Costs Grid Consultation Paper

The Civil Rules Committee has approved in principle the adoption of a new scheme for awarding costs based on a "grid system." This consultation paper describes the scheme and invites comments from the bench, the bar, and the public.

Summary of the Cost Grid Scheme

Under the proposed grid system, a judge will fix costs at the end of a hearing while retaining the right to order an assessment in exceptional cases. The judge's award of costs will be based on a grid that sets out hourly rates. This cost grid replaces Part A of the Tariff of Costs. The grid provides rates for both party and party costs, which will now be known as "partial indemnity" costs and solicitor and client costs, which will now be known as "substantial indemnity costs." The rates set out in the grid will apply to all steps in the proceeding. At the end of a hearing of a trial or application, the successful litigant will submit a "running Bill of Costs" with information about the hours expended by the lawyers involved in the case.

The grid will also be used for interlocutory motions, and the presumptive rule is that costs of a motion are payable forthwith. A "running Bill of Costs" is not required for interlocutory motions, although the parties may decide to provide one.

If the judge exercised his or her discretion to order an assessment of costs by an assessment officer, the assessment will be based on the grid.

The Rules of Civil Procedure will provide a cost grid that will apply in the absence of any regional costs grid. (Regional bench and bar committees may apply to the Civil Rules Committee for the enactment of a costs grid for their region.)

Rule Amendments to Implement the Cost Grid Scheme

Several rules must be amended to implement the cost grid scheme. The major rule changes are noted below. The changes to the Rules are noted by underlining or striking over the text.

    1.03 In these rules, unless the context requires otherwise,
    "partial indemnity costs" mean costs awarded under the partial indemnity scale of a cost grid established by Part I of Tariff A and "on a partial indemnity basis" has a corresponding meaning;
    "substantial indemnity costs" mean costs awarded under the substantial indemnity scale of a cost grid established by Part I of Tariff A and "on a substantial indemnity basis" has a corresponding meaning;
    "Party and Party" Costs
    1.04 (4) If a statute, regulation or other document refers to party and party costs, these rules apply as if the reference were to partial indemnity costs.
    "Solicitor and Client Costs"
    1.04 (5) If a statute, regulation or other document refers to solicitor and client costs, these rules apply as if the reference were to substantial indemnity costs.
    Note: The words "party and party" appear in subrules 39.02 (4)(b), 49.10 (1), and 49.10 (2), and these rules will amended to refer to "on a partial indemnity basis." The words "solicitor and client" appear in subrules 20.06 (1), 20.06 (2), 34.02 (3), 37.03 (5), 49.10(1), 57.01 (4), 69.24 (6.6), 76.03 (5), 76.10 (5), 76.10 (6), and 77.10 (1), and in Form 14B. The form and these rules will be amended to refer to "on a substantial indemnity basis." Form 14B will be amended in paragraph 1 (e) under the heading CLAIM to read: "(on a substantial indemnity basis if the mortgage so provides, or if it provides for costs on a solicitor and client basis)".
    Fixing Costs: Tariffs
    57.01 (3) When the court awards costs, it shall fix them in accordance with the Tariffs and any cost grid.
    Assessment in Exceptional Cases
    (3.1) Despite subrule (3), in an exceptional case the court may refer costs for assessment under Rule 58.
    Bill of Costs
    57.01 (5) After a trial or the hearing of an application, a party who seeks an award of costs shall serve a bill of costs on the other parties and shall file it, with proof of service, at the hearing at which the costs are to be fixed or assessed.
    (6) The bill of costs shall contain,
      (a) a statement of the amounts claimed for fees and disbursements;
      (b) a statement of the years of experience in practice of each lawyer with respect to whom a claim for fees is being made;
      (c) in connection with the claim for fees, copies of the dockets; and
      (d) in connection with the claim for disbursements, copies of the invoices.
    Contested Motion
    57.03 (1) Where, On the hearing of a contested motion, the court is satisfied that the motion ought not to have been made or opposed, as the case may be, unless the court is satisfied that a different order would be more just, the court shall,
      (a) fix the costs of the motion and order them to be paid forthwith; or
      (b) order the costs of the motion to be paid forthwith after assessment in an exceptional case, refer the costs of the motion for assessment under Rule 58 and order them to be paid forthwith after assessment.

