BC Supreme Court orders father to pay fines for continuous breaches of conduct and parenting orders

The BC Supreme Court has ordered the father to pay $200,000 in fines for his continuous breaches of conduct and parenting orders, alongside special costs due to his litigation conduct in a family matter.

The case, marked by a series of non-compliances by the father, stemmed from a long-standing dispute following the couple’s separation in March 2019. Despite multiple court orders to regulate the father’s behaviour and interactions with his children and the mother, breaches continued unabated.

The court noted that the father has little regard for the court process and has used the couple's children to further complicate the litigation. During this hearing, the father said that he had come to realize that his actions had caused the children to harm, although, upon the court’s questioning, it was unclear what actions he was taking ownership of. The court noted that the father “seems to be blaming the court orders for causing him stress and anxiety.”

The BC Supreme Court concluded that the father’s actions defy court orders and significantly harm the children involved, warranting severe penalties to curb further non-compliance.  In 2021, the father was previously fined $10,000 for denying the mother parenting time and for breaches of conduct orders. However, these fines failed to deter the father from future violations. This led to the current ruling where he must now pay $100,000 for continuous breaches of conduct orders and another $100,000 for breaching parenting orders.

Adding to the financial penalties, the court also awarded special costs against the father, emphasizing that his reprehensible actions in the litigation process necessitate punitive measures. He has continually breached virtually every court order made in this litigation. He was warned in November 2021. That warning went unheeded, as he continued to breach with abandon. It was clear to the court that the father had no respect for the court or its orders.  The special costs awarded by the court include costs for the application and all matters necessary to ensure compliance with the court's orders, reflecting the court's low tolerance for misuse of its process and disregard for its orders.