SUMMARY ASSESSMENT: HOW IT WORKS IN PRACTICE: LOVELL -v- MERTON PRIORY HOMES

June 11, 2014 · by gexall · in Civil Procedure, Costs, Members Content

There is nothing remarkable about the decision of Mr Justice Edwards-Stuart in Lovell Partnerships Ltd-v- Merton Prior Homes [2014] EWHC 1800 (TCC) where he assessed costs after a trial. However it provides an example of the robust manner in which these matters are dealt with. WHY LOOK AT A SUMMAR...

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Tags: costs, Summary assessment

2 Responses

Charles Loveridge · December 13, 2014 at 22:14:51 · →

“The Claimants’ costs are a little over £55,000, divided roughly equally between solicitors and counsel.”

I bet the full £10k reduction was borne by the solicitors, not split with counsel. Any argument is invariably met with the response, “Tough, the fee was agreed, so cough up”.

How often do we see counsel’s fees reduced on assessment? Hardly ever. Of course that has nothing to do with the fact that judges used to be counsel themselves …
Tim · December 16, 2014 at 02:39:37 · →

It’s not “robust”, it’s haphazard.