What is the impact of delay on the memory of witnesses in litigation?

British Columbia, Canada


The following excerpt is from Canadian Star Development Corp. v 0712276 B.C. Ltd., 2018 BCSC 871 (CanLII):

As was noted by Esson J.A. in Tundra Helicopters v. Allison Gas Turbine, 2002 BCCA 145 at para. 37, a degrading of witnesses’ memories is expected to occur in most, if not all, litigation, even if the matter proceeds with dispatch and is heard within a reasonable time. However, common sense tells us that the longer the delay, the more likely the impairment of memories.

In Cardinal v. Tassone, 2013 BCSC 609, Justice Savage (as he then was) found that this factor was a crucial one in the circumstances of that case:

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