Danielle R. Joel

Appeals from determinations made by an application judge regarding the will of the late Peter Trezzi.

The deceased operated a successful construction business through two corporations: Across Canada Construction Ltd. (ACC) and Trezzi Construction Ltd. (Trezzi Construction).

Peter was the sole shareholder of Trezzi Construction.

The central disputes concerned whether Peter could effectively bequeath assets held by Trezzi Construction to his son Albert; whether his wife Gina owned 50 per cent of ACC shares; and whether Gina was entitled to an extension of time to file a surviving spouse's election under the Family Law Act.

The Court of Appeal dismissed all three appeals, upholding the application judge's determinations on each issue.

Appeals from determinations made by an application judge regarding the will of the late Peter Trezzi.

The deceased operated a successful construction business through two corporations: Across Canada Construction Ltd. (ACC) and Trezzi Construction Ltd. (Trezzi Construction).

Peter was the sole shareholder of Trezzi Construction.

The central disputes concerned whether Peter could effectively bequeath assets held by Trezzi Construction to his son Albert; whether his wife Gina owned 50 per cent of ACC shares; and whether Gina was entitled to an extension of time to file a surviving spouse's election under the Family Law Act.

The Court of Appeal dismissed all three appeals, upholding the application judge's determinations on each issue.

The applicants, children of the deceased, sought declarations of a constructive trust over the survivor's assets based on a mutual wills agreement, alleging breach due to a $200,000 gift and failure to provide information.

The court found that a constructive trust only arises upon breach of the mutual wills agreement, not automatically upon the first testator's death, particularly when the survivor receives assets absolutely.

It was determined that the survivor's gift was not substantial enough to defeat the agreement, nor was her failure to provide information a breach, as the applicants were not beneficiaries under the deceased's will.

The application was dismissed in its entirety.

This costs endorsement followed multiple motions concerning the administration of the Estate of Peter Trezzi.

The court applied the modern approach to costs in estate litigation, considering public policy factors and the general civil litigation costs regime.

Costs were determined for four main matters: ownership of 18 Boyle Drive, extension of the applicant's Family Law Act rights, corporate assets, and share ownership of Across Canada Construction Ltd. The court also addressed costs for an adjournment motion, production orders, and consent orders.

The decision allocated costs between parties and the Estate, often finding that the Estate should bear costs due to issues arising from the deceased's actions or ambiguities in the will.

Alfrida Gina Trezzi sought a declaration that she was a 50% owner of Across Canada Construction Ltd. (ACC) shares.

Albert Trezzi opposed, arguing her claim was statute-barred and that she was not a shareholder.

The court dismissed the limitation period argument.

However, the court found no evidence that ACC ever issued shares to Gina, despite unexecuted organizational documents suggesting a 50/50 split with Peter Trezzi.

The court rejected the application of statutory presumptions under the Business Corporations Act and Securities Transfer Act, concluding Gina failed to prove her ownership claim.

Albert's cross-application for a declaration that Peter's estate owned all shares was also declined as the hearing only addressed Gina's alleged ownership.