SCCO guideline rates not helpful in 2019

Anna Lockyer   Ohpen Operations Ltd v Invesco Fund Managers Ltd O’Farrell J described the lack of change to hourly rates since 2010 as “unsatisfactory” when summarily assessing costs in an application in the case of Ohpen Operations Ltd v Invesco Fund Managers Ltd [2019] EWHC 2504 (TCC). An increase to Senior Courts Costs Office…

Proportionality is not just about money

Vicky Morris   Fullick & Ors v The Commissionaire of Police for the Metropolis The recent case of Fullick & Ors v The Commissionaire of Police for the Metropolis [2019] EWHC 1941 (QB) deals specifically with the question of recoverability of the costs of attending an inquest in successful cases following the Claimant’s death.The recoverability…

Misconduct and Costs Management

Jodi Booth   MXX v United Lincolnshire NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 1624 (QB) (27 June 2019) The recent case of MXX v United Lincolnshire NHS Trust [2019] EWHC 1624 (QB) (27 June 2019) has identified further circumstances when good reason might be found to depart from a previously approved costs budget. It is common knowledge…

Do fixed costs apply to the defendant?

Jack Andrew   Woodward -v- Hyder The above heading represents an interesting question sometimes asked by clients. If a fixed costs case is unsuccessful from a Claimant’s perspective, is the Defendant entitled to costs on an hourly rate basis or are they fixed?   Woodward -v- Hyder Well, the recent Court of Appeal decision in…

Appealing a costs budgeting decision

Kathryn Regan   Gray -v- Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis Costs budgeting has been around for over six years now, but appeal decisions on the allowances made by Judges during this process are few and far between. A recent case of Gray -v- Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis dealt with the extent to…