April 15, 2020 – When Does Time To Appeal Start To Run?

“In DMello v. Law Society of Upper Canada, 2013 ONSC 6857, Himel J. reviewed the general principles governing an extension of time, as well as the Byers decision that holds that the time to appeal runs from the date of judgment not the date costs are awarded, as follows:

[12]           The Byers decision sets out a detailed analysis of the effect of a costs judgment rendered after the rendering or release of the judgment on its merits.   Justice Borins noted that the two decisions are separate determinations and concluded at para. 16 that “…a decision on the merits is final for the purpose of appeal when it is rendered, notwithstanding the pendency of the determination of the costs attributable to the case.”  He disagreed with counsel’s position that the release of the trial judge’s costs decision in effect extended the time for serving the appellant’s notice of appeal from the merits judgment to thirty days following that date.  Following a historical review of the jurisprudence, he determined that a judgment on the merits is final and appealable when it finally disposes of the proceeding, that the time for appealing runs from the date that the judgment is pronounced and that the awarding of costs does not have the effect of extending the time for filing an appeal.”

         Siddiqui v. Franchetto, 2016 ONSC 2499 (CanLII) at 4