Ballard v Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWHC 370 (QB) (28 February 2018)

Ballard v Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust [2018] EWHC 370 (QB) (28 February 2018)

The judge erred in treating the second Part 36 offer as irrelevant; its express terms limited the defendant's entitlement to costs to the period after 1 March 2017, and the claimant is entitled to her costs up to and including that date.

Citation
[2018] EWHC 370 (QB)
Parties
Claimant/appellant: Gemma Ballard; Defendant/respondent: Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
28 February 2018
Procedural Posture
Appeal (costs) / High Court Appeal From County Court Decision on Costs Following Quantum Only Trial
Outcome
Appeal allowed
Legal Topics
Part 36 Offers, Costs Consequences, Withdrawal of Offers, Interpretation of Settlement Offers

Case Brief

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Parties

Gemma Ballard

Claimant/appellant

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Defendant/respondent

Procedural Posture

Appeal (costs) / High Court Appeal From County Court Decision on Costs Following Quantum Only Trial

  1. 1 Whether the judge erred in treating the second Part 36 offer as irrelevant to the costs order
  2. 2 Whether the terms of the second offer limited the defendant's entitlement to costs to the period after its expiry

Ratio Decidendi

The judge erred in treating the second Part 36 offer as irrelevant; its express terms limited the defendant's entitlement to costs to the period after 