Source: https://janedeanparalegal.ca/small-claims/court-rules-various/costs-rules
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 11:21:36+00:00

Document:
3. “Punitive Costs” governed by Rule 19.06.
Each head should be addressed separately.
Generally speaking, when a case goes through a full trial and the successful party obtains a substantial vindication of their claim or defence, the successful party is normally entitled to the full measure of allowable representation costs; 2016449 Ontario. v. Fulford, 2014 CanLII 17796 at 14. Despite normally being entitled to "full measure", the costs award for representative fees in a Small Claims Court matter is limited to fifteen (15%) percent of the amount claimed within the case as per the Courts of Justice Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.43, s. 29. Accordingly, with a limit of twenty five thousand ($25,000) dollars, per Plaintiff, for legal actions brought in the Small Claims Court, the limit for recovery of representation fees is three thousand seven hundred fifty ($3,750) dollars - being fifteen (15%) percent. Typically, in addition to disbursements (eg. court fees, postage, stationary, etc.), the succeeding party in a Small Claims matter will receive an Order allowing a 'costs award' for some or most, but rarely all, of the fees the party paid for representation (lawyer or paralegal).
Of course, as is usual of most rules, the Rules of the Small Claims Court, O. Reg. 258/98 provide for some exceptions to the fifteen (15%) percent limit. These exceptions include Rule 14.07, being the 'double costs penalty' for failure to accept a reasonable offer to settle, as well as Rule 19.06, being the 'general penalty' for unduly complicating or prolonging the litigation. An exception to the usual limit as prescribed by s. 29 of the Courts of Justice Act also arises for "unreasonable behaviour" as is stated within s. 29 itself.
1. The plaintiff obtains a judgment as favourable as or more favourable than the terms of the offer.
2. The offer was made at least seven days before the trial.
3. The offer was not withdrawn and did not expire before the trial.
1. The plaintiff obtains a judgment as favourable as or less favourable than the terms of the offer.
(3) If an amount is awarded under subrule (1) or (2) to a self-represented party, the court may also award the party an amount not exceeding $500 as compensation for inconvenience and expense.
Essentially, in a represented matter, where a party to the litigation made an Offer-to-Settle, at least seven (7) days prior to the trial, and the outcome of the trial is such that the unsuccessful party to the litigation should have accepted the Offer-to-Settle, the trial Judge may award up to double the usual costs award limit. Simply stated, this Rule doubles the limit from fifteen (15%) percent to thirty (30%) percent. Of course, while the Judge will have the power to award the 'double costs penalty' doing so remains within the discretion of the Judge. This being said, in almost all circumstances, the trial Judge will impose a significant penalty where an Offer-to-Settle, that was better than the trial outcome, was declined or otherwise was without acceptance, thereby pushing the litigation unnecessarily to trial. Such a penalty was imposed in the case of Wilkinson v. Sneddon Insurance Brokers Limited 2014 CanLII 78267 . In the case of Doerr v. Sterling Paralegal, 2014 CanLII 46013, the Judge applied the double costs penalty where the Plaintiff failed to prove the case and an offer compliant with Rule 14.07 was previously made by the Defendant. When doubling the costs award, the Judge stated that, "proceeding to trial on claims without some merit will attract costs consequences."
If the court is satisfied that a party has unduly complicated or prolonged an action or has otherwise acted unreasonably, the court may order the party to pay an amount as compensation to another party.
An award of costs in the Small Claims Court, other than disbursements, shall not exceed 15 per cent of the amount claimed or the value of the property sought to be recovered unless the court considers it necessary in the interests of justice to penalize a party or a party’s representative for unreasonable behaviour in the proceeding.
Examples of "unreasonable behaviour" within a proceeding include the proceeding to trial with a plain and obvious lack of evidence; Legris v. Mudge, 2014 CanLII 22141; the Rule 14.07 failure to accept a reasonable Offer-to-Settle; Wilkinson v. Sneddon Insurance Brokers Limited, 2014 CanLII 78267.
The unproven allegation of fraud; Hay v. Platinum Securities Inc., 2012 ABQB 204.
44. The defendants made an offer to settle both claims by payment to Mr. Hinschberger of $3,500, which offer qualifies for cost consequences under rule 14.07(1) and/or (2). The court may award double the costs which would otherwise be awarded to the defendants based on their success at trial. That cost consequence rule should be reliably applied by the court if it is to have the effect of encouraging settlements that it is intended to have.
45. Mr. Hinschberger is self-represented. On the one hand the court can sympathize with him for his failure to analyze the case properly from a legal perspective for the simple reason that he is a layperson. On the other hand if he had invested in legal representation the matter might not have come this far and cost so much for the defendants to litigate.
46. Based on a full-day trial with junior counsel representing the successful parties and the amount claimed being a combined total of $47,708, I fix a representation fee at $1,250 and double that amount under rule 14.07, to $2,500. For the costs of the settlement conference in Orillia which were reserved to the trial judge I award $500 since the matter should have been commenced in Cambridge under rule 6.01 and the plaintiff’s decision to proceed in Orillia imposed unnecessary cost on the defendants which constitute special circumstances. I allow disbursements fixed at $250.
 Generally, the court ought not to second guess the time spent by counsel. As the court held in Basdeo (Litigation Guardian of) v. University Health Network,  O.J. No. 597 (S.C.) at para. 7, it is not the court’s role to second-guess the time spent by counsel unless it is manifestly unreasonable in the sense that the total time spent is clearly excessive or the matter has been “over-lawyered”.
Jane Dean Paralegal is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario to provide legal services addressing issues involving Real Estate Disputes, Consumer Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, Employment Law, Business & Commerce, Construction Law, Criminal Law (Summary), Provincial Offences and Human Rights within the Province of Ontario, Canada.

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