THE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY ACT
How
do you prepare?
You must prove your
claim
What kinds of awards
can the Court grant?
How are appeals
handled?
How can I find out
more?
This legislation allows the victims of youth crime in Manitoba to recover damages from
parents whose children (up to 18 years of age) have been involved in deliberately taking,
damaging or destroying property. Victims who wish to obtain damages from these parents
must file a claim in Small Claims Court. The Act does not apply to children who are wards
of child and family service agencies.
How do you prepare?
To make a claim under
The Parental Responsibility
Act, you must file a claim in the Small Claims Court, notify the person(s)
against whom you are making the claim, and be prepared to present evidence before the
Small Claims Court to prove your claim.
In cases where a child has been found guilty of an offence under the Young
Offenders Act (YOA), you may obtain a Certificate of Disposition to assist in proving
your claim. This is done by making a request for a Certificate of Disposition with the
court that made the finding of guilt. The request must be made within the specific time
limits set by YOA.
In cases where there has been no finding of guilt under YOA, you may still proceed. You
must have reasonable proof that the property was taken, damaged, or destroyed deliberately
by a specific child. You will be required to present the evidence necessary to prove your
claim to the Court.
You must prove your claim
You will be required to follow the usual procedures followed in Small Claims Court to
prove your claim. The Certificate of Disposition will assist you in proving certain parts
of your claim. For general information on this process, please contact the court office in
your area. Otherwise, you may wish to consult with a lawyer.
Parents will have a defence against your claim if they can prove they exercised
reasonable supervision over their child and made reasonable efforts in good faith to
prevent the child from causing the property damage. Specific factors that may be
considered by the Court include:
- Whether the parents could have reasonably foreseen the danger arising from the child's
conduct.
- The age of the child.
- The prior conduct of the child.
- The potential danger of the activity.
- The physical or mental capacity of the child.
- Any psychological or other medical disorders of the child.
- Whether the parents were responsible for the care and control of the child at the time
of the activity.
- Whether the parents made reasonable arrangements for the supervision of the child while
out of the care and control of the parents.
- Whether the parents have tried to improve their parenting skills.
- Whether professional assistance has been sought for the child.
What kind of awards can the Court grant?
The Small Claims Court can award damages to a maximum of $7,500. Under
The
Parental Responsibility Act, the Court may order that payment be made in full
before a specific date, or by installment payments by fixed dates. In awarding damages,
the Court may take into account any award of restitution made under YOA, where an amount
is awarded but is unpaid by the defendant, it may be enforced in the same manner as any
judgment of the Small Claims Court.
How are appeals handled?
Both the plaintiff and the defendant have the right to appeal decisions of Small Claims
Court hearing officers to a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench.
How can I find out more?
If you have any questions, please contact the Small Claims Office at (204) 945-3138 or
the St. Boniface Court Office at (204) 945-8010, where service is available in French and
English.