Michele M. Warner

The applicant appealed a disposition of the Ontario Review Board.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal as moot because the disposition had been overtaken by a subsequent disposition of the Board.

The court found no pressing issue of law to justify proceeding with the appeal.

The appellants appealed a decision of the Small Claims Court dismissing their statement of claim on a motion by the respondent.

The motions judge provided no written or oral reasons for the dismissal, simply endorsing the record with 'dismissed'.

The Divisional Court held that litigants are entitled to know the reasons for a decision, and the complete absence of reasons made appellate review impossible.

The appeal was allowed, the decision set aside, and the matter remitted to the Small Claims Court for a new hearing before a different judge.