Background:
The dispute began in the late 1990s between Walter L.M. Speckling and the unions of which he was a member. The case had a long and complex litigation history, involving numerous proceedings before the Labour Relations Board and the courts. In a previous decision (2023 BCSC 1446), the court dismissed the plaintiff’s claims against the defendants and allowed the defendants to apply for costs to be fixed in a lump sum.

Legal Arguments/Issues:
The defendants requested that the court fix costs and disbursements in a lump sum under Rule 14-1(15) of the Supreme Court Civil Rules, arguing that the case's complexity justified this approach. The plaintiff opposed any cost awards to the defendants, alleging judicial bias, although this claim had been dismissed earlier. He did not dispute the court’s ability to fix costs.

Court's Analysis:
The court determined that, given the case's extensive history and the plaintiff’s conduct, it was appropriate to fix costs in a lump sum. Local 76 was identified as the lead defendant, and the court noted the significant number of applications (over 65) filed in the case.

Costs Award:
The total amount of costs awarded by the court to the successful parties, Local 76 of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers' Union of Canada and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers' Union of Canada, was $93,000. This consisted of $53,000 awarded to Local 76 and $40,000 awarded to the National Union for costs and disbursements.