Court File and Parties
Court File No.: FS-18-91313-00 Date: 2019 05 02 Superior Court of Justice - Ontario
Re: Leonard Oswald Stanley, Applicant And: Beulah Diana McIntosh, Respondent
Before: Justice G.D. Lemon
Counsel: Leonard Oswald Stanley, In Person B. Ikenefo, Counsel for the Respondent
Heard: In Writing
Costs Endorsement
The Issue
1On March 18, 2019, I granted Ms. McIntosh’s motion for, among other issues, child and spousal support. She now seeks her costs.
2In written submissions, Ms. McIntosh seeks costs of $1,947.28. Mr. Stanley has not responded to those submissions.
Authorities
3In Mattina v. Mattina, 2018 ONCA 867, our Court of Appeal recently said:
[9] Section 131(1) of the Courts of Justice Act, provides that cost orders are in the discretion of the court. Rule 24 of the Family Law Rules sets out a framework for awarding costs for family law cases in the Family Court of the Superior Court of Justice, in the Superior Court of Justice and in the Ontario Court of Justice. Although the Family Law Rules do not expressly govern costs awards in the Court of Appeal, they have been used to guide this court’s analysis on costs in family law disputes.
[10] This court has held that modern family cost rules are designed to foster three fundamental purposes: (1) to partially indemnify successful litigants; (2) to encourage settlement, and; (3) to discourage and sanction inappropriate behaviour by litigants. Rule 2(2) adds a fourth fundamental purpose: to ensure that cases are dealt with justly, and Rule 24(12), which sets out factors relevant to setting the amount of costs, specifically emphasizes “reasonableness and proportionality” in any costs award.
[12] Rule 24(1) creates a presumption of costs in favour of the successful party of a motion, case, or appeal and the presumption that a successful party is entitled to costs applies equally to custody and access cases.
[13] Consideration of success is the starting point in determining costs. This presumption does not, however, require that the successful party always be entitled to costs. An award of costs is subject to: the factors listed in r. 24(12), r. 24(4) pertaining to unreasonable conduct of a successful party, r. 24(8) pertaining to bad faith, r. 18(14) pertaining to offers to settle, and the reasonableness of the costs sought by the successful party.
[14] Rule 24(12) sets out a list of factors the court shall consider in determining an appropriate amount of costs:
a. the reasonableness and proportionality of each of the following factors as it relates to the importance and complexity of the issues:
i. each party’s behaviour,
ii. the time spent by each party,
iii. any written offers to settle, including offers that do not meet the requirements of rule 18,
iv. any legal fees, including the number of lawyers and their rates,
v. any expert witness fees, including the number of experts and their rates,
vi. any other expenses properly paid or payable; and
(b) any other relevant matter.
[15] The Family Law Rules only expressly contemplate full recovery costs in specific circumstances, e.g. where a party has behaved unreasonably, in bad faith or has beat an offer to settle under r. 18(14).
[16] Rule 24(4) addresses the situation in which a successful party has behaved unreasonably:
Despite subrule (1), a successful party who has behaved unreasonably during a case may be deprived of all or part of the party’s own costs or ordered to pay all or part of the unsuccessful party’s costs.
[17] Rule 24(5) provides guidance on how to evaluate reasonableness:
In deciding whether a party has behaved reasonably or unreasonably, the court shall examine,
a. the party’s behaviour in relation to the issues from the time they arose, including whether the party made an offer to settle;
b. the reasonableness of any offer the party made; and
c. any offer the party withdrew or failed to accept.
[18] Rule 24(8) discusses the cost consequences for a party who has acted in bad faith:
If a party has acted in bad faith, the court shall decide costs on a full recovery basis and shall order the party to pay them immediately. [Citations removed]
Analysis
4I have applied those principals.
5Ms. McIntosh was successful on her motion; she is presumed to be entitled to her costs.
6Mr. Stanley was slow in providing his materials in response to the motion and that added time and cost to the process. Ms. McIntosh’s request must follow.
7While Mr. Stanley was wrong in his position and slow in his response, his conduct does not stoop to such that substantial indemnity costs should be awarded “as a punitive measure” as submitted by Ms. McIntosh.
8I have reviewed the bill of costs; it is reasonable in the extreme.
Result
9Accordingly, I order Mr. Stanley to pay costs in the amount of $1,947.28.
10The principal issue here was child support; the other issues did not add to the work to be carried out. As a result, these costs were incurred “for the maintenance and support of the children” and shall be enforced through the Family Responsibility Office.
Justice G.D. Lemon Date: May 2, 2019