Verret v. N.B.,

• Jurisdiction: New Brunswick
• Judge: LaVigne, J.
• Neutral Citation: 2012 NBQB 80
• Court: Court of Queen's Bench of New Brunswick (Canada)
• Citation: 2012 NBQB 80,(2012), 384 N.B.R.(2d) 271 (TD)
• Date: 22 December 2011

Verret v. N.B. (2012), 384 N.B.R.(2d) 271 (TD);

    384 R.N.-B.(2e) 271; 995 A.P.R. 271

MLB headnote and full text

Sommaire et texte intégral

[French language version only]

[Version en langue française seulement]

.........................

Temp. Cite: [2012] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. MR.029

Renvoi temp.: [2012] N.B.R.(2d) TBEd. MR.029

Normand Verret (requérant) v. Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Nouveau-Brunswick, Représentée Par le Ministère des Transports (intimée)

(E/M/6/04; 2012 NBBR 80; 2012 NBQB 80)

Indexed As: Verret v. New Brunswick (Minister of Transportation)

Répertorié: Verret v. New Brunswick (Minister of Transportation)

New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench

Trial Division

Judicial District of Edmundston

LaVigne, J.

March 5, 2012.

Summary:

Résumé:

In February 2003, the New Brunswick (NB) provincial government expropriated a lot of land (7.168 acres) owned by Verret. NB offered compensation of $6,400. Verret asked for compensation of $121,000. The parties negotiated. Verret's first lawyer (Ouellette) was named a judge. Verret hired a second lawyer (Choukri). Finally, after two failed attempts, the parties reached a settlement, wherein NB paid compensation of $91,279.54. Verret sought costs (legal fees, before and after the settlement, and cost of the appraisal) of $109,102.19.

The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, ordered total costs of $90,595.44.

Expropriation - Topic 2330

Practice and procedure - Costs - Reasonable costs - In February 2003, the New Brunswick (NB) provincial government expropriated a lot of land (7.168 acres) owned by Verret - NB offered compensation of $6,400 - Verret asked for compensation of $121,000 - The parties negotiated - Finally, after two failed attempts, the parties reached a settlement, wherein NB paid compensation of $91,279.54 - Verret sought costs of the appraisal at $19,393.46 - This included the appraisal and the appraiser's appearance at examination for discovery - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, allowed the costs as requested - The costs of appraisal were reasonable - Given the history between the parties, it was reasonable for Verret to retain the services of a well-known, competent appraiser to conduct the appraisal - See paragraphs 74 to 81.

Expropriation - Topic 2330

Practice and procedure - Costs - Reasonable costs - In February 2003, the New Brunswick (NB) provincial government expropriated a lot of land (7.168 acres) owned by Verret - NB offered compensation of $6,400 - Verret asked for compensation of $121,000 - The parties negotiated - Verret's first lawyer (Ouellette) was named a judge - Verret hired a second lawyer (Choukri) - Finally, after two failed attempts, the parties reached a settlement, wherein NB paid compensation of $91,279.54 - Verret sought his legal fees as follows: for Ouellette, $35,517.29; for Choukri before the settlement, $35,510.87; and for Choukri after the settlement, $18,680.57 for a total of $89,708.73 - The New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, ordered NB to pay Verret legal fees of $71,201.98 - The court found that the billed hours were excessive and made adjustments - See paragraphs 82 to 104.

Expropriation - Topic 2336

Practice and procedure - Costs - Cost of appraisal - [See first Expropriation - Topic 2330 ].

Expropriation - Cote 2330

Procédure - Dépens - Dépens raisonnables - [Voir Expropriation - Topic 2330 ].

Expropriation - Cote 2336

Procédure - Dépens - Frais d'évaluation - [Voir Expropriation - Topic 2336 ].

Cases Noticed:

Rankin et al. v. New Brunswick (2007), 320 N.B.R.(2d) 347; 825 A.P.R. 347 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 30].

Chown Enterprises Ltd. v. New Brunswick, [2007] N.B.J. No. 499 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 31].

Gardiner Properties Ltd. v. New Brunswick (2008), 340 N.B.R.(2d) 88; 871 A.P.R. 88; 2008 NBQB 355, refd to. [para. 32].

McLeod v. New Brunswick, [2000] N.B.R.(2d) (Supp.) No. 112 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 38].

Verret v. Minister of Transportation (1982), 46 N.B.R.(2d) 21; 121 A.P.R. 21 (P.C. Bd.), affd. (1983), 47 N.B.R.(2d) 48; 124 A.P.R. 48 (C.A.), refd to. [paras. 60, 61].

Jamer (R.B.) & Sons Ltd. v. New Brunswick (Minister of Transportation) (2009), 351 N.B.R.(2d) 193; 904 A.P.R. 193 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 99].

Higgins v. New Brunswick, [2006] N.B.J. No. 70 (T.D.), refd to. [para. 100].

McAllister v. Cleary (1999), 213 N.B.R.(2d) 156; 545 A.P.R. 156 (CA), refd to. [para. 103].

Authors and Works Noticed:

Todd, Eric C.E., The Law of Expropriation and Compensation in Canada (2nd Ed. 1992), pp. 524 [para. 33]; 525 [paras. 71, 93].

Counsel:

Avocats:

Yassin Choukri, Q.C., for the applicant;

Pierre R. Ouellette, for the respondent.

This case was heard on October 21 and December 22, 2011, by LaVigne, J., of the New Brunswick Court of Queen's Bench, Trial Division, Judicial District of Edmundston, who delivered the following judgment on March 5, 2012.