Costs Round Up #52
The 5-Minute read that enlightens, brightens and informs on the week in legal costs.
This week, we find amended costs management rules in force from 6th April 2016.
Gordon Exall, Barrister reports on Murray v BAE Systems PLC [Liverpool County Court] where His Honour Judge Peter Gregory allowed an appeal against a decision to confine a Claimant’s costs budget to court fees following late service of the costs budget. Follow the link for a copy of the case in full.
Litigation Futures reports on a decision from earlier this year which has allegedly left insurance lawyers delighted by the prospect of recovering “at least £10m” in portal fees from the aptly named “£400 club”. Will this affect you? Find out more here.
In a quiet week for legal costs news, we found time for reflections on the “Jackson reforms: counting the costs” now we are three years on and can heartily recommend Rachel Rothwell’s article in the Law Society Gazette.
We also recommend a second article: “A Make – believe World” by Charles Auld & Kate Harrington writing on costs budgets in the New Law Journal which they claim simply do not work.
The Guardian published a letter of support for review of the LASPO Act from Lord McNally. In his letter he states with not a hint of irony that “we can all agree that nobody should be denied access to justice”. He was later thanked on twitter for his comments. Check out this earlier letter from 15 interested prominent individuals and groups (from the LAPG to Resolution and beyond) highlighting the need for a review of the Act that has “denied justice to the most vulnerable.” How vulnerable? This report from the Citizens Advice Bureau makes this abundantly clear.
And here at John M Hayes we are delighted to report a successful office move for the whole team at Newcastle to historic Pink Lane and expansion for the Norwich office. Newcastle’s Regional Manager Michael Fitzpatrick also runs the Sheffield half marathon on Sunday-providing the water supplies hold!
Preparations continue apace for the annual whole Company Conference on Wednesday and there’s still time to donate to Kenny Shealey’s “just giving page” for his forthcoming run in the Brighton marathon on 17th April for the Make-a-Wish foundation.
Good luck to you both
Until next week
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