ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
COURT FILE NO.: 45992-11
DATE: 2013-07-17
BETWEEN:
Katherine Meidell
Applicant
– and –
Christopher Meidell
Respondent
Self-represented Applicant
Tania Harper, for the Respondent
HEARD: June 17, 18, 19, 21 and 24, 2013
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE P.B. HAMBLY
Ruling on Costs
[1] Ms. Meidell represented herself at trial. I agree with Ms. Harper on a number of points. Ms. Meidell could not at trial and still cannot emotionally accept that her husband’s bankruptcy discharged his responsibility for family debts and the law is that a court cannot make a support order with the objective of redistributing property. Even more so a court cannot make a costs order that has this effect.
[2] I also agree that Ms. Meidell has not made out a case to be awarded part or all of Ms. Piccoli’s fees to her. Notwithstanding my request, I have not received copies of the detailed accounts that Ms. Piccoli sent to Ms. Meidell. If she believes that these fees are unreasonable Ms. Meidell can have them assessed. If she does not know how to do this, she could consult the Local Registrar’s office. She can also receive some advice from various other entities that are available to self-represented litigants.
[3] Ms. Meidell did receive a better result at trial than was reflected in the offer that the husband made on the morning of trial. I am of the opinion that she is entitled to costs traditionally awarded to self-represented parties limited to their disbursements directly related to the trial. These are usefully summarized by Ms. Harper at para. 19 of her written submissions. Ms. Meidell does not itemize the “purchases for this trial” that she claims in the amount of $300. This figure strikes me as a little excessive. I allow $200. I find the parking fees of $92.00 and the mileage costs of $475.20 to be reasonable and necessary for Ms. Meidell to attend at the trial. The total of these figures is $767.20.
[4] There will be an order that Christopher Meidell pay to Katherine Meidell $767.20 in costs to be enforced as spousal support.
P.B. Hambly J.
Released: July 17, 2013
COURT FILE NO.: 45992-11
DATE: 2013-07-17
ONTARIO
SUPERIOR COURT OF JUSTICE
B E T W E E N:
Katherine Meidell
- and -
Christopher Meidell
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
Mr. Justice P.B. Hambly
Released: July 17, 2013