Judge highlights injustice of defendants having to pay legal costs in failed personal injury cases

[Brendan Burgess]

Judge highlights ‘injustice’ of legal costs

A judge in the High Court has commented on the injustice of individuals and organisations ending up having to pay legal costs in personal injuries cases that they win.

www.independent.ie

Mr Justice Twomey said there was an injustice when an impecunious plaintiff loses a case and costs are awarded against them. This was because there were very unlikely to be able to pay the costs.

He said there was an “inevitable injustice” for defendants who do not “buy off” what they believe to be unmerited claims.

“In the absence of financial disincentives for such plaintiffs (which also take account of the right of access to the courts), this ‘inevitable injustice’ means that there is an unlevel playing field”, he noted in a written judgment.

He said it is ‘win and no lose’ for plaintiffs with little or no money, while it is ‘lose-lose’ for defendants in such cases.

And we wonder why insurance premiums are so high!

 

[elcato]

I note he doesn't mention that if they can't pay, his legal team doesn't get paid. Why not give costs against and let his legals swing for the fee. That would put an end to these ads for personal injury claim solicitors I would have thought.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

Not sure what you mean.

The solicitors take these cases on a no foal no fee basis.
They expect the insurance company to cave in early and pay their legal fees and some token compensation to the plaintiff.
They get their comeuppance when a judge is not taken in.

But that is the risk they take. The companies cave in most of the time.

Brendan

 

[MrEarl]

How about all parties waive their own fees, when a legitimate hardship case appears?

Let there be a sworn and verified financial declaration submitted, before the legal process begins, so everyone knows that they are working "pro bono", and then let's see how long the legal teams drag the case on for.

Obviously, adequate provision could also be made for later recovery of fees, if the person's circumstances changed.

 

[MrEarl]

Something seperate would also need to be done, to help bring an end to false claims..

 

[sharkattack]

This whole area needs to be overhauled but too many vested interests on the merry go round. Alan Shatter tried it and got no where and the Troika bailout guys got nowhere when they looked for changes.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

A few options:

1) Limit the legal costs to 10% of the award. Make it unprofitable for solicitors to drag it out and to take on cases on a no foal no fee basis.

2) Require the plaintiff to lodge costs up front. Their claim for costs would be limited to what they lodge. If they lodge €5,000 they would not be able to claim more than €5,000 in costs if they win their claim.

3) Have a preliminary summary hearing. And if the judge's initial opinion is that the case is unlikely to succeed, require a very substantial lodgement of costs up front.

Brendan

 

[LS400]

Justice Twomey said there was an injustice when an impecunious plaintiff loses a case and costs are awarded against them.

Proving how thin the line is between genius and insanity..

 

[Purple]

The mere fact that the judge used the word impecunious shows a level of pomposity and disconnect from normal people that is worrying. The logical conclusion that must be drawn from the Judges comments is that private companies or rich individuals should be funding public access to the justice system. That shows an even great disconnect from reality.

3) Have a preliminary summary hearing. And if the judge's initial opinion is that the case is unlikely to succeed, require a very substantial lodgement of costs up front.

I like that idea.

 

[Steven Barrett]

A few options:

1) Limit the legal costs to 10% of the award. Make it unprofitable for solicitors to drag it out and to take on cases on a no foal no fee basis.

2) Require the plaintiff to lodge costs up front. Their claim for costs would be limited to what they lodge. If they lodge €5,000 they would not be able to claim more than €5,000 in costs if they win their claim.

3) Have a preliminary summary hearing. And if the judge's initial opinion is that the case is unlikely to succeed, require a very substantial lodgement of costs up front.

Brendan

That would limit access to the courts for a lot of people who simply don't have that kind of spare cash...and there are lots of people who live pay cheque to pay cheque, even those in well paying jobs.

The solution starts with the courts themselves. If they stop awarding making such generous rewards for minor injuries. People getting €10k for a cut knee because they tripped over something in a shop. The judge should award them the price of a packet of plasters. If it is not seen as an way to make easy money, the amount of claims will be reduced.

 

[sharkattack]

A simple solution of having to publish in a centralised register the details of all claims in and out of court and their associated legal costs. It would stop or at least help stop serial offenders.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

If they stop awarding making such generous rewards for minor injuries. People getting €10k for a cut knee because they tripped over something in a shop. The judge should award them the price of a packet of plasters.

The new scheme will reduce such claims.

Brendan

 

[Brendan Burgess]

That would limit access to the courts for a lot of people who simply don't have that kind of spare cash...a

Then go for the preliminary hearing. They can have a preliminary hearing with maximum costs of €1,000 and if the judge thinks it's not a genuine case, they then require a substantial up front lodgement of costs.

It's unfair to the rest of us to have to spend our money in defending against bogus claims.

Brendan

 

[Johnno75]

Why not have each side pay their own costs, regardless of outcome? Like in family law.

It would have a chilling effect on the amount of claims made as Solicitors would demand payment up front and only take cases where there was a good prospect of success and the costs would be deducted from the damages award.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

But many insurance companies would then drag out cases as long as possible so that the customer would give up.

That is a variation of my proposal to limit costs to 10% of the damages.

You want to limit them to 0%.

The problem is that insurance companies would drag out cases to deter claimants.



Brendan

 

[NoRegretsCoyote]

Yesterday I read of a 55-year-old whose family got €375k when he died of lung injury related to his job.

You can find many cases of injuries to children with five-figure payouts. Here is one where a child got €35k for a scar received after tripping in a play centre.

is a 2.5cm scar worth as much as a tenth of a life? Judges seem to think so, and it makes very little sense to me.

 

[Steven Barrett]

Yesterday I read of a 55-year-old whose family got €375k when he died of lung injury related to his job.

You can find many cases of injuries to children with five-figure payouts. Here is one where a child got €35k for a scar received after tripping in a play centre.

is a 2.5cm scar worth as much as a tenth of a life? Judges seem to think so, and it makes very little sense to me.

This is exactly what I am talking about. Kids fall all the time. But if by a stroke of luck, you kids falls in a play centre, you can sue them and get €35k out of them.

 

[Purple]

This is exactly what I am talking about. Kids fall all the time. But if by a stroke of luck, you kids falls in a play centre, you can sue them and get €35k out of them.

My daughter fell in a play centre when she was younger and knocked out a tooth. I asked to see where she fell and I couldn't identify anything that the play centre could have done to reduce the risk. In other words I couldn't see any sign of negligence, so I just took it as kids being kids. The manager said I was the first parent who didn't make a claim for an accident like that. It's crazy that any business should be held liable for that sort of accident.

 

[Steven Barrett]

My daughter fell in a play centre when she was younger and knocked out a tooth. I asked to see where she fell and I couldn't identify anything that the play centre could have done to reduce the risk. In other words I couldn't see any sign of negligence, so I just took it as kids being kids. The manager said I was the first parent who didn't make a claim for an accident like that. It's crazy that any business should be held liable for an accident like that.

I know someone who tripped on one of those grids that they put around trees that are planted on pathways. They are pretty standard. Their first thought was to sue to look for compensation. I got into an argument with them that maybe they should have been paying attention to where they were walking rather than looking for money. Nothing came of it in the end, a solicitor probably told them there was nothing in it for them.

 

[odyssey06]

Against that in my parent's estate in Dublin the council planted trees on narrow footpaths.
Now, the roots break up the footpaths creating trip hazards.
In autumn, as the leaves and crab apples from the trees fall to the ground, you can't see what you are walking on.
If someone slips in those circumstances I would consider the council negligent.