Myles Goodman-Vincent

Following a family law trial regarding parenting time and a restraining order, the successful respondent mother sought costs of $7,359.

The applicant father opposed, citing impecuniosity.

The court found the mother was entirely successful and had made multiple offers to settle that were more favourable than the trial result, entitling her to full recovery costs under Rule 18(14) of the Family Law Rules.

The court awarded the mother her full claimed costs of $7,359, but accommodated the father's limited financial circumstances by allowing him to pay in monthly installments of $100.

The applicant father sought parenting time with his two children.

The respondent mother sought a restraining order, sole decision-making regarding travel and documentation, and to limit the father's parenting time to monitored emails.

The court found the father had perpetrated extensive family violence, stalked the mother, and exhibited manipulative behaviour that caused the children significant emotional distress.

The children consistently expressed a desire not to see the father.

The court admitted out-of-court statements from an OCL report, finding them reliable.

The court limited the father's parenting time to monitored emails, dispensed with his consent for travel and documentation, and granted a restraining order against him.