2 total
The successful mother in a custody trial was awarded $50,000 in costs after beating her pre-trial offer to settle.
This costs decision followed a nine-day trial primarily concerning the parenting of a 13-year-old child.
The applicant mother was deemed the successful party, having been granted sole custody and discretion over the respondent father's parenting time.
The court assessed the applicant's offers to settle, finding her September 2, 2019, and September 25, 2019, offers to be more favourable to the respondent than the trial outcome, thereby entitling her to full costs from September 2, 2019, and partial indemnity costs for an earlier period.
The court declined to award costs for certain professional fees and a travel disbursement.
The respondent father was ultimately ordered to pay the applicant mother an all-inclusive amount of $50,000 in costs for the proceeding.
Motion to suspend a mother's access based on a blanket COVID-19 policy was dismissed.
The Children's Aid Society brought a 14B motion seeking to suspend all in-person access between the mother and child due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns.
The child, aged 18 months, was in the temporary care of the father subject to society supervision, with specified access to the mother.
Both parents opposed the motion, arguing that access is not a procedural matter suitable for 14B determination and that they were adhering to COVID-19 directives.
The court dismissed the society's motion, finding that a blanket policy suspending access without specific evidence of non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols was inconsistent with a comprehensive analysis of the child's best interests.
