The applicants, maternal grandparents, sought access to their granddaughter after the death of her mother.
The respondent father opposed access, leading to protracted litigation.
Despite the Office of the Children's Lawyer recommending continued access, the matter settled with the grandparents receiving only limited contact (cards and letters).
This endorsement addresses costs.
The court found the respondent's conduct throughout the litigation, including frustrating the OCL investigation and access attempts, to be unreasonable, though not in bad faith.
Despite the respondent being the "successful party" in the access application, his unreasonable conduct warranted an award of costs against him.
The applicants were awarded $19,000 in costs.
