Practice Direction: Representatives' Fees and Costs

Download a copy in pdf format.

1.0 This Practice Direction:

• discusses the meaning of the word “costs”
• explains that the Tribunal has no authority to award legal costs.

2.0 Costs

• 2.1 Costs means the money a party spends on a lawyer or a representative to prepare and attend a Tribunal hearing, including charges for expenses such as photocopying.

3.0 No Authority to Award Legal Costs

• 3.1 Parties who retain a representative, whether a lawyer or consultant, are responsible for paying the fees and expenses of that representative.
• 3.2 The Tribunal has no authority to award costs against another party under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act. See: Decision Nos. 99/91 A, 927/89, 1058/00.
• 3.3 The Tribunal may refund certain expenses related to a worker’s attendance at a hearing. See Practice Direction: Fees and Expenses on the Tribunal’s website for more information.