On competing motions arising from an employment-related civil action, the defendants sought to strike the entire statement of claim for deficient pleading and failure to disclose viable causes of action, while the plaintiff sought consolidation or a joint trial with a related action.
The court held the threshold on a Rule 21 motion was low and allowed the wage, assault, and core defamation-related allegations to proceed, subject to particulars where needed.
The court found the pleading of injurious falsehood and unlawful interference with economic relations defective in part, struck paragraph 31 and the intentional interference claim with leave to amend, and directed timelines for particulars, amendments, and delivery of a defence.
The consolidation request was found premature, and no costs were ordered unless further submissions were made.
