Witness Excluded For Failing to Be Listed in Trial Management Conference Brief
One of the changes in the new BC Supreme Court Civil Rules is the requirement for parties to produce a list of witnesses in their trial brief to be exchanged 7 days prior to a Trial Management Conference.
In addition to this Rule 12-5(28) prohibits a party from calling a witness who was not listed “unless the court orders otherwise“. The first reasons for judgement that I’m aware of addressing this subrule were recently shared with me.
In the unreported case (Topkins v. Bruce) the Defendant attempted to call an unlisted witness at trial. Mr. Justice Curtis refused to allow the witness to testify providing the following reasons:
[4] …The new Rules say that you must give a list of your witnesses no later than 28 days before the trial, or the Trial Management Conference. There is a Trial Management Brief, which happebd to be late filed; that is not a big deal, a late filing, but it just adds to the approach, I guess. Although the defendant knew that Mr. Simm existed, the Trial Management Brief says “lay witness number one” and “lay witness number two”. This not only does not conform with the Rules, but if permitted would deliberately frustrate them.
[5] The purpose of knowing who the witnesses are is so that the other side can prepare their case, and the Judge, if they want, can order a statement concerning the witnesses, as well as estimate the proper lenght of trial.
[6] At the Trial Management Conference, September 30th, a direction was given that the witness list will be provided at a subsequent date. The name of the witness was not provided until after that date. The explanation is taht the address for the witness was not discovered until later.
[7] In the circumstances of this case, I am not prepared to allow Mr. Simm to testify, because one, I do not think his evidence is going to be particularly relevant in the circumstances of the case; two, his name was not disclosed, although it was known at the Trial Management Conference, and three, he name was not disclosed, although known, on the date that the Trial Management Conference Judge had directed that his name be given.
To my knowledge this decision is not publicly available but, as always, I’m happy to provide a copy to anyone who contacts me and requests one.
