Costs round-up #10
Welcome to a round-up of the best costs-related news and posts published this week.
It’s been busy week for John M Hayes’ Free Legal Aid seminars. We had a fabulous reception in Birmingham and the road show now moves North to Chesterfield on Monday (23rd March). The Legal Aid Agency’s costs guidance has changed drastically over recent years – the seminars will keep you updated and informed with particular reference to CCMS and the key costs issues you need to be aware of when using the client and costs management system (mandatory for all firms October 2015). Book your place here. The Legal Aid Agency has also published its own set of CCMS handy tips as it approaches 1000 users.
This week also saw the launch of the Legal Aid Practitioner’s Group (LAPG) manifesto which calls for immediate changes to be made to the legal aid system to improve access to justice for vulnerable groups. The Manifesto proposes a series of changes that would alleviate the worst of the effects on our most vulnerable groups, changes which could be implemented swiftly by the next Government and at “little significant cost to the public purse”.
Other industry news finds insurers knuckles rapped over their attempt to re-classify noise induced hearing loss claims (NIHL) as an injury rather than a disease, in a bid to reduce the level of pre-Jackson success fees Defendants would have to pay. Litigation Futures gives a succinct summary of Dalton & Ors v British Telecommunications Plc [2015] EWHC 616 (QB) here and you can read more from Andrew Hogan Barrister, Barrister for the Defendants at NIHL and success fees including his detailed briefing notes. This is unlikely to be the end of the matter. Permission to appeal is being sought.
Laura Meyrick, costs draftsman also presents a budgeting lesson learnt a post on Coulson J and the case of CIP Properties (AIPT) Ltd v Galliford Try Infrastructure Ltd & Ors which provides further guidance on the implementation of Costs Management Rules. The most recent instalment highlights the importance of producing a reliable and accurate Costs Budget.
If you have a blog on costs related matters and would like to submit your post to the round-up, e-mail: Ilkley@johnmhayes.co.uk
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