Shannan-Gregory v. Housing Connections, 2016 HRTO 293

Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario

B E T W E E N:

Lucy Shannan-Gregory

Applicant

-and-

Housing Connections

Respondent

DECISION

Adjudicator: Jennifer Scott

Date: March 4, 2016

Citation: 2016 HRTO 293

Indexed as: Shannan-Gregory v Housing Connections

1This is an Application under the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, as amended. The Application is scheduled to be heard on March 11, 2016, in Toronto.

2On September 28, 2015, the Tribunal sent the parties a Notice of Hearing directing them to take certain steps in advance of the hearing. In particular, and among other things, the Notice of Hearing directed the parties to comply with Rules 16 and 17 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure by providing one another with copies of their arguably relevant documents within 21 days of the date of the Notice of Hearing; and by exchanging with one another and filing with the Tribunal the documents they intended to rely upon at the hearing, a list of their witnesses and a summary of their witnesses’ anticipated evidence by no later than January 26, 2016 (i.e. 45 days before the first scheduled day of hearing).

3Neither the applicant nor the respondent provided the Tribunal with the materials required under Rules 16 and 17 of the Tribunal’s Rules of Procedure by January 26, 2016.

4Accordingly, in a February 9, 2016 Case Assessment Direction (“CAD”), the Tribunal directed the applicant to provide the required materials to the respondent and the Tribunal by no later than February 24, 2016; and the respondent to provide the required materials to the applicant and the Tribunal by no later than February 24, 2016.

5The respondent provided its required materials on February 24, 2016.

6In its CAD, the Tribunal warned the parties that there were serious consequences for the case if they did not comply with the Tribunal’s directions. In particular, the Tribunal’s CAD contained the following directions to the applicant:

By no later than February 24, 2016, the applicant must deliver to the respondent and file with the Tribunal the documents she intends to rely upon at the hearing, a list of her witnesses and a brief statement describing what her witnesses will say when they testify. If the applicant has not complied with this direction by February 24, 2016, the Application may be dismissed as abandoned.

The applicant is reminded that she must also submit a witness statement for herself. However, if the applicant only intends to testify about the facts already contained in her Application, it is sufficient for her to confirm this in writing by February 24, 2016.

If the applicant does not communicate with the Tribunal at all by February 24, 2016, her case may be dismissed as abandoned.

7It is now one week past the applicant’s deadline for complying with the Tribunal’s directions and the applicant has not filed the required materials with the Tribunal, nor has she communicated with the Tribunal.

8In the circumstances, it appears that the applicant has abandoned the Application. Accordingly, the Application is dismissed as abandoned.

ORDER

9The Application is dismissed as abandoned and the March 11, 2016 hearing date is cancelled.