Skip to main content
Federal Court· 2001Unreviewed source text

Murphy v. Canada

2001 FCT 372
GeneralJD
Cite or share
Share via WhatsAppEmail
Showing unreviewed source text. Provenance under review — verify against the linked original before relying on it.

Source text

Murphy v. Canada Court (s) Database Federal Court Decisions Date 2001-04-23 Neutral citation 2001 FCT 372 File numbers T-1198-00 Decision Content Date: 20010423 Docket: T-1198-00 Neutral Citation: 2001 FCT 372 BETWEEN: ROBERT P. MURPHY Plaintiff - and - HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN Defendant ASSESSMENT OF COSTS - REASONS François Pilon Assessment Officer [1] This party and party assessment of the defendant's costs took place on April 18, 2001 with Mr. Scott McCrossin acting on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and Mr. Robert Murphy who was self-represented. The Court had struck out the statement of claim with costs on August 24, 2000. [2] Mr. Murphy indicated that he is presently without employment and does not have the means to pay for costs to be assessed against him. While I can sympathize with the plaintiff's difficult situation at present, costs are an integral part of the judicial process. [3] In Solosky v. The Queen [1977] 1 F.C. 663, Mr. Justice Addy, when considering a similar issue, held: "...in deciding whether costs should or should not be awarded against an unsuccessful plaintiff, neither the ability to pay nor the difficulty of collection should be a deciding factor but, on the contrary, the awarding or refusal of costs should be based on the merits of the case." Of course, only Judges have the authority to grant or refuse costs in any matter before the Court. [4] The four items of assessable services are presented by Mr. McCrossin at the lowest level of column III and a…

Read full judgment (source text)

Mirrored from decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca — the linked original is authoritative.

Murphy v. Canada
Court (s) Database
Federal Court Decisions
Date
2001-04-23
Neutral citation
2001 FCT 372
File numbers
T-1198-00
Decision Content
Date: 20010423
Docket: T-1198-00
Neutral Citation: 2001 FCT 372
BETWEEN:
ROBERT P. MURPHY
Plaintiff
- and -
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Defendant
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS - REASONS
François Pilon
Assessment Officer
[1] This party and party assessment of the defendant's costs took place on April 18, 2001 with Mr. Scott McCrossin acting on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen and Mr. Robert Murphy who was self-represented. The Court had struck out the statement of claim with costs on August 24, 2000.
[2] Mr. Murphy indicated that he is presently without employment and does not have the means to pay for costs to be assessed against him. While I can sympathize with the plaintiff's difficult situation at present, costs are an integral part of the judicial process.
[3] In Solosky v. The Queen [1977] 1 F.C. 663, Mr. Justice Addy, when considering a similar issue, held:
"...in deciding whether costs should or should not be awarded against an unsuccessful plaintiff, neither the ability to pay nor the difficulty of collection should be a deciding factor but, on the contrary, the awarding or refusal of costs should be based on the merits of the case."
Of course, only Judges have the authority to grant or refuse costs in any matter before the Court.
[4] The four items of assessable services are presented by Mr. McCrossin at the lowest level of column III and are accordingly allowed as submitted. I also note that Counsel charged only $0.10 for photocopies instead of the customary $0.25.
[5] The defendant's bill of costs is assessed and allowed in the total amount of $1,054.24.
"François Pilon"
François Pilon
Assessment Officer
Dated April 23, 2001 at Halifax, Nova Scotia
FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA
TRIAL DIVISION
NAMES OF SOLICITORS AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD
Docket: T-1198-00
Neutral Citation: 2001 FCT 372
ROBERT P. MURPHY
Plaintiff
- and -
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
Defendant
PLACE AND DATE OF ASSESSMENT: Halifax, Nova Scotia, April 18, 2001
REASONS BY: F. Pilon, Assessment Officer
DATE OF REASONS: April 23, 2001
APPEARANCES:
Robert Murphy for himself
Scott E. McCrossin for the Defendant
SOLICITORS OF RECORD:
Morris Rosenberg
Deputy Attorney General of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario for the Defendant

Source: decisions.fct-cf.gc.ca

Related cases