Malletier v. John Doe, 2002 FCT 1140

Date: 20021104

Docket: T-2145-01

Neutral citation: 2002 FCT 1140

BETWEEN:

                                 BETWEEN:

                      LOUIS VUITTON MALLETIER, S.A.

and LOUIS VUITTON CANADA INC.

                                                               Plaintiffs

                                   and

                          JOHN DOE, JANE DOE

and OTHER PARTIES listed in SCHEDULE "A"

of the Statement of Claim and OTHER PERSONS

UNKNOWN TO THE PLAINTIFFS

WHO OFFER FOR SALE, SELL, IMPORT,

MANUFACTURE, PRINT, ADVERTISE,

PROMOTE, SHIP, STORE, DISPLAY

OR OTHERWISE DEAL IN

COUNTERFEIT LOUIS VUITTON ITEMS

                                                               Defendants

                        ASSESSMENT OF COSTS -REASONS

Charles E. Stinson

Assessment Officer

[1]                 The Court granted Judgment against the Defendant, Stacey Lin, also known as Lin JiZhen, with costs. I issued a timetable for written disposition of the Plaintiffs' Bill of Costs. The Defendant did not respond.

[2]                 The Federal Court Rules, 1998 do not contemplate a litigant, having notice of an assessment of costs and failing to participate, benefiting by an assessment officer stepping away from a position of neutrality 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 Plaintiffs' written submission adjusted its claim slightly downward. There were items for services of counsel which might have attracted disagreement, but the amount claimed in total in the Bill of Costs is arguable within the limits of the award of costs. The Bill of Costs of the Defendant, presented at $9,859.87, is assessed and allowed at $9,607.97.

                                                                                                                            (Sgd.) "Charles E. Stinson"

                                                                                                                                         Assessment Officer

                                                    FEDERAL COURT OF CANADA

                                                                 TRIAL DIVISION

                              NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                             T-2145-01

STYLE OF CAUSE:                           Louis Vuitton Malletier, S.A. et al. v. John Doe et al.

PLACE OF HEARING:                     Vancouver, B.C.

ASSESSMENT OF COSTS IN WRITING WITHOUT PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF PARTIES

REASONS BY:                                  CHARLES E. STINSON

DATED:                                                November 4, 2002

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Lesperance Mendes Mancuso                                                     FOR PLAINTIFFS

Vancouver