Firstly, this thread is not about the abolishment of the civil courts system. In any functioning society it is essential that citizens and businesses can avail of impartial dispute resolution which is enforceable. This is solely about who pays the costs of certain types of dispute.
The question is, why does the taxpayer pay a large proportion of the costs of private disputes between individuals/companies etc.
It is acknowledged that the participating parties pay the lawyers fees in a dispute. But these are only a portion of the overall cost of a court case. You've got Judges salaries, courts staff salaries, costs of providing facilities i.e. running courthouses/offices etc. These costs are very significant and at the moment are paid by the taxpayer.
If two private parties cannot agree on something, then why should I as a taxpayer pick up the tab for their dispute?
The civil litigation system in this country should be cost neutral whereby the parties (usually the loser) are billed the real costs incurred by the taxpayer in sorting out their dispute. Its shouldnt be too difficult to boil the annual cost to the State into a per day/session/hour amount to be paid by the participants.
The question is, why does the taxpayer pay a large proportion of the costs of private disputes between individuals/companies etc.
It is acknowledged that the participating parties pay the lawyers fees in a dispute. But these are only a portion of the overall cost of a court case. You've got Judges salaries, courts staff salaries, costs of providing facilities i.e. running courthouses/offices etc. These costs are very significant and at the moment are paid by the taxpayer.
If two private parties cannot agree on something, then why should I as a taxpayer pick up the tab for their dispute?
The civil litigation system in this country should be cost neutral whereby the parties (usually the loser) are billed the real costs incurred by the taxpayer in sorting out their dispute. Its shouldnt be too difficult to boil the annual cost to the State into a per day/session/hour amount to be paid by the participants.