Transcripts of Supreme Court Costs Office Decisions as at 15 June 2009
New entries published on 15 June 2009
Transcripts dated 2004 and earlier
ATE Insurance
Formality requirements
Richards v Davis (November 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Premiums
Wooldridge v Hayes (February 2005 : Master O'Hare)
RSA Pursuit Test Cases (May 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Tyndall v Battersea Dogs Home (September 2005 : Master Wright)
Able UK Ltd v Reliance Security Services Ltd [2006]EWHC 90058 (Costs) (March 2006 : Master Wright)
Winmill v Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council [2007] EWHC 90092 (Costs) (November 2007 : Master Rogers)
Smith v Interlink Express Parcels Ltd [2007] EWHC 90095 (Costs) (July 2007: Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Burgess v J Breheny Contracts Ltd [2009] EWHC 90131 (Costs) (January 2009 : Master Haworth)
Champerty and maintenance
CFA with an indemnity as to opponents' costs if case is lost
Dix v Townend & Anor [2008] EWHC 90117 (Costs) (June 2008 : Deputy Master Williams)
Conditional Fee Agreements
Assignment of agreement
Jenkins v Young Brothers Transport Ltd (June 2005 : Master Campbell)
Formality requirements
Samonini v London General Transport Services Ltd (January 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Myatt v National Coal Board (August 2005 : Master Wright; upheld on appeal, see [2006] EWCA Civ 1017)
Oyston v The Royal Bank of Scotland [2006] EWHC 90053 (Costs) (May 2006 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Brennan v Associated Asphalt Ltd [2006] EWHC 90052 (Costs) (May 2006 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge: in October 2006 an appeal against this decision was allowed by consent)
Oduvbu v Dualeh[2006] EWHC 90059 (Costs) (July 2006 : Master Rogers)
White v Revell[2006] EWHC 90054 (Costs) (September 2006 : Master Wright)
Fosberry v HMRC[2006] EWHC 90061 (Costs) (October 2006 : Master Wright; upheld on appeal; [2007] EWHC 2249 (Ch))
Andrews v Harrison Taylor Scaffolding & Ors [2007] EWHC 90071 (Costs) (February 2007 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Bevan v Power Panels Electrical Systems Ltd [2007] EWHC 90073 (Costs) (May 2007 : Master Wright)
Kashmiri v Ejaz & Anor [2007] EWHC 90074 (Costs) (June 2007 : Master Simons)
Myers v Bonnington (Cavendish Hotel) Ltd. [2007] EWHC 90077 (Costs) (July 2007 : Master Rogers; in February 2008 an appeal to the Central London County Court was dismissed by consent)
Foord v American Airlines Inc [2007] EWHC 90076 (Costs) (June 2007 : Master Simons)
Galitzky v Vizards Wyeth (A Firm) [2007] EWHC 90083 (Costs) (August 2007 : Master Gordon-Saker )
Utting v McBain [2007] EWHC 90085 (Costs) (August 2007 : Master Campbell; upheld on appeal by Blake J, sitting with assessors, [2007] EWHC 3293 (QB) )
Dole v ECT Recycling Ltd [2007] EWHC 90086 (Costs) (September 2007 : Master Rogers)
Barlow v Perks [2007] EWHC 90087 (Costs) (October 2007 : Master Rogers)
Elstone v Knowles [2007] EWHC 90089 (Costs) (November 2007 : Deputy Master Rowley)
Puksis v Brumby [2008] EWHC 90095 (Costs) (January 2008 Master Gordon-Saker; an appeal to the Court of Appeal was settled on terms not disclosed to the court)
Woolley v Haden Building Services Ltd [2008] EWHC 90097 (Costs) (February 2008 : Master Rogers)
Hibberd v Fawcett Old Ltd & Anor [2008] EWHC 90102 (Costs) (March 2008 : Master Wright; an appeal to the Court of Appeal was dismissed [2008] EWCA Civ 1375)
Tandara v Weightmans Solicitors [2008] EWHC 90101 (Costs) (March 2008 : Master O'Hare)
Forde v Birmingham City Council [2008] EWHC 90105 (Costs) (30 April 2008 : Master Campbell: reversed in part by Christopher Clarke J, sitting with assessors, [2009] EWHC 12 (QB))
Dunn v Crescenzo Mici [2008] EWHC 90115 (Costs) (June 2008 : Master Campbell)
Overton v Horder [2008] EWHC 90109 (Costs)(July 2008 : Master Rogers)
Sidhu v Sandhu & Anor [2008] EWHC 90108 (Costs)(July 2008 : Master Simons: reversed on appeal on 5 May 2009 by Burton J sitting with assessors)
Morris v John Dennis (Barnsley) Ltd [2008] EWHC 90112 (Costs) ( July 2008 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Ibbertson v MFI & Ors [2009] EWHC 90132 (Costs) (January 2009 : Master Simons)
Findley v Motor Insurers' Bureau & Anor [2009] EWHC 90130 (Costs) (January 2009 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Bailey v UK Coal Mining Ltd. [2009] EWHC 90139 (Costs) (May 2009 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Housing disrepair cases
