BETWEEN:
and
MARIA LYNN FREELAND, INDEPENDENT CHAIRPERSON
SASKATCHEWAN PENITENTIARY, AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS - REASONS
Assessment Officer
[1] The Court dismissed with costs this application to quash a conviction for failure to provide a urine sample. I issued a timetable for written disposition of the assessment of the Respondents’ bill of costs.
[2] The Applicant did not file any materials in response to the Respondents’ materials. My view, often expressed in comparable circumstances, is that the Federal Courts Rules do not contemplate a litigant benefiting by having an assessment officer step away from a neutral position to act as the litigant’s advocate in challenging given items in a bill of costs. However, the assessment officer cannot certify unlawful items, i.e. those outside the authority of the judgment and the tariff. I examined each item claimed in the bill of costs and the supporting materials within those parameters. The total amount claimed is generally arguable as reasonable within the limits of the award of costs and is allowed as presented at $1,800.00.
FEDERAL COURT
SOLICITORS OF RECORD
DOCKET: T-2303-05
STYLE OF CAUSE: JEAN RICHER v. MARIA LYNN FREELAND et al.
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS IN WRITING WITHOUT PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE PARTIES
REASONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF COSTS: CHARLES E. STINSON
WRITTEN REPRESENTATIONS:
n/a
|
(self-represented)
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Ms. Natasha Crooks
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SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
n/a
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John H. Sims, Q.C. Deputy Attorney General of Canada |