The court had ordered the respondent to pay the claimant’s costs. These were high because the solicitors had acted under a conditional fee agreement, and disproportionate to the funds at issue. The respondents challenged assignments of the original CFA.
Held: The appeal failed. Unless the effect of the deeds was to discharge the original CFA and replace it with new agreements made at the dates of the deeds, the success fee may properly be included in the costs order. Whether a variation amends the principal agreement or discharges and replaces it depends on the intention of the parties. The deeds of variation were not a sham. An amendment of the existing CFA is a natural way of dealing with further proceedings in the same action. They therefore take effect according to their terms.
‘proceedings’ is not a defined term in the legislation, nor is it a term of art under the general law. Its meaning must depend on its statutory context and on the underlying purpose of the provision in which it appears, so far as that can be discerned.
If there had been ATE cover in respect of liability for the costs of the trial, the insured is entitled after the commencement date to take out further ATE cover for appeals and to include them in his assessable costs under the 1999 costs regime.
Lady Hale, Deputy President, Lord Clarke, Lord Sumption, Lord Carnwath, Lord Hodge
[2017] UKSC 23, [2017] 1 WLR 1249, [2018] 1 All ER 292, [2017] WLR(D) 223, [2017] 2 Costs LO 247, UKSC 2014/0037
Bailii, WLRD, Bailii Summary, SC, SC Summary, SC Summary video, SC 2017 Feeb 08 am Video
Access to Justice Act 1999 27 58 58A, Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, Courts and Legal Services Act 1990
England and Wales
Citing:
Main judgment – Plevin v Paragon Personal Finance Ltd SC 12-Nov-2014
PPI Sale – No Recovery from Remote Parties
The claimant sought repayment of payment protection insurance premiums paid by her under a policy with Norwich Union. The immediate broker arranging the loan was now insolvent, and she sought repayment from the second and other level intermediaties. . .
Cited – Masson, Templier and Co v De Fries CA 26-Feb-1910
Upon interpleader proceedings in the county court with regard to the title to goods taken in execution the claimant succeeded. The county court judge gave the judgment creditors leave to appeal to the Divisional Court upon condition that, if . .
Cited – Morris v Baron and Co HL 1918
The House drew a distinction between a variation of a contract required to be evidenced in writing, and the rescission (or discharge) of such a contract. The former was itself required to be evidenced in writing; the latter was not.
Lord . .
Cited – Wright v Bennett 1948
. .
Cited – BPE Solicitors and Another v Gabriel SC 17-Jun-2015
Application for directions in a pending appeal. The claimant alleged negligence against his former solicitors. After his successful claim was substantially overturned on appeal, he was made bankrupt.
Held: If the trustee adopted and pursued . .
Cited – Hawksford Trustees Jersey Ltd v Stella Global Uk Ltd and Another CA 19-Jul-2012
For the purpose of section 29 of the Access to Justice Act 1999, the costs incurred in respect of an ATE premium were recoverable only in the proceedings to which the policy related, ie as part of the costs of the trial if the policy related only to . .
Cited – Goldstein v Conley CA 4-May-2001
‘ proceedings at first instance and in this court are ordinarily treated as separate proceedings and in my judgment they support the conclusion that the costs of and incidental to one are not ordinarily treated as the costs of and incidental to the . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.
Updated: 27 September 2021; Ref: scu.581274