·  Case Background:

• Brandon King's application for repayment based on unjust enrichment was dismissed in a previous decision (2023 NSSC 160), with costs to be paid to Andrew and Cynthia Raftus.
• The Raftuses sought solicitor-client costs, claiming King’s conduct was inappropriate, including allegations of intimidation and unreasonable litigation behavior.

·  Legal Standards for Costs:

• The court typically awards costs to cover a substantial part of a party's legal fees, usually between 50% and 100%.
• Solicitor-client costs are only awarded in "rare and exceptional circumstances," typically to punish reprehensible conduct.

·  Court’s Decision:

• The court did not find King's conduct sufficiently egregious to warrant solicitor-client costs.
• However, King's actions did increase the complexity and cost of the proceedings, justifying an increase in the basic tariff costs.

·  Costs Awarded:

• The court awarded costs based on the basic tariff (Scale 2), which was $16,750.
• Additional amounts were awarded: $4,000 for the two-day hearing and $4,000 to account for King's conduct during litigation.
• Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and disbursements were included, bringing the total costs awarded to $35,406.33.

·  Conclusion:

• The costs awarded aimed to ensure fairness between the parties, reflecting both the procedural costs and the added burdens caused by King's conduct.