Junqing Ren

The court considered a motion by Goldentrust Development Inc. for leave to have its principal, Peng Zhang, represent the corporation in ongoing litigation.

The motion was opposed by the defendants, Zhiming Chen and Yi Niao Li.

The court reviewed the history of the litigation, the requirements for corporate representation by non-lawyers, and the evidence of Goldentrust’s financial circumstances.

The court denied the motion, finding that Goldentrust failed to prove impecuniosity and that Mr. Zhang’s conduct and evidence did not support granting leave for non-lawyer representation.

The court also addressed costs and set a process for further submissions if the parties could not agree.

The appellant abandoned her appeal of a Landlord and Tenant Board decision.

The respondent landlord sought costs for the abandoned appeal.

The court considered Rule 61.14(4) of the Rules of Civil Procedure and the discretion under s. 131 of the Courts of Justice Act.

The court declined to award costs, finding that the appellant's decision to abandon the appeal after obtaining the transcript was responsible and that a significant costs award would impede access to justice.

The defendant brought a motion to set aside service of the statement of claim outside Ontario and to stay proceedings on the basis of forum non conveniens, arguing British Columbia was the more appropriate forum for a dispute involving alleged misuse of confidential employment information.

The plaintiff opposed, asserting Ontario was the proper forum.

The court dismissed the defendant's motion, finding that British Columbia was not clearly a more appropriate forum than Ontario.

The decision also addressed the inadmissibility of a late-filed supplementary affidavit and denied a request for split submissions between counsel and client.