This morning, the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an application by the plaintiff, Barbara De Angelis, for leave to appeal from lower court decisions dismissing Ms. De Angelis’s $30 million claim against her elderly aunt Annie Siermy.  In litigation commenced in 2017, Ms. De Angelis alleged that Annie had contracted to leave her the bulk of Annie’s Estate. During a 19-day trial (2022 BCSC 31) the Farris team of Robert Anderson, K.C., Mike Wagner and Kevin Smith successfully argued that there was never any contract, with the Court agreeing that Ms. De Angelis had forged the only documentary evidence of that contract. The B.C. Court of Appeal upheld the decision (2022 BCCA 401).  Ms. De Angelis’s claims in unjust enrichment were also dismissed.

The Supreme Court of Canada’s dismissal of the application for leave, with costs payable to Annie and J&A, concludes this seven-year litigation odyssey.  Farris extends its heartful gratitude to Annie for her continued trust and confidence in her legal team, as well as to the family members who stood by her during these years, including and especially Annie’s niece and J&A director Anne Escott.  We would be remiss also if we did not take this opportunity to honour the memories of the dearly departed Mary Scott (Annie’s sister and Anne’s mother) and Greg Scott (Mary’s son, Anne’s brother and Annie’s nephew).