Weightmans secures result for client in eagerly anticipated costs appeal
Weightmans successful in defending an appeal in Karatysz v SGI Legal LLP
In Karatysz v SGI Legal LLP, the Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal as to the amount of a bill for the purposes of determining the incidence of costs of proceedings brought a challenge to a solicitor’s bill.
Following on from the appeal is Belsner v CAM Legal Services, Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master of the Rolls ruled that the total of the bill is the sum demanded for payment and not the full amount of the solicitor’s costs if, as in this case the client isn’t being asked to pay that latter sum.
In dismissing the Appeal, the Master of the Rolls has also sought to discourage challenges to small bills in the High Court, warning that in such cases judges will not hesitate to deprive clients of their costs even if they succeed in reducing the bill by more than one-fifth.
Representatives for Ms Karatysz have sought permission to appeal to the Supreme Court. SGI Legal LLP were represented by Weightmans LLP.
