Chief Master Marsh considers an application to revise a defendants’ costs budget under Para 7.6 of Practice Direction 3E (PD3E) in light of seven “significant developments” and examines the practicalities of such an application, in particular the treatment of costs already incurred since the original budget, as well as applications made under Para 7.9 PD3E
Master Leonard considers the extent to which a receiving party can recover the costs of attending an inquest in circumstances where an admission of liability is made prior to it taking place.
The High Court overturned a partial “Bullock” Order and substituted it for a full one on grounds that the District Judge was wrong to treat two elements of the claim against three defendants as “perfectly independent causes of action” where the breaches of duty alleged were “in no way connected”, finding that the Claimant acted reasonably in suing all three defendants,”who were blaming one another”
The High Court determined that costs budgets of £1.5m in respect of a claim with a potential value of £80-120,000 were disproportionate, notwithstanding the wider issues involved.