Philip William Augustine

The appellant father appealed a trial judgment granting sole custody of the parties' daughter to the respondent mother.

The father sought joint custody or a new trial, alleging he was denied a fair trial due to being unrepresented, an alleged conflict of interest involving a legal secretary, and procedural unfairness.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the fair trial arguments and upheld the sole custody order, finding that the parents' high-conflict relationship made joint custody unworkable.

However, the Court allowed the appeal in part to grant the father increased access to the child.

The appellant husband appealed a trial judgment ordering him to pay $8,000 per month in spousal support following a 23-year marriage.

Prior to the appeal, the appellant wilfully defaulted on his support obligations, accumulating over $50,000 in arrears.

The Court of Appeal noted it could dismiss the appeal for non-compliance but chose to hear it on the merits.

The court upheld the trial judge's findings regarding the appellant's income and the decision not to impute income to the respondent due to her ongoing responsibilities caring for their special needs children.

The appeal was dismissed, and the spousal support order was affirmed.