Adaptable lawyers will thrive in an AI world, judge says – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted October 23rd, 2023 in artificial intelligence, costs, news, solicitors by tracey

‘Costs lawyers will still have work to do in an AI-dominated world – but they must be willing to retrain and adapt to take advantage of the opportunities available.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th October 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

A new intermediate track– All change for the civil procedure rules – Becket Chambers

Posted October 19th, 2023 in case management, chambers articles, civil procedure rules, costs, news by sally

‘You can never have too many tracks, said no one ever. Apart from Sir Rupert Jackson who recommended that the small, fast and multi-track should be (and is from the 1st of October 2023), augmented to include a new intermediate track.’

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Becket Chambers, 29th September 2023

Source: becket-chambers.co.uk

The Building Safety Act 2022 – Remediation Contribution Orders and Cost Recovery – Falcon Chambers

‘One of the things that may be surprising about remediation orders and remediation contribution orders, both potentially expensive pieces of litigation that leaseholders may be forced to pursue, is that the FtT’s jurisdiction on costs is the “no costs” jurisdiction under rule 13 of its Rules. Costs (beyond payment of application fees) can only be awarded by the FtT if a party has behaved unreasonably, a high threshold, or for wasted costs (likewise). Although the Building Safety Act 2022 did not expressly say that the FtT was to have this no costs jurisdiction (rather than its costs jurisdictions for example in relation to its Land Registration or telecoms), amendments to the Rules from 1 November 2022 make express which jurisdictions can have real cost implications. The new Building Safety Act jurisdictions are not included.’

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Falcon Chambers, 18th September 2023

Source: www.falcon-chambers.com

Appeals from personal welfare decisions – the Court of Appeal allocates the costs – Mental Capacity Law and Policy

Posted October 17th, 2023 in appeals, consent, costs, Court of Protection, elderly, medical treatment, news by sally

‘In Re VA (Medical Treatment) [2023] EWCA Civ 1190, the Court of Appeal considered an appeal by a litigant in person (on her behalf, and on behalf of other family members) from a decision[1] of Hayden J relating to her mother, a 78 year old woman identified as VA. Hayden J had declared that VA lacked capacity to conduct proceedings or consent to medical treatment including extubation and associated treatment and care. The order further provided that, pursuant to s.16 MCA 2005, it was in VA’s best interests, and the court consented on her behalf, to undergo extubation and the provision of palliative care in accordance with a care and treatment plan prepared by the treating team at the hospital where she was being looked after. The order was made some seven weeks after Morgan J endorsed a consent order that a tracheostomy and insertion of a PEG was in VA’s best interests, but in circumstances where very shortly afterwards the woman’s daughter, VK, sought to challenge the position.’

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Mental Capacity Law and Policy, 15th October 2023

Source: www.mentalcapacitylawandpolicy.org.uk

Rule committee warned government over clin neg fixed fee timetable – Legal Futures

Posted October 12th, 2023 in civil procedure rules, costs, fees, hospitals, negligence, news by sally

‘The Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC) warned the government in July about the difficulty of meeting the timetable for the new regime of fixed costs in low-value clinical negligence cases, it has emerged.’

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Legal Futures, 12th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Sanctioned company has “right to access courts”, appeal judges rule – Legal Futures

Posted October 10th, 2023 in brexit, costs, freezing injunctions, news, Russia, sanctions, stay of proceedings by sally

‘The Court of Appeal has rejected a Russian tycoon’s bid to stay an $850m claim brought against him by two Russian banks, despite one of them being sanctioned, citing the right to access the courts.’

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Legal Futures, 9th October 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

I was innocent – but it cost me £500,000 to prove it – BBC News

‘Each year, thousands of people in England and Wales are accused of crimes for which they are later acquitted. While their names may be cleared, they are often left emotionally and financially devastated – as Brian Buckle, who was wrongfully convicted of sexually abusing a child, discovered first-hand.’

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BBC News, 6th October 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Labour seeking to delay antisemitism leak lawsuit until after election – The Guardian

‘Labour is seeking to delay until after the general election a court case against five former staff alleging they leaked a report concerned with the party’s handling of antisemitism complaints, as its costs were said to have apparently soared to £1.4m.’

