Petra G. Hagen

The Court of Appeal determined the costs of an appeal and cross-appeal.

Although success was divided, the respondent achieved much greater success by successfully defending against the main appeal on liability and succeeding on the cross-appeal.

The court fixed the respondent's costs at $40,000, inclusive of GST and disbursements, noting the complexity of the matter and the lengthy record.

The appellants, physicians found liable for medical malpractice for failing to diagnose the respondent's acromegaly, appealed the trial judge's awards for future income loss, future medication costs, and a $150,000 costs premium.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal regarding damages, finding the trial judge reasonably relied on lay evidence and medical reports to establish future income loss, and correctly held the tortfeasors responsible for medication costs despite government program coverage.

The respondent's cross-appeal to apply the Rule 53.09 discount rate to future medication costs was allowed.

The Court also reduced the costs premium to $75,000, finding the trial judge erred by penalizing the appellants for their insurer's settlement policy, though a premium was still justified by the risk assumed and result achieved by the respondent's counsel.