Document Disclosure Photocopy Expenses Ordered at $0.30 Per Page
Rules 7-1(16) and (17) deal with producing relevant documents to opposing litigants and costs associated with doing so. Reasons for judgement were released last week by the BC Supreme Court, Vancouver Registry, dealing with the rate of reasonable photocopy charges.
In last week’s case (Perone v. Baron) the Plaintiff was involved in a motor vehicle collision. In the course of his lawsuit ICBC requested copies of relevant documents agreeing to pay $.30 per page for photocopy expenses. The Plaintiff agreed to produce the documents but insisted that $.35 should be paid per page. The difference was ultimately resolved via Court Application with Master McDiarmid providing the following reasons:
33] I accept what Esson J.A. wrote, namely that photocopying charges under Rule 7(1)(16) are more closely akin to what would be allowed in a solicitor-client costs review. I also note, though, that at the time Giulianiwas decided, just over 14 years ago, the registrar’s rate was only 60% of what it is now.
[34] After reviewing the facts before me and the law presented to me, I consider that the rate of 30¢ per page is appropriate. I order the production of the documents by the respondent on the terms sought. Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the application are granted.