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The Guardian, 6th October 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Cladding remediation and related costs recovery – a new case in the FTT: St John Street Property Services Ltd v Riverside Group Ltd – Tanfield Chambers

‘Robert Bowker and Jeremy Weaver, an associate director at Bradys Solicitors analyse the recent case of St John Street Property Services Group v Riverside Group Ltd.’

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Tanfield Chambers, 11th September 2023

Source: www.tanfieldchambers.co.uk

Inquests and the Fixed Recoverable Costs Reforms: To Be Or Not To Be? – Parklane Plowden Chambers

Posted October 4th, 2023 in chambers articles, costs, inquests, news by sally

‘Access to representation in the inquest process in relation to costs recoverability presently hangs in the balance as the final government proposals following the July MoJ consultation on Fixed Recoverable Costs (FRC) are awaited. Amongst other issues, the recoverability of inquest costs in Fatal Accident Act cases is part of the FRC consultation.’

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Parklane Plowden Chambers, 27th September 2023

Source: www.parklaneplowden.co.uk

Local authority challenges Tribunal costs awards decision following specialist school legal battle – Local Government Lawyer

‘East Sussex County Council has submitted a request for permission to appeal a decision ordering it to pay school fees costs to the family of a young autistic boy.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 29th September 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Experts hit out at 20-page limit on reports in intermediate track – Legal Futures

Posted September 29th, 2023 in civil procedure rules, costs, expert witnesses, limitations, news by tracey

‘Expert witnesses have made a last-minute call to scrap the rule in the new intermediate track for civil claims that limits their reports to 20 pages.’

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Legal Futures, 29th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Anonymous litigant barred from bitcoin costs challenge – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 21st, 2023 in anonymity, costs, cryptocurrencies, news by sally

‘The absence of a specific procedure rule requiring a paying party’s name and address in costs assessment proceedings does not permit the party to conceal their identity from the court, an appeal judge has ruled.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 20th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Counsel’s fees to be excluded from clin neg fixed fees regime – Legal Futures

Fees for counsel’s advice in lower-value clinical negligence cases will not be recoverable under the fixed recoverable cost (FRC) regime unless a child or protected party is involved, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has proposed.

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Legal Futures, 20th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

When could issuing a claim form involve an abuse of process? – Mills & Reeve

Posted September 20th, 2023 in abuse of process, chambers articles, civil procedure rules, costs, news by sally

‘A party to litigation can act in abuse of process in many different circumstances. Abusing the process of the court can lead to the striking out of a claim or defence, or to other less draconian sanctions. In this article, we consider when a claimant could be found to have acted in abuse of process shortly before and when issuing proceedings.’

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Mills & Reeve, 19th September 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Claimant representatives furious at clinical negligence reform – Legal Futures

‘Claimant representatives have reacted angrily to the government’s decision to press ahead with fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence cases that settle pre-issue for less than £25,000.’

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Legal Futures, 18th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Clients ordered to pay costs assigned by firm to non-lawyer – Legal Futures

Posted September 15th, 2023 in appeals, assignment, costs, fees, law firms, news, solicitors by tracey

‘A law firm’s former clients have lost their appeal against a decision that they owe outstanding fees to the non-lawyer who took assignment of their retainers.’

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Legal Futures, 15th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Insolvent insurer’s policyholders fail in claim over unpaid legal costs – Legal Futures

Posted September 14th, 2023 in compensation, costs, insolvency, insurance, news by tracey

‘The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) does not have to compensate policyholders for the legal costs they were awarded after taking legal action against an insurer that became insolvent before paying them, the Court of Appeal has ruled.’

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Legal Futures, 14th September 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Judges criticise Mastercard fees of 70% above guideline rates – Law Society’s Gazette

Posted September 14th, 2023 in class actions, competition, costs, fees, news, solicitors, tribunals by tracey

‘Judges in the Competition Appeal Tribunal have taken a scythe to costs claims where solicitors were charging as much as 70% above the guideline hourly rate in a high profile group action.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 12th September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

ClientEarth to face costs bill in directors’ liability case – Law Society’s Gazette

‘Campaigning law charity ClientEarth will have to foot its opponent’s costs in its failed attempt to hold directors of Shell personally responsible for the oil company’s environmental policies, the judge in the case has ordered. In ClientEarth v Shell plc & Ors, The Honourable Mr Justice Trower rejected an attempt under the civil procedure rules to claim a derogation from the ‘unsuccessful party pays’ principle.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 1st September 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk