Top Judges Defend Costs

Last month saw top judges argue in defence of solicitors who had come under attack from critics who claim that they run up disproportionate costs that outweigh claimant's damages. This is certainly not surprising in light of the Campbell v MGN [2004] UKHL 22 case in which an award of damages of around £3,5000.00 attracted a solicitors bill in excess of £1million.

However, top judges have argued that defendants have sufficient mechanisms to challenge such high fees and moreover that the court system does not allow solicitors to run up disproportionate bills which cannot be justified.

They also denied that a compensation culture was rife in the UK, stating that in fact there has been a 5% decrease in personal injury cases over the past year.