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Federal Court - Representation. Macciacchera (Smoothstreams.tv) v. Bell Media Inc.
In Macciacchera (Smoothstreams.tv) v. Bell Media Inc. (Fed CA, 2023) the Federal Court of Appeal considers (and denies) a request for a corporation to be represented by it's corporate officers (a request quite commonly granted in the higher Ontario courts):[3] Rule 120 provides that “[a] corporation ... shall be represented by a solicitor in all proceedings, unless the Court in special circumstances grants leave to it to be represented by an officer…”. Messrs. Macciacchera recognize that they bear the onus of showing “special circumstances”. They also recognize that this onus generally requires that they demonstrate that (i) they cannot afford a lawyer, (ii) they will not be required to be both advocate and witness; (iii) the issues are not so complex as to be beyond their capabilities; and (iv) the appeal can proceed in an expeditious manner: Glycobiosciences Inc. v. L’Oreal Canada, 2022 FC 1517 at para. 25 (Glycobiosciences); UBS Group AG v Yones, 2022 FC 487 at paras. 7-10.
[4] The Glycobiosciences decision cited by Messrs. Macciacchera goes on at paragraph 27 to state as follows:The onus on the moving party to establish special circumstances is a high one. The moving party must provide clear and unambiguous evidence establishing special circumstances, and these circumstances must be unusual, uncommon and exceptional, and the result of external forces as distinct from the voluntary acts of the plaintiff (Alpha Marathon Technologies Inc v Dual Spiral Systems Inc, 2005 FC 1582 at para 4 (“Alpha”)). [5] Having carefully reviewed the submissions of Messrs. Macciacchera, I have concluded that their motion should be denied because they have failed to demonstrate that they cannot afford a lawyer, and hence they have not convinced me that special circumstances exist.
[6] As stated in Alpha at paragraph 5, “[t]he ability of [the moving party] to pay for legal representation is without a doubt the most important factor for the Court to consider.”
[7] As stated in El Mocambo Rocks Inc. v. Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), 2012 FCA 98 at para. 4, “[t]he demonstration that a corporation cannot afford a solicitor should usually be made by submitting complete and clear financial information concerning the corporation, preferably by means of financial statements.”
[8] Messrs. Macciacchera address the requirement that they cannot afford a lawyer at paragraph 11 of their written representations. Though they argue that they are committed to pursuing this appeal, and that many steps leading to a hearing have been completed, they do not allege that they cannot afford a lawyer. They provide no financial information whatsoever.
[9] I recognize that the respondents do not oppose Messrs. Macciacchera’s motion. However, though that may be a relevant factor in addressing a motion under Rule 120, it is not determinative. In this case, it does not outweigh the absence of evidence that Messrs. Macciacchera cannot afford a lawyer.
[10] The dismissal of Messrs. Macciacchera’s motion has implications for the progress of the present appeal. Without representation, the corporate appellants cannot act. Accordingly, I will order, just as Justice Donald J. Rennie did in his Order dated December 8, 2023, that they appoint new solicitors of record in accordance with Rule 124 within 30 days.
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