The appellant, Leonid Pekker, appealed a Superior Court judgment that recognized and enforced a Russian court's judgment against him for an unpaid loan.
The Russian judgment was obtained ex parte after Pekker failed to appear, despite being duly notified.
Pekker's subsequent appeal in Russia, challenging notice, was dismissed, and he did not pursue further appeals.
The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the application judge's decision, finding no error in recognizing the foreign judgment.
The Court affirmed that the Russian proceedings met minimum standards of fairness, as Pekker had adequate notice and opportunity to defend and appeal.
The Court also upheld the exclusion of an unsworn expert report on Russian law.