Federal Court of Appeal Decisions

Date: 20020906

Docket: A-491-01

Neutral Citation: 2002 FCA 312

BETWEEN:

                                                        TRANS-TEC SERVICES INC.

                                                                                                                                                       Appellant

                                                                              - and -

                        THE SHIP "LYUBOV ORLOVA" and THE OWNERS AND ALL

                          OTHERS INTERESTED IN THE SHIP "LYUBOV ORLOVA"

                                                                                                                                               Respondents

                                               ASSESSMENT OF COSTS - REASONS

FRANÇOIS PILON

Assessment Officer

        This appeal was dismissed with costs on June 25, 2002.

[2]         The assessment of Respondents' bill of costs took place on August 28, 2002 by telephone conference with Mr. John Sinnott, Q.C. acting on behalf of the Respondents and Mr. Jean-François Bilodeau, acting for the Appellant.

[3]         Mr. Bilodeau does not object to the items listed under assessable services. However, he opposes the highest level of units sought for each item. Counsel argues this is not a complicated matter and that a minimal amount of work was required.    Mr. Bilodeau suggests that 2 units for item 26 (assessment of costs) would reflect the amount of work done to prepare the simple bill of costs and that the middle range of units of Column III for the other items would be acceptable.

[4]         In response Mr. Sinnott maintains that the maximum number of units (7) for item 19 is justified by the substantial amount of time spent to review the record and research the case law to reply to the Appellant's memorandum of fact and law.

[5]         I have considered the arguments of both parties and decided upon the following number of units which seem fair in the circumstances:

[6]         The Respondents' bill of costs will be assessed and allowed in the amounts of $1,760.00 for assessable services and $376.47 for disbursements. A certificate of assessment will issue in the amount of $2,136.47.

Halifax, Nova Scotia

September 6, 2002                                                                                                                                                                                                

François Pilon

Assessment Officer

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

COURT FILE NO.:                 A-491-01

BETWEEN:                              TRANS-TEC SERVICES INC.

                                                                                                                                                       Appellant

-and-

THE SHIP "LYUBOV ORLOVA" ET AL

                                                                                                                                               Respondents

ASSESSMENT BY TELEPHONE CONFERENCE ON AUGUST 28, 2002

ASSESSMENT OF COSTS - REASONS BY:                      FRANÇOIS PILON

DATED:                                                                                        SEPTEMBER 6, 2002

APPEARANCES BY:

Mr. Jean-François Bilodaeu                                        For the Appellant

Mr. John Sinnott, Q.C.                                                               For the Respondents

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Flynn Rivard

Montreal, Quebec                                                                        For the Appellant

Lewis Sinnott

St. John's, Newfoundland                                                           For the Respondents