-9349
Email: rmcdonell@farris.com
Party: Joddes Limited
This party is not represented by counsel.
Party: Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
This party is not represented by counsel.
Party: Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
This party is not represented by counsel.
Party: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
This party is not represented by counsel.
Party: Apotex Inc., Apotex Pharmaceutical Holdings, Inc.
Counsel
Nando De Luca
Melanie Ouanounou
Bay Adelaide Centre
333 Bay Street, Suite 3400
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2S7
Telephone: (416) 597-4142
Email: hradomski@goodmans.ca
Summary
Keywords
Civil procedure — Class actions — Pleadings — Applicant seeking to further amend pleadings to add, inter alia, the cause of action of public nuisance, clarify its other causes of action, and leave to add certain other proposed defendants — Numerous defendants applying to strike aspects of the applicant’s notice of civil claim — What is the legal test for the tort of public nuisance? — Is public nuisance limited to circumstances where a plaintiff alleges interference with public rights of way or tangible public resources, or can it apply more broadly to circumstances where a defendant interfered with the public’s interest in health, safety, morality, comfort or convenience? — Is the public nuisance doctrine categorically unavailable in circumstances involving the marketing, production or distribution of harmful products? <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.
This is a putative class action in which the proposed class is all federal, provincial and territorial governments that seek to recover damages and healthcare costs arising from the so-called opioid epidemic. The action was commenced in 2018 by the Province of British Columbia (the “Province”) alleging that the defendants in the pharmaceutical industry had breached duties to consumers in the manufacture and distribution of opioid drugs causing an “epidemic” of addiction and imposing substantial health care and other costs on governments. The Province’s claims were brought, in part, under special legislation, the Opioid Damages and Health Care Costs Recovery Act, S.B.C. 2018, c. 35 (“ORA”). The class has not yet been certified. The Province brought an application to amend their pleadings for a third time, in response to ongoing developments in the case and in order to add defendants to the claim. The respondents sought to strike portions of the pleadings.
Lower court rulings
Supreme Court of British Columbia
2022 BCSC 1, S189395
Applicant’s application for leave to further amend its notice of civil claim granted. Respondents’ motions to strike various claims and reference to common design dismissed. Applicant’s application to add Noramco as a defendant granted.
Court of Appeal for British Columbia (Vancouver)
2022 BCCA 366, CA48049; CA48050; CA48051;, CA48052 CA48053; CA48054;, CA48055; CA48056; CA48057;, CA48058 CA48060;, CA48062; CA48067
Respondents’ appeal dismissed except with respect to cause of action in public nuisance. Applicant’s public nuisance claim struck.
Filed documents
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 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 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
Related links
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
Related links
The condensed books of the appellant, the respondent and the intervener will be posted here upon receipt of the electronic version, 2 days prior to the scheduled appeal hearing. You may also obtain copies of condensed books 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 condensed book or want permission to use a condensed book, please contact the author of the condensed book directly. Their contact information appears on the first page of each condensed book.
Downloadable PDFs
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