Hughes v London Borough of Newham (July 2005 : Master O'Hare)
Interest on CFA costs
Bollito v Arriva London [2009] EWHC 90136 (Costs) (February 2009 : Master Rogers)
Meaning of the terms agreed
Brierly v Prescott[2006] EWHC 90062 (Costs) (March 2006 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Beckham v First News Ltd [2006] EWHC 90063 (Costs) (November 2006 : Master Rogers)
Pacey v The Ministry of Defence [2009] EWHC 90138 (Costs) (April 2009 : Master Rogers)
Notices of funding
Cullen & Anor v Chopra [2007] EWHC 90093 (Costs) (December 2007 : Master Campbell)
Requests for information about other methods of financing costs
Hutchings v British Transport Police Authority[2006] EWHC 90064 (Costs) (October 2006 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Success Fees
Haines v Sarner (April 2005 : Deputy Master Howarth)
King v Telegraph Group Ltd [2005] EWHC 90015 (Costs) (December 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge: overruled in part by Birmingham City Council v Forde [2009] EWHC 12 (QB) (Christopher Clarke J))
King v Telegraph Group Ltd (December 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Dahele v Thomas Bates & Sons Ltd [2007] EWHC 90072 (Costs) (April 2007 : Master Haworth)
Spiralstem Ltd v Marks & Spencer Plc [2007] EWHC 90084 (Costs) (August 2007 : Master Campbell ; in December 2007 an appeal to a High Court judge was settled on terms not disclosed to the court)
Holliday v E C Realisations Ltd [2008] EWHC 90103 (Costs) (March 2008 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Forde v Birmingham City Council [2008] EWHC 90105 (Costs) (30 April 2008 : Master Campbell: reversed in part by Christopher Clarke J, sitting with assessors, [2009] EWHC 12 (QB))
Woolley v Haden Building Services Ltd (No.2) [2008] EWHC 90111 (Costs) (August 2008 : Master Rogers)
Costs Caps
Holiday litigation
A A & Ors v Tui UK Ltd & Ors [2005] EWHC 90017 (Costs) (August 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Court of Protection Cases
Costs of professional receivers
In the matter of Ashton[2006] EWHC 90060 (Costs) (July 2006 : Master O'Hare)
Smith & Ors, Re [2007] EWHC 90088 (Costs) (October 2007 : Master Haworth)
Fixed Costs
Fees of medical reporting agency
Woollard v Fowler[2005] EWHC 90051 (Costs) (May 2006 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge; in January 2007 the appeal to the Court of Appeal withdrawn following a successful mediation)
Whether allowance of success fee on fixed costs is discretionary
Wetzel v KBC Fidea [2007] EWHC 90079 (Costs) (March 2007 : Master O'Hare)
Whether claim had reached a "final contested hearing"
Hosking v Smallshaw [2009] EWHC 90137 (Costs) (March 2009 : Master Simons)
Indemnity Principle
Costs paid by insurers
Smith v Hancock (October 2005 : Master Campbell)
Legal Aid
Liability under Access to Justice Act 1999 section 11
Thompson v Bradford[2006] EWHC 90065 (Costs) (October 2006 : Master Rogers)
Kay v LB Lambeth [2007] EWHC 90068 (Costs) (December 2006 : Master Rogers; appeal to the Court of Appeal dismissed by consent)
Crehan v Inntrepreneur Pub Co Ltd & Anor [2007] EWHC 90081 (Costs) (August 2007 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Litigants in Person
Litigant an accountant
Knight v Maggioni [2006] EWHC 90056 (Costs) (March 2006 : Master Simons)
Litigant an employed solicitor
McIlwraith v McIlwraith (July 2005 : Master O'Hare)
Loss adjusters’ fees incurred before solicitors appointed
Cuthbert v Gair & Anor (t/a The Bowes Manor Equestrian Centre) [2008] EWHC 90114 (Costs) (September 2008 : Master Haworth)
Practice and Procedure
Appropriation of payments made under an order for security of costs
Dranez & Ors v Hayek & Ors [2008] EWHC 90104 (Costs) (April 2008 : Master Rogers)
Assessment of fees of overseas lawyers
Societa Finanziaria Industrie Turistiche SpA v Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio De Clunieres Di Balsorano & Anor [2006] EWHC 90068 (Costs) (June 2006 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Claims for costs of in-house solicitors as well as solicitors on record
Ultraframe (UK) Ltd v Eurocell Building Plastics Ltd & Anor [2006] EWHC 90069 (Costs) (July 2006 : Master Campbell)
Claims for generic costs
