The respondent mother sought full recovery of costs totalling $130,120.03 for five court appearances in a family law matter involving parenting arrangements and access to a child.
The applicant father opposed the costs claim, arguing the amounts were excessive and disproportionate to the relatively routine issues involved.
The court awarded partial costs only for two of the five appearances: $8,000 for the ex parte motion on January 12, 2015, and $8,000 for the motion on June 24, 2015, for a total award of $16,000.
The court disallowed costs for the case conferences and the settlement conference, finding that costs had not been reserved at those proceedings and that no clear winner or loser could be determined where parties settled their disputes.