    Assessment in Accordance With Tariffs and Cost Grid

      Generally
      58.05 (1) Where party and party If costs are to be assessed, the assessment officer shall assess and allow,
      (a) solicitors' lawyer's fees and disbursements in accordance with the Tariffs and any cost grid; and
      (b) disbursements for fees paid to the court, a court reporter, an official examiner or a sheriff under the regulations under the Administration of Justice Act.
    (2) and no No other fees, disbursements or charges shall be assessed or allowed unless the court orders otherwise.
    Students-at-law and law clerks
    58.05 (2) Where students-at-law or law clerks have rendered services of a nature that the Law Society of Upper Canada authorizes them to render, the fees for those services shall be assessed and allowed at one-half the amount that would have been allowed under the Tariffs.
    Note: The former subrule 58.05 (2) is replaced by a note in the Tariff.

    Certificate of Assessment

    58.09 On the assessment of party and party costs, the assessment officer shall set out in a certificate of assessment of costs (Form 58C) the amount of costs assessed and allowed.

Tariff A

Solicitors's Fees and Disbursements Allowable Under Rule 58.05

Part I - Cost Grid

In the absence of a cost grid made to apply to a particular judicial region, the following cost grid shall apply.

Where students-at-law or law clerks have rendered services of a nature that the Law Society of Upper Canada authorizes them to render, the fees for those services may be assessed and allowed under this Tariff.

1. Fees other than Counsel Fee

Hourly rates for pleadings, mediation under Rule 24.1, financial statements, discovery of documents, drawing and settling issues on special case, setting down for trial, pre-motion conference, examination for discovery, pre-trial conference, settlement conference, notice or offer, preparation for hearing, attendance at assignment court, order, issuing or renewing a writ of execution or notice of garnishment, seizure under writ of execution, seizure and sale under writ of execution or under notice of garnishment, or for any other procedure authorized by the Rules of Civil Procedure save for counsel fee on motions, applications, trials, references, and appeals.

 

Partial Indemnity Scale

Substantial Indemnity Scale

Law Clerks

Up to $50.00 per hour

Up to $75.00 per hour

Student-at-law

Up to $40.00 per hour

Up to $55.00 per hour

Lawyer (1- 5 years)

Up to $80.00 per hour

Up to $120.00 per hour

Lawyer (6-10 years)

Up to $110.00 per hour

Up to $150.00 per hour

Lawyer (11-15 years)

Up to $130.00 per hour

Up to $175.00 per hour

Lawyer (16-20 years)

Up to $150.00 per hour

Up to $200.00 per hour

Lawyer (more than 20 years)

Up to $175.00 per hour

Up to $275.00 per hour

2. Counsel Fee - Simple Motion or Application

 

Partial Indemnity Scale

Substantial Indemnity Scale

0.25 hours

Up to $150.00

Up to $300.00

1.00 hours

Up to $300.00

Up to $800.00

2.00 hours (half day)

Up to $750.00

Up to $1,000.00

3. Counsel Fee - Difficult Motion or Application

 

Partial Indemnity Scale

Substantial Indemnity Scale

1.00 hours

Up to $600.00

Up to $1,000.00

2.00 hours (half day)

Up to $900.00

Up to $1,800.00

1 day

Up to $1,500.00

Up to $2,500.00

4. Counsel Fee - Trial or Reference

 

Partial Indemnity Scale

Substantial Indemnity Scale

Half Day

Up to $1,000.00

Up to $1,500.00

Day

Up to $1,800.00

Up to $2,700.00

Week

Up to $8,500.00

Up to $12,800.00

5. Counsel Fee - Appeal

 

Partial Indemnity Scale

Substantial Indemnity Scale

1.00 hours

up to $600.00

up to $1,000.00

2.00 hours (half day)

up to $900.00

up to $1,800.00

1 day

up to $1,500.00

up to $2,500.0

Form 58C

Certificate of Assessment of Costs

(General Heading)

Certificate of Assessment of Costs

I certify that I have assessed the party and party costs of (identify party) in this proceeding . . . .

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