Respondents fined for short-lived contempt regarding delayed payment of a court-ordered fine; costs denied.
The respondents, including their lawyer, were previously found in contempt of court for failing to pay a fine to the Court Registry within the prescribed time, instead holding the funds in the lawyer's trust account.
In determining the appropriate sentence, the Court considered the objective seriousness of the contempt, which was deemed low as it was short-lived and caused no direct prejudice, and the respondents' respective mitigating and aggravating factors.
The Court imposed modest fines on each respondent.
The applicant's request for solicitor-client costs was denied due to his conduct not being primarily motivated by the interests of the administration of justice.
