Lord's Evangelical Church of Deliverance and Prayer of Toronto v. Canada, 2006 FCA 3

Date: 20060105

Docket: A-300-03

Citation: 2006 FCA 3

BETWEEN:

                                               LORD'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH

                                               OF DELIVERANCE AND PRAYER

                                                                 OF TORONTO

                                                                                                                                            Appellant

                                                                         - and -

                                                    HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

                                                                                                                                        Respondent

                                            ASSESSMENT OF COSTS - REASONS

Charles E. Stinson

Assessment Officer

[1]                This appeal, addressing a decision revoking the Appellant's registration as a charitable organization, was dismissed with costs. I issued a timetable for written disposition of the Respondent's bill of costs.

[2]                The Appellant did not file any materials in response to the Respondent's materials. My view, often expressed in comparable circumstances, is that the Federal Courts Rules do not contemplate a litigant 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, ie. 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 amount claimed in total in the bill of costs is generally arguable within the limits of the award of costs as reasonable in the circumstances of this litigation. The Respondent's bill of costs is assessed and allowed as presented at $1,469.25.

(Sgd.) "Charles E. Stinson"

      Assessment Officer             

                                                  FEDERAL COURT OF APPEAL

                            NAMES OF COUNSEL AND SOLICITORS OF RECORD

DOCKET:                                          A-300-03

STYLE OF CAUSE:                          LORD'S EVANGELICAL CHURCH

OF DELIVERANCE AND PRAYER

OF TORONTO

- and -

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

ASSESSMENT OF COSTS IN WRITING WITHOUT PERSONAL APPEARANCE

OF THE PARTIES

REASONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF COSTS:                     CHARLES E. STINSON

DATED:                                                                                  January 5, 2006

SOLICITORS OF RECORD:

Ackerman Law Office                                                               FOR APPELLANT

Toronto, ON

John H. Sims, Q.C.                                                                   FOR RESPONDENT

Deputy Attorney General of Canada