James, Author at Legal Practice Support

The Legal Sector and Automation

by James | Apr 4, 2018 | James Denby, Proclaim Development

2018, it’s a year that very few if any Claimant PI firms throughout England and Wales are looking forward to. The small claims limit will be raised to £2,000 and £5,000 for whiplash specifically which is a de facto abolishment of the claim. However, let’s not forgot...

What is a ‘Good Reason’ to Set Aside a Default Cost Certificate?

by James | Apr 4, 2018 | Legal Costs, Robert Collington

The subject matter revolved around an RTA LVI claim in which the Claimant had given instructions to discontinue his claim, giving the Defendant an automatic entitlement to their costs pursuant to CPR 44.9(c). The Defendant in turn served a Bill of Costs that was...

Can You Recover Hourly Rates on Fixed Costs Cases?

by James | Apr 4, 2018 | Legal Costs, Robert Collington

I’m sure we are all aware by now of the outcome of Broadhurst v Tan and Taylor v Smith [2016] EWCA Civ 94 (23 February 2016) in which indemnity costs were awarded for the Claimant having beaten their own Part 36 Offer on assessment. As a consequence, the Claimant was...

What Are The New Changes to Budgets?

by James | Apr 4, 2018 | Legal Costs, Robert Collington

Our good friend the Costs Budget (or the Precedent H as it is more formally known) has come back to haunt us again. First of all, there’s no need to worry. The changes that have come into force from 6 April 2016 only effect cases issued on or after this date. That...

The New Proportionality – Where are we at Now?

by James | Apr 4, 2018 | Legal Costs, Robert Collington

I’m sure by now you’ve read or heard of BNM v MGN Limited [2016] EWHC B13 (Costs) (03 June 2016). If not, it will soon be imprinted onto your retina through rinse and repeat Defendant party citations. BNM was a privacy case involving a primary school teacher having...