Following a summary judgment decision in a dispute arising from a fire and the interpretation of a commercial lease, the successful party sought partial indemnity costs exceeding $180,000 including disbursements.
The responding party argued the claimed costs were excessive, citing duplication of counsel, work unrelated to the summary judgment motion, and inflated disbursements.
The court agreed that the bill of costs was excessive and reduced both legal fees and non‑lawyer fees, and excluded certain disbursements not permitted under Tariff A. The court fixed reasonable legal fees and limited disbursements, substantially reducing the total amount sought.
