Theresa Ogurian v. Toronto Humane Society, 2008 HRTO 417

HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL OF ONTARIO

B E T W E E N:

Theresa Ogurian

Applicant

-and-

Toronto Humane Society

Respondent

INTERIM DECISION

Adjudicator: Sheri D. Price

Date: December 19, 2008

Citation: 2008 HRTO 417

Indexed as: Ogurian v. Toronto Humane Society

1This is an Application filed September 29, 2008 under s. 34 of the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, as amended (the “Code”). This interim decision addresses the respondent’s failure to file a Response.

2On October 2, 2008, the Tribunal sent the Application to the respondent by regular mail at the address provided by the applicant, together with a direction to respond no later than thirty-five (35) days from that date, in accordance with the Tribunal Rules. Under Rule 1.22 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure, a document delivered by mail is deemed received five days after the postmark date.

3It has now been more than ten days since the Response was due. However, the Tribunal has received no Response from the respondent, nor has its correspondence been returned.

4A Tribunal application is a legal proceeding, which, if a violation of the Code is found, may lead to various orders, including monetary compensation, other forms of restitution to the applicant, and orders to take action to promote compliance with the Code. Failure to file a response may lead to orders against respondents without further notice or their participation. The respondent’s attention is drawn to Rule 5.5 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure, which reads as follows:

5.5 Where an Application is delivered to a Respondent who does not respond to the Application, the Tribunal may:

a) deem the Respondent to have accepted all of the allegations in the Application;

b) proceed to deal with the Application without further notice to the Respondent;

c) deem the Respondent to have waived all rights with respect to further notice or participation in the proceeding;

d) decide the matter based only on the material before the Tribunal.

5The Tribunal shall send a copy of this decision to the respondent by courier and regular mail at the address provided by the applicant. If the respondent wishes to participate in this proceeding, it shall file a Response by December 23, 2008, together with an explanation why its Response was not filed by the deadline in accordance with the Tribunal’s Rules. If a Response is not received by this date, the Tribunal shall proceed without further notice to the respondent, and may take any or all of the other steps set out in Rule 5.5.

6I am not seized of this matter.