Belcourt v. Stevenson Doell Law Corp.

Belcourt v. Stevenson Doell Law Corp.

The accounts were reduced because the matter was legally straightforward and did not justify the full premium time charges; although the lawyer's entries were for her time, the level of service and lack of completed result warranted a reduction of the billed amount to $7,500.00; client awarded costs of the review at Scale B.

Citation
2009 BCSC 828
Parties
Client: Corry Paul Belcourt; Solicitor: Stevenson Doell Law Corp.
Court
Supreme Court of British Columbia
Jurisdiction
Canada
Judgment Date
22 June 2009
Procedural Posture
Bill Review Under Legal Profession Act / Review Hearing Reasons for Judgment
Outcome
Accounts reduced and allowed at $7,500.00; costs awarded to client for the review hearing at Scale B.
Legal Topics
Child Support Variation, Bill Assessment, Retainer Agreement, Billing of Legal Assistants, Fee Reasonableness, Scale B Costs
Source Language
English
Family Law Legal Profession Costs and Bills Review Child Support Variation Bill Assessment Retainer Agreement Billing of Legal Assistants Fee Reasonableness +1 more

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Parties

Corry Paul Belcourt

Client

Stevenson Doell Law Corp.

Solicitor

Procedural Posture

Bill Review Under Legal Profession Act / Review Hearing Reasons for Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the lawyer billed the client for work performed by a legal assistant
  2. 2 Whether the fees charged were reasonable having regard to LPA s.71(4) factors
  3. 3 Whether the work was completed and the appropriate reduction to the accounts

Ratio Decidendi

The accounts were reduced because the matter was legally straightforward and did not justify the full premium time charges; although the lawyer's entries were for her time, the level of service and lack of completed result warranted a reduction of the billed amount to $7,500.00; client awarded costs of the review at Scale B.

Court Disposition

Accounts reduced and allowed at $7,500.00; costs awarded to client for the review hearing at Scale B.

Orders

  • Accounts allowed in total at $7,500.00.
  • Client is entitled to costs of the review hearing at Scale B.