Category Archives: Costs

Developments in the law of costs.

“Minimal Financial Risk” to Law Firm in Prosecuting AB Claim in Catastrophic Case, So Substantial Fee Premium Not Appropriate

In Adler v. State Farm Automobile Insurance Company, Madam Justice Nancy Spies dealt with an application by the law firm of Aylesworth LLP for court approval of lawyer-client fees and disbursements, to be paid out of the proceeds of the settlement … Continue reading

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When It Comes to “Reasonableness” in Costs, Look Around to See Where You Are

This post relates to a decision that dates back to last December. We only recently became aware of it. Unfortunately, the case does not appear on CanLII, so we are unable to provide a link to the reasons. However, a … Continue reading

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Can Defendants Ever Make Effective Rule 49 Offers in MVA Cases?

We are indebted to Mark (“Billy Idol”) Charron of Williams McEnery for alerting us to the recent decision in Peterson v. Phillips. This is another case that deals with the relationship between offers to settle in MVA claims and the … Continue reading

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Court Says Successful Threshold Defence Not to be Taken Into Account for Purposes of Costs

  In Dennie v. Hamilton, the defendants’ solicitor probably thought that the trial had gone pretty well (see our previous post about this case). In this MVA action, the plaintiff had claimed damages of about $1 million. At the end … Continue reading

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C.A. Upholds Record Personal Injury Damages Award

Sandhu v. Wellington Place Apartments was one of the largest personal injury damages awards in Canadian history. The Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal from the trial decision (other than disallowing most of a $350,000 costs premium). The award … Continue reading

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Court Ignores Past Collateral Benefits in Evaluating Rule 49 Offer

Bad news for insurers. In Ksiazek v. Newport Leasing Limited, Mr. Justice C. Raymond Harris extended the application of the Court of Appeal’s decision in Rider v. Dydyk and ruled that a defendant’s offer to settle should be compared with … Continue reading

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Thunder Bay Judges Don’t Want to See Pyramids

 There’s something afoot among the judges in Thunder Bay. Madam Justice Helen Pierce and Mr. Justice George Smith, colleagues on the Superior Court in that city, have both released rulings in which they have complained about what they call “pyramid billing”. This … Continue reading

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Court Declines to Award Substantial Indemnity Costs Where Successful Defendant Had Offered Dismissal Without Costs

In Crete v. Carleton Condominium Corporation #47, Madam Justice Giovanna Toscano Roccamo delivered very comprehensive costs reasons following a trial by jury in which the plaintiff’s action had been dismissed. The decision is instructive with respect to several aspects of … Continue reading

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C.A. Says “No” to Risk Premiums in Costs

The Court of Appeal today released its decision in Ward v. The Manufacturers’ Life Insurance Company. We are familiar with this case because local lawyers Eric R. Williams and Jaye E. Hooper, who acted for the plaintiff Ward, won at trial … Continue reading

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Costs of $177,950 for Occupier’s Liability Damages Award of $177,373

In Singer v. Hamilton, Mr. Justice William J. Festereyga had to assess costs following the 15-day trial of an occupier’s liability case. He had assessed damages and interest at $177,373.55. His decision reaffirms that even awards of substantial indemnity costs … Continue reading

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