Brown v Russell Young & Co[2006] EWHC 90055 (Costs) (April 2006 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge; upheld on appeal; [2007] EWCA Civ 43 )
Costs estimates
Tribe v Southdown Gliding Club Ltd & Ors [2007] EWHC 90080 (Costs) (June 2007 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Woolley v Haden Building Services Ltd (No.2) [2008] EWHC 90111 (Costs) (August 2008 : Master Rogers)
Dadu Ltd v Barrowfen Properties Ltd [2008] EWHC 90110 (Costs) (August 2008 : Master Rogers)
Costs of unsuccessful attempts at mediation
National Westminster Bank Plc v Feeney[2006] EWHC 90066 (Costs) (November 2006 : Master Campbell; appeal to Eady J dismissed; see Case Summaries No 9 of 2007)
Costs only proceedings
Aurangzeb v Walker [2008] EWHC 90134 (Costs) (January 2009 : Master Rogers)
Disclosure of documents
Ruttle Plant Hire Ltd v Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs [2007] EWHC 90091 (Costs) (December 2007 : Master Campbell)
Vinayak & Anor (t/a Doctors Chambers) v Lovegrove & Eliot (a firm) [2007] EWHC 90096 (Costs) (July 2007 : Master Campbell)
Findlay v Cantor Index Ltd & Ors [2008] EWHC 90116 (Costs)(September 2008 : Master Campbell)
Earliest time for detailed assessment
Bottin (International) Investments Ltd v Venson Group Plc (May 2005 : Master Campbell)
Hourly rates for solicitors
Tribe v Southdown Gliding Club Ltd & Ors [2007] EWHC 90080 (Costs) (June 2007 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Holliday v E C Realisations Ltd [2008] EWHC 90103 (Costs) (March 2008 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Dranez & Ors v Hayek & Ors [2008] EWHC 90107 (Costs) (April 2008 : Master Rogers)
Meaning of "costs of and incidental to"
Newall & Anor v Lewis & Ors [2007] EWHC 90078 (Costs) (March 2007 : Master Campbell: reversed in part on appeal; see [2008] EWHC 910 (Ch))
Legal Services Commission v Aaronson & Anor (t/a Aaronson & Co Solicitors) [2008] EWHC 90096 (Costs) (January 2008 : Master Wright)
Mullan v Thames Valley Police [2009] EWHC 90140 (Costs) (May 2009 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Meaning of "costs of claim" and "costs of counterclaim"
Bateman v Joyce [2008] EWHC 90100 (Costs) (February 2008 : Master Campbell)
Offers to settle under CPR 47.19
Forward v Burton (May 2005 : Master Wright)
Rights of audience
Ahmed v Powell (February 2003 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Summary assessment of costs awarded by an arbitrator
Rotary Watches Ltd v Rotary Watches (USA) Inc (December 2004 : Master Rogers)
Proportionality
Defamation proceedings
King v Telegraph Group Ltd (December 2005 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
Personal injury claim
Finster v Arriva London & Anor [2007] EWHC 90070 (Costs) (February 2007 : Deputy Master Williams)
Solicitors Act 1974
Failure to carry out client’s instructions
Helvadjian v Ambrose Appelbe Solicitors [2009] EWHC 90133 (Costs) (January 2009 : Chief Master Hurst, Senior Costs Judge)
One fifth rule
Allen v Colman Coyle Llp [2007] EWHC 90075 (Costs) (June 2007 : Master Simons)
Special circumstances
Antares SRL v The Simpkins Partnership (Master Rogers : April 2005)
Sharif v The Law Society [2005] EWHC 90018 (Costs) (November 2005 : Master Rogers)
Barnes v Stones[2007] EWHC 90069 (Costs) (January 2007 : Master Simons)
BFS Investments Plc v Manches Plc [2007] EWHC 90082 (Costs) (August 2007 : Master Gordon-Saker )
Termination of retainer
Kyriakides & Braier v Klamer (November 2005 : Master Simons)
Use of confidential documents in assessment sought by third parties
Rosserlane Consultants Ltd & Anor v Herbert Smith Llp [2009] EWHC 90135 (Costs) (February 2009 : Master Campbell)
Whether bills are statute bills or just bills on account
McLoughlin & Ors v Mitchell [2008] EWHC 90113 (Costs) (August 2008 : Master Simons)
Whether permission to amend should be given
Bilkus v Stockler Brunton (a firm) [2008] EWHC 90118 (Costs) (November 2008 : Master Gordon-Saker)
Bilkus v Stockler Brunton (a firm) [2008] EWHC 90118 (Costs) (November 2008 : Master Gordon-Saker; on 11 June 2009 an appeal was heard by Henderson J, sitting with assessors; judgment reserved)
Value Added Tax
Whether VAT on costs was recoverable from the paying party
United States of America v Phillip Morris Inc[2006] EWHC 90067 (Costs) (May 2006 : Master O’Hare)
Lewald-Jezierska v Solicitors-In-Law Ltd & Ors [2008] EWHC 90106 (Costs) (May 2008 : Master Rogers)