Yan v. Hutchinson
The court awarded partial indemnity costs to the two respondent groups because the requested amounts were reasonable, and awarded substantial indemnity costs equal to 80% of full indemnity to Marrocco because the plaintiff's allegations against him were frivolous, vexatious, and unjustifiably impugned his...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- 2024 ONCA 158
- Parties
- Appellant: Nathalie Xian Yi Yan; Respondent: Greg Hutchinson; Respondent: Shanna Christine Yee; Respondent: Rebecca Catherine Durcan; Respondent: Erica Richler; Respondent: Maya Pearlston; Respondent: Robin Kenneth McKechney; Respondent: Edward Lawrence Marrocco
- Court
- Court of Appeal for Ontario
- Jurisdiction
- Canada
- Judgment Date
- 26 February 2024
- Procedural Posture
- Civil / Appeal Costs Endorsement
- Outcome
- Costs awarded to respondents: partial indemnity to Hutchinson and Yee ($6,913.59) and to Durcan, Richler, Pearlston and McKechney ($12,341.09); substantial indemnity (80% of full) to Marrocco ($6,100). Awards inclusive of fees, disbursements and taxes and payable forthwith to counsel.
- Legal Topics
- Costs Award, Partial Indemnity, Substantial Indemnity, Frivolous and Vexatious Claim, Allegations of Professional Misconduct
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
Nathalie Xian Yi Yan
Appellant
Greg Hutchinson
Respondent
Shanna Christine Yee
Respondent
Rebecca Catherine Durcan
Respondent
Erica Richler
Respondent
Maya Pearlston
Respondent
Robin Kenneth McKechney
Respondent
Edward Lawrence Marrocco
Respondent
Procedural Posture
Civil / Appeal Costs Endorsement
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether partial indemnity costs should be awarded to respondent groups
- 2 Whether full or substantial indemnity costs are warranted against the plaintiff for a frivolous or vexatious claim
- 3 Quantification of substantial indemnity as a percentage of full indemnity
Ratio Decidendi
The court awarded partial indemnity costs to the two respondent groups because the requested amounts were reasonable, and awarded substantial indemnity costs equal to 80% of full indemnity to Marrocco because the plaintiff's allegations against him were frivolous, vexatious, and unjustifiably impugned his professional integrity; the awards are payable forthwith.
Court Disposition
Costs awarded to respondents: partial indemnity to Hutchinson and Yee ($6,913.59) and to Durcan, Richler, Pearlston and McKechney ($12,341.09); substantial indemnity (80% of full) to Marrocco ($6,100). Awards inclusive of fees, disbursements and taxes and payable forthwith to counsel.
Orders
- Award partial indemnity costs of $6,913.59 to Greg Hutchinson and Shanna Christine Yee payable forthwith.
- Award partial indemnity costs of $12,341.09 to Rebecca Durcan, Erica Richler, Maya Pearlston and Robin Kenneth McKechney payable forthwith.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
1 paragraphs
Yan v. Hutchinson Collection Decisions of the Court of Appeal Date 2024-02-26 Neutral citation 2024 ONCA 158 Docket numbers C70018, C70059, C70120 Judges Feldman, Kathryn N.; Lauwers, Peter D.; Roberts, Lois B. Subject Civil Decision Content COURT OF APPEAL FOR ONTARIO CITATION: Yan v. Hutchinson, 2024 ONCA 158 DATE: 20240226 DOCKET: C70018, C70059 & C70120 Feldman, Lauwers and Roberts JJ.A. DOCKET: C70018 BETWEEN Nathalie Xian Yi Yan Plaintiff (Appellant) and Greg Hutchinson and Shanna Christine Yee Defendants (Respondents) DOCKET: C70059 AND BETWEEN Nathalie Xian Yi Yan Plaintiff (Appellant) and Rebecca Catherine Durcan, Erica Richler, Maya Pearlston and Robin Kenneth McKechney Defendants (Respondents) DOCKET: C70120 AND BETWEEN Nathalie Xian Yi Yan Plaintiff (Appellant) and Edward Lawrence Marrocco Defendant (Respondent) Nathalie Xian Yan, acting in person Andrea LeDrew and Christian Breukelman, for the respondents, Greg Hutchinson and Shanna Christine Yee Gillian Hnatiw and Laura Snowdon, for the respondents, Rebecca Catherine Durcan, Maya Pearlston, Erica Richler and Robin Kenneth McKechney Ian Sinke, for the respondent, Edward Lawrence Marrocco Heard: January 19, 2023 On appeal from the order and costs award of Justice Paul R. Sweeny of the Superior Court of Justice dated October 19, 2021, with reasons reported at 2021 ONSC 6957. On appeal from the order and costs award of Justice Paul R. Sweeny of the Superior Court of Justice dated October 19, 2021, with reasons reported at 2021 ONSC 6953. On appeal from the order and costs award of Justice Paul R. Sweeny of the Superior Court of Justice dated October 12, 2021, with reasons reported at 2021 ONSC 6791. COSTS ENDORSEMENT [1] The decision in this case was reported at 2023 ONCA 97. This endorsement addresses costs. The respondents Greg Hutchinson and Shanna Christine Yee request partial indemnity costs in their matter, and the respondents Rebecca Durcan, Erica Richler, Maya Pearlston, and Robin McKechney request partial indemnity costs in their matter. The respondent Edward Lawrence Marrocco seeks full indemnity costs. [2] We award partial indemnity costs to Greg Hutchinson and Shanna Christine Yee in the amount of $6,913.59, as requested; the amount is reasonable. We award partial indemnity costs to Rebecca Durcan, Erica Richler, Maya Pearlston, and Robin McKechney in the requested amount of $12,341.09; the amount is reasonable. [3] Mr. Marrocco seeks full indemnity costs in the amount of $7,766.49 on the following basis: The Plaintiff’s action against Marrocco is frivolous, vexatious, and does not disclose a reasonable cause of action. The Plaintiff made unproven allegations of misconduct that impugn the integrity of a lawyer and which were seriously prejudicial to the character and reputation of the Defendant. Unsubstantiated allegations of dishonesty, illegality and conspiracy were advanced without merit. [4] We agree that such allegations warrant substantial indemnity costs. We estimate substantial indemnity costs at 80% of full indemnity costs, and we fix the costs award to Mr. Marrocco on a substantial indemnity basis at $6,100. [5] The costs awards are all-inclusive of fees, disbursements, and taxes. Ms. Yan shall pay these costs awards forthwith to counsel for the parties. “K. Feldman J.A.” “P. Lauwers J.A.” “L.B. Roberts J.A.”