Following a lengthy family trial arising from the breakdown of a long marriage involving a jointly operated family business, the court determined the payor spouse's income for support purposes using competing accounting expert evidence and largely preferred the responding party's expert methodology.
The court awarded high-range indefinite spousal support on both compensatory and non-compensatory bases, found both adult children remained children of the marriage while pursuing full-time studies, and held that child support and s. 7 post-secondary expenses were payable retroactively, subject to further submissions to finalize calculations and credits.
The court fixed the date of separation, resolved numerous equalization disputes concerning business debt, household assets, jewellery, lines of credit, and the cottage, and concluded that the applicant owed a small equalization payment to the respondent.
Claims for unequal division, contempt, and broad damages for an abusive relationship were dismissed, but nominal damages were awarded for a proven assault.
