Michael Hartrick

Addendum regarding costs following an appeal in a child protection matter.

The Divisional Court considered the submissions of the parties and the factors set out in Rule 57.01 of the Rules of Civil Procedure and Rule 24 of the Family Law Rules.

The court concluded that this was an appropriate case to not require the unsuccessful party to pay costs.

No costs were ordered.

The Children's Lawyer appealed a trial judge's decision to return two children to their mother under a strict 12-month supervision order, rather than making them Crown wards without access.

The appellant argued the trial judge failed to apply the paramount 'best interests of the child' test and made palpable and overriding errors in fact-finding regarding the parents' ability to protect the children from the father, who had been diagnosed with pedophilia.

The Divisional Court dismissed the appeal, finding the trial judge was acutely sensitive to the risks, properly balanced the children's best interests with maintaining the family unit, and made no palpable or overriding errors.