2018 QCCQ 4221, 2018 QCCQ 4221

Montano Gutierrez c. Association des étudiants et étudiantes de l'Université de Montréal (PHYSUM) 2018 QCCQ 4221 COURT OF QUEBEC Small Claims Division CANADA PROVINCE OF QUEBEC DISTRICT OF MONTREAL Civil Division No: 500-32-142292-145 DATE: May 31, 2018 ______________________________________________________________________ BY THE HONOURABLE ELIANA MARENGO, J.C.Q. ______________________________________________________________________ MIGUEL ANGEL MONTANO GUTIERREZ Plaintiff v.

ASSOCIATION DES ÉTUDIANTS ET ÉTUDIANTES DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL (PHYSUM) and ASSOCIATION DES ÉTUDIANTS DU DÉPARTEMENT D’INFORMATIQUE ET DE RECHERCHE OPÉRATIONNELLE DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL (AÉDIROUM) and FÉDÉRATION DES ASSOCIATIONS ÉTUDIANTES DU CAMPUS DE L’UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL (FAÉCUM) and FÉDÉRATION ÉTUDIANTE UNIVERSITAIRE DU QUÉBEC (FÉUQ) and ASSOCIATION POUR UNE SOLIDARITÉ SYNDICALE ÉTUDIANTE (ASSÉ) Defendants ______________________________________________________________________ JUDGMENT RENDERED BY DEFAULT FROM THE BENCH ______________________________________________________________________ [ 1 ] Plaintiff is absent, notwithstanding having been duly summoned and called. [ 2 ] Plaintiff is suing 5 defendants, in damages, for $2,391.63.

His claim is dated March 26, 2014, and the alleged facts date back to March 22, 2012. [ 3 ] A joint contestation was filed, on April 28, 2014. [ 4 ] Since 2014, the Court has attempted to set a date for hearing, on several occasions; and plaintiff has declared that he was unavailable to proceed, on several occasions. [ 5 ] Plaintiff filed a motion to postpone, which was granted, on February 1, 2017, by judge Daniel Dortélus. [ 6 ] Given the Court Clerk’s difficulty to set a hearing date, convenient to all parties involved, and particularly to plaintiff, on February 8, 2017, the Court Clerk wrote the following email to plaintiff: « Monsieur Montano,

Compte tenu de la difficulté à prévoir votre retour à Montréal, je vous propose que vous informez (sic) la Cour dès votre arrivée. La défenderesse est au courant de votre situation et elle va attendre à ce que vous serez (sic) de retour au pays. Toutefois, veuillez noter que la date d'audience doit convenir à toutes les parties impliquées au dossier. Il se pourrait donc que ce ne soit pas possible de fixer une date avant le mois de septembre 2017. Ainsi, la FAECUM a manifesté à la Cour leur disponibilité pour tenter un arrangement avec vous.

Vous trouverez donc ci-bas, leurs cordonnées (sic) si vous désirez les contacter: FAECUM : M.

Daniel Tannous conseiller@faecum.qc.ca Cordialement, Miquel Panadès » [ 7 ] Despite the Court Clerk’s and the defendants’ patience and flexibility, plaintiff failed to respond. [ 8 ] A date was therefore set for today’s hearing, on April 12, 2018. [ 9 ] Over 4 years have now gone by since the claim was filed. [ 10 ] It is in the best interest of justice and the administration of justice, that the present situation end forthwith. [ 11 ] The Court shall therefore proceed, on the merits, as follows. [ 12 ] WHEREAS, given plaintiff’s failure to produce witnesses or to justify the absence thereof, the Court declares plaintiff’s evidence closed (art. 266 Code of Civil Procedure ); [ 13 ] WHEREAS plaintiff had the burden of proof (arts 2803 and 2804 of the Civil Code of Québec ); [ 14 ] WHEREAS there is no evidence in support of plaintiff’s claim, which dates back to March 2014; WHEREFORE THE COURT HEREBY: DISMISSES plaintiff’s claim, with legal costs in the amount of $144.00. __________________________________ ELIANA MARENGO, J.C.Q.

Date of hearing: May 31, 2018