Superior Court Cost Penalties

                                 

 

  Peter Karl Roscoe

 

            Aug  2007

 

 

 

                                                      Contents

 

 

                                                                                                                                                           page

 

 

Introduction                                                                                                                                          1

 

Cost Decision Outcomes                                                                                                                      1

 

Cost Penalties                                                                                                                                        1

 

Representation                                                                                                                                      6

 

Sex of Judge                                                                                                                                          9

 

Conclusions                                                                                                                                         10

 

 

Appendixes                                                                                                                                          11

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                Introduction

 

 

 

This study examines 404 cases where rulings on cost penalties were made in divorce related cases by the Ontario Superior Court. All cases between husband and wife where a monetary figure is given were included. In a small number of cases cost penalties were given out for several previous hearings, so the number of cases does not correspond with the number of wins. Some cases were missing information so could not be used in particular segments. The cases used for this study have been taken from the first half of the Canlii database. 10,500 cases were available on Canlii under the search term ‘ costs ‘. Most cases used in this study cames from the first third of the database. Subsequent listings typically only requested cost submissions from the parties. 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                     Cost Decision Outcomes

 

 

 

Total Wins

Female Wins

% Female Wins

Male Wins

% Male Wins

Divided Success

% Divided Success

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 409

 264

  64.5

   87

   21.3

    58

   14.1

 

 

 

It can be concluded that females win (64.5/21.3) 3 times for every time a man wins, as determined by judicial decisions on costs.

 

 

 

 

Discrimination Index = % Female Wins - % Male Wins

 

                                    = 64.5 – 21.3

 

                                    = 43.2 %

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                               Cost Penalties

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Women = (13.7 + 15 + 10 + 3.5 + 4 + 2.5 + 3 + 12 + 5 + 8.5 + 14 + 5.8 + 18 + 9.5 + .                                                      1 + 2 + 22.5 + 3.5 + 89 + 9.5 + 2.4 + 16 +  3 + 35 + 16 + 60 + 6.4 + 31 + .                                                      13.6 + 45.5 + 32 + 3 + 2 + 32 + 1.5 + 0.1 + 200 + 1.5 + 2 + 7.5 + 40.7 + .       ..                                                     47 + 1.5 + 28 + 5 + 82.8 + 10 + 2 + 67 + 3.5 + 73.4 + 27.9 + 20 + 15 + 3 .                                                      + 12 + 15 + 0.8 + 2.7 + 2.7 + 211 + 7.5 + 5.8 + 5 + 0.6 + 10 + 20 + 6 + 7 .                                                      + 0.3 + 0.8 + 48 + 4.3 + 3 + 4.8 + 32.5 + 5.5 + 1.5 + 8 + 4.2 + 0.6 + 1.5 + .                                                      252.9 + 3 + 6.3 + 10 + 0.2 ) / 87

 

 

                                                      = 1883.1 / 87

 

                                                      = 21.6 K

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Men = ( 9.4 + 10 + 25.5 + 9 + 20 + 11.1 + 4.5 + 3 + 4 + 22.5 + 3.8 + 12 + 5 + 2,225 .                                                + 1.2 + 3 + 10.9 + 7.2 + 3.5 + 12 + 4 + 8 + 18 + 2 + 9.6 + 24.4 + 4.7 + 8 + .                 ..                                                3.5 + 10 + 15 + 40 + 36.9 + 1 + 9 + 4 + 40 + 4.5 + 10 + 2.5 + 5.2 + 6 + 2.1 .      ..                                               + 99 + 20 + 2.5 + 13.5 + 15 + 85.8 + 2.5 + 17 + 14.1 + 1.4 + 16 + 10 + 1.5 + .                                                 70 + 5 + 2 + 25 + 10 + 6.5 + 25 + 95 + 4.3 + 49 + 1.8 + 29.6 + 12.1 + 7.5 + .     ..                                                144.6 + 42.8 + 28.7 + 9.7 + 11 + 7 + 4 + 84.9 + 997.7 + 19.5 + 3 + 16.5 + ..           ..                                                1.5 + 9 + 1.5 + 3.5 + 7 + 183.8 + 9.2 + 9.5 + 34 + 8.2 + 19.5 + 15 + 10.5 + ..         ..                                                10 + 12 + 25 + 3.5 + 35 + 48 + 38 + 0.9 + 14 + 15 + 1.5 + 1.5 + 2.1 + 85 + 2 ..                                               + 1.8 + 10 + 36 + 23 + 5 + 4 + 15 + 15 + 2.3 + 12 .4 + 4.5 + 7 + 12 + 10.3 + …                                              10 + 6.6 + 45.9 + 10 + 20 + 14.5 + 8.5 + 5 + 1 + 2.1 + 6.9 + 2 + 15 + 3.4 + …                                              72 + 22 + 6.5 + 1.5 + 3.5 + 2.5 + 5 + 10 + 9 + 5.5 + 8 + 1.2 + 17.9 + 12.6 + ..                                                17.9 + 15 + 5.9 + 4.6 + 13.4 + 4.5 + 6.5 + 150 + 6.6 + 2.6 + 3.8 + 5.9 + ……                                          112.4 + 0.7 + 8.9 + 0.8 + 58.7 + 7.5 + 7.4 + 34.3 + 2.1 + 9.4 + 0.3 + 62 + ….                                              4.5 + 7.8 + 14.3 + 15 + 4.7 + 89.6 + 12.4 + 6 + 6 + 44.7 + 10 + 34 + 31.5 + ..                                                 0.7 + 6 + 3.1 + 103.4 + 8.7 + 12 + 31 + 33.8 + 3.5 + 35 + 1.3 + 75 + 6.5 + …                                               7.5 + 3.8 + 18 + 10.6 + 20 + 16 + 16.2 + 12 + 15.5 + 320 + 7.3 + 3 + 39.5 + ..                                                 3 + 31.4 + 8.5 + 3.5 + 8.5 + 5 + 8.5 + 3.8 + 4 + 1 + 10 + 49 + 0.5 + 5.7 + 4 …                                               + 22.5 + 5.8 + 6.4 + 50.7 + 5 + 3 + 75 + 10.8 + 117 + 60.9 + 7 + 6 + 2.3 + 2 ..                                                 + 20.6 + 5 + 15.8 + 3.3 + 48.6 + 8 + 90 + 12.8 + 4.3 + 15.7 + 4.7 + 3.5 + ….                                              15.7 + 4.5 + 8.5 + 7.4 + 30 + 4.1 + 36.4 + 6.4 ) / 264

 

                                                  = 8329.9 / 264

 

                                                   = 31.6 K

 

 

 

 

It can be concluded that on average females pay 31.6 % lower cost penalties than men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties in Divorce Actions

 

 

For the purposes of this portion of the study divorce actions mean fully contested divorces that culminated in a trial of the issues. Cases where the parties came to agreement and only minor deliberation of a single issue remained, have been excluded. Costs of previous interim hearings may be included in the total penalty. 82 cases where a male had to pay a females lawyers costs could be found, and there were 28 cases where a female had to pay for a males lawyer. The results are as follows

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Women = ( 10 + 32.5 + 8 + 252.9 + 10 + 12 + 8.5 + 22 + 89 + 9 + 60 + 13.6 + 45.5 + ….                                             32 + 200 + 40.7 + 7.5 + 49.6 + 82.8 + 27.5 + 67 + 54.6 + 15 + 211 ) / 28

 

                                               = 1287 / 28

 

                                                = 45.9 K

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Men = ( 9 + 20 + 4.5 + 22.5 + 12 + 2250 + 24.4 + 15 + 36.9 + 40 + 10 + 20 + 85.8 + …                                              70 + 25 + 77 + 95 + 49 + 29.6 + 7.5 + 144.6 + 42 + 28.7 + 9.7 + 11 + 84.9 + …                                              997 + 19.5 + 7 + 183.8 + 25 + 35 + 48 + 38 + 85 + 36 + 15 + 12 + 20.3 + …..                                            14.5 + 2 + 22 + 9 + 17.9 + 12.6 + 17.9 + 15 + 5.9 + 150 + 7.5 + 34.3 + 62 + ….                                             14.3 + 89.6 + 90 + 44.7 + 34 + 31.5 + 103 + 12 + 31 + 33.8 + 75 + 3.8 + ……                                          18.0 + 10.6 + 7.3 + 39.5 + 31.4 + 8.5 + 5 + 49 + 5.7 + 6.4 + 50.7 + 10.8 + …                                              75 + 20.6 + 5 + 3.3 + 48.6 + 8.5 + 30 + 34.6 ) / 82

 

                                              = 6290.8 / 82

 

                                               = 76.7 K

 

 

 

 

It can be concluded that on average females pay 40.2 % lower cost penalties on overall divorce actions than men

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties in Interim Motions

 

80 cases could be found that were clearly interim motion. In 53 men had to pay the costs of their spouses lawyer and in 27 women had to pay costs. The results are as follows.

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Women = (5.8 + 0.65 + 0.3 + 0.75 + 1.5 + 0.15 + 15 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 3 + 3.5 + 3 + 2 + …                                                  1.5+ 1.5 + 5.0 + 3.5 + 9.3 + 9.3 + 9.3 + 0.8 ) / 27

 

                                                    = 123.23 / 27

 

                                                     = 4.5 K

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Men = ( 3.8 + 1.2 + 3.5 + 12 2.5 + 5.5 + 4.7 + 3.5 + 5.2 + 6 + 2.1 + 93.4 + 15 + 2.5 …                                             + 1.4 + 5.3 + 5.3 + 5.3 + 5 + 2 + 1.8 + 7 + 3 + 1.5 + 9.2 + 1.5 + 2.1 + 2.0 + …                                              7.6 + 7.6 + 7.6 + 5 + 2.3 + 10 + 6.9 + 6.5 + 2.5 + 5.5 + 4.6 + 13.4 + 4.5 + ….                                             6.6 + 5.9 + 4.7 + 1.3 + 7.5 + 15.5 + 3 + 3 + 3.8 + 0.5 + 5 + 3 + 0.75 + 3 + ….                                             2.3 + 2.0 ) / 53

 

                                               = 361.75 / 53

 

                                               = 6.8 K

 

 

 

 

It can be concluded that on average females pay 33.8 % lower interim cost penalties than men

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties in Post Divorce Support Variations

 

 

53 cases could be found that were post divorce support variations. In 42 men had to pay the costs of their spouses lawyer and in 11 women had to pay costs. The results are as follows.

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Women = ( 5 + 4.8 + 5.5 + 3.5 + 4 + 2.5 + 9 + 16 + 32 + 6.4 + 5.1 ) / 11

 

                                                   = 93.8 / 11

 

                                                    = 8.5 K

 

 

 

 

Cost Penalties Against Men = ( 11.1 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 18 + 10 + 9.6 + 40 + 1 + 2.5 + 13.5 + 17 + 14.1 + 25 + …                                               9.5 + 8.2 + 12 + 12.4 + 7 + 6.6 + 45.9 + 15 + 72 + 1.5 + 3.5 + 8 + 3.8 + 7.4 …                                             + 0.25 + 15.0 + 12.4 + 6 +  0.75 + 3.1 + 8.7 + 6.5 + 4 + 5.8 + 4.3 + 15.7 + ….                                              4.1 + 6.4 ) / 42

 

                                               = 479.6 / 42

 

                                               = 11.4 K

 

 

 

 

It can be concluded that on average females pay 25.4 % lower cost penalties on post divorce support variations than men

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                      Representation

 

 

 

Analysis of representation omits cases of divided success and focuses on cases where the judge has made a decision who the won and who lost. In 5 cases where a male won the sex of his lawyer could not be determined. In 17 cases where a female won the sex of her lawyer could not be determined. Those cases have also been omitted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Cases

Male Lawyer

% Male Lawyer

Female Lawyer

% Female Lawyer

Self Represented

% Self Represented

Male Litigants

334

207

62.0

56

16.8

70

21.2

Female Litigants

334

192

57.5

125

37.4

16

5.1

 

 

 

 

Outcomes by Representation

 

 

 

 

 

Total Cases

Male Lawyer

% Male Lawyer

Female Lawyer

% Female Lawyer

Self Represented

% Self Represented

Male Wins

84

57

67.8

25

29.7

2

2.4

Male Losses

250

151

60.4

31

12.4

68

27.2

Female Wins

250

141

56.4

105

42.0

4

1.6

Female Losses

84

51

60.7

20

23.8

13

15.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male Representation

 

 

 

Total Cases

Wins

% Wins

Male Lawyer

207

57

27.5

Female Lawyer

56

25

44.6

 

 

 

It can be concluded that a male has a ( 44.6 – 27.5 ) 17.1 % greater chance of winning if he hires a female lawyer than if he hires a male lawyer for family actions in Superior Court

 

 

 

 

 

Female Representation

 

 

 

Total Cases

Wins

% Wins

Male Lawyer

192

141

73.4

Female Lawyer

125

105

84.0

 

 

It can be concluded that a female has a ( 84.0 – 73.4 ) 10.6 % greater chance of winning if she hires a female lawyer than if she hires a male lawyer for family actions in Superior Court

 

 

 

 

Self Represented Litigants

 

 

The database contained 87 cases where a litigant won or lost, which were contested by one or more self represented parties. The following table reproduces the results.

 

 

 

 

Total Cases

Wins

% Wins

Male Litigant

70

2

2.9

Female Litigant

17

4

23.5

Total

87

6

6.9

 

 

 

 

It can be concluded that self represented litigants have a 6.9 % chance of winning in Superior Court family actions. Female self represented parties are (23.5/2.9) 8.1 times more likely to win than males

 

 

 

 

 

 

Self Represented Litigants VS Lawyers

 

 

The data for self represented parties included 4 cases which had 2 self represented litigants. In these cases a self represented party necessarily had to be the winner. In 3 of the 4 cases a female litigant won, so female self represented parties won 3 to 1 compared to men.. To determine a self represented persons odds if opposed by a lawyer those cases must be omitted. The following table reproduces those results.

 

 

 

 

Total Cases

Wins

% Wins

Male Litigant

69

1

1.5

Female Litigant

14

1

7.1

Total

83

2

2.4

 

 

 

It can be concluded that self represented litigants have a 2.4 % chance of winning in Superior Court family actions when the opposing party is a lawyer Female self represented parties are (7.1/1.5) 4.7 times more likely to win than males

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                   Sex of the Judge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Male Judge

Female Judge

Male Wins

         61

          24

Female Wins

       171

          90

Divided Success

         29

          18

Total

       261

        133

 

 

 

 

 

Discrimination Index for a Male Judge = % Female Wins - % Male Wins

 

                                                                = (171/261 x 100) – (61/261 x 100)

 

                                                                = 65.5 – 23.4

 

                                                                 = 42.1 %

 

 

 

 

 

Discrimination Index for a Female Judge = % Female Wins - % Male Wins

 

                                                                   = (90/133 x 100) – ( 24/133 x 100)

 

                                                                    = 67.7 – 18.0

 

                                                                    = 49.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

It can be concluded that males are 7.6 % more likely to win when appearing before a male judge than if the case is heard by a female judge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                             Conclusions

 

 

 

Total Wins

Female Wins

% Female Wins

Male Wins

% Male Wins

Divided Success

% Divided Success

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 409

 264

  64.5

   87

   21.3

    58

   14.2

 

 

From 404 cases containing record of 409 cost penalties it can be concluded  women won  43.2 % more often than men

 

 

 

 

Average Cost Penalty

Divorce Action Cost Penalty

Interim Cost Penalty

Support Variation Cost Penalty

 

 

 

 

 

Male Litigant Wins

     21. 6 K

       45.9 K

        4.5 K

          8.5 K

Female Litigant Wins

     31.6 K

       76.7 K

        6.8 K

         11.4 K

 

 

From 404 cases containing record of 409 cost penalties it can be concluded  women pay 31.6 % lower cost penalties than men. The range varies for different actions from 25.4 % lower for support variations to 40.1 % lower for overall divorce awards.

 

 

 

 

Female With a Female Lawyer

Female with a Male Lawyer

Female Self Represented

 

 

 

 

Male with a Female Lawyer  % Wins

          21.4 

          53.3

          100.0

Male with a Male Lawyer  % Wins

          21.0

          27.6

             83.3

Male Self Represented  % Wins

           0.0

            2.6

             25.0

 

 

From a varying number of representation combinations in cases where one or the other litigant won, it can be seen that men have the highest odds when they have a female lawyer and the lowest odds when they are self represented. Women also have the highest odds when they have a female lawyer and the lowest odds self represented

 

 

 

 

Male Judge

Female Judge

 

 

 

Male % Wins

       23.4

        18.0

Female % Wins

       65.5

        67.7

Divided Success

        11.1

        14.3

Total

     100.0

      100.0

 

 

From 261 cases where a litigant appeared before a male judge it can be concluded women won 42.1 % more often than men. From 133 cases where a litigant appeared before a female judge, women won 49.7 % more often than men.

 

Appendix 1 Males Winning Cost Penalties

 

 

 

 

Winners sex

Lawyers sex

 

                  Case

Judges sex

    Judge

Costs

 

       Description and amount

 

m

F v m

 

Bourque v. Haney, 2003 CanLII 2068 (ON S.C.)

 

Blair

Full and partial

Husband wins interim motion to stop wife moving with children, asks 6.9 K gets 5.8 K

m

F v f

E

O'Connor v. O'Connor, 2007 CanLII 8930 (ON S.C.)

F

Blishen

Partial

Motion to vary support, husband claims 19.8 K and gets 5 K, wife claims 8.4 K

m

M v m

Ce

Costabile v. Costabile, 2004 CanLII 42935 (ON S.C.)

F

Boyko

Partial

Interim motion, $ 650 costs

m

F v f

E

Ladisa v. Ladisa, 2004 CanLII 15138 (ON S.C.)

F

DeSousa

Partial

Divorce action, wife claims 35 K costs, husband claims 28 K and gets 10 K

m

M v m

E

Marks v. Tokarewicz, 2003 CanLII 1995 (ON S.C.)

F

DeSousa

Partial

20K costs

m

M v f

E

Sloss v. Forget, 2005 CanLII 4843 (ON S.C.)

F

DeSousa

Partial

Motion for mobility and support, 6 K costs

m

F v m

E

Viertelhausen v. Burbridge, 2006 CanLII 11238 (ON S.C.)

F

DeSousa

Partial

Support trial, 7 K costs

m

M v f

Ce

Merkand v. Merkand, 2006 CanLII 33420 (ON S.C.)

F

Ferguson

Partial

Interim motion on access   variation, 0.3 K  costs

m

M v sr

T

Dagorne v. Cormack, 2007 CanLII 28223 (ON S.C.)

F

Herman

Partial

Interim motion, 0.75 K cost penalty, secomnd interim 0.75 cost penalty, wife hasn’t paid  first penalty

m

F v m

T

A.J.K. v. S.L.M., 2003 CanLII 2409 (ON S.C.)

F

Karakatsanis

Full

Wife gets 48 K cost penalty on custody access action.

m

F v m

T

Bespaly v. Bespaly, 2003 CanLII 2287 (ON S.C.)

F

Macdonald

Partial

Contempt motion for arrears, 4.25 K cost including 0.75 K for cost submissions

m

F v m

E

D.W. v. C.O, 2006 CanLII 16361 (ON S.C.)

F

Mackinnon