Background

Our client Shawna McGovern-Burke made an agreement with 'Patricia MacKee' to go into business together to operate Wine-Ohs, a wine bar in downtown Calgary. Patricia had already incorporated a company to operate the business, and they agreed they would each be 50% shareholders. Shawna and Patricia signed the offer to purchase the business premises in May 2012, with Shawna paying the initial deposit. An annual return was filed showing both Shawna and Patricia as directors of Wine-Ohs and 50% shareholders, and negotiations began that would form of a unanimous shareholders agreement.

Substantial renovations were done to the wine bar, including a significant amount of work by Shawna’s husband, Ron, who became the de facto handyman for Wine-Ohs. Shawna, Patricia, and Ron estimated that he had done about 500 hours of work and considered compensating him by either paying the sum of $35,000 or issuing him 10% of the shares of Wine-Ohs.

In February 2013, Patricia and Shawna decided they could no longer work together and discussed an arrangement where one would buy out the other. Before anything was finalized, Patricia removed Shawna from the business, changed the locks, and removed Shawna’s bank signing authority. Patricia also changed the registration to show herself as the sole shareholder of Wine-Ohs.

Shawna brought court actions seeking a declaration that she was a 50% shareholder, that she was entitled to repayment of the $105,000, and relief from the oppressive acts committed by Patricia. Ron brought a related action seeking payment for his renovation work and handyman services.

All three court actions were consolidated to be heard at a single trial.

Trial results

The court found that:

• The words and actions of the parties were consistent with an agreement for Shawna to become a 50% shareholder in Wine-Ohs, even though no share certificates had been issued.
• Shawna had paid $105,000 to Wine-Ohs for the purchase of the premises and the business’ initial cash flow and that she was entitled to repayment of those amounts.
• Ron was entitled to compensation for his handyman services, and since he was not issued any shares, he should be awarded $35,000.

The court also ordered that:

• Wine-Ohs corporate records get updated to show Shawna as a director and 50% shareholder of the company.
• Wine-Ohs was required to obtain audited financial statements and a business valuation to allow Shawna to buy out Patricia’s shares in the company.
• The third parties preparing the audited financial statements and business valuation must report the identities of any other entities involved in Wine-Ohs business operations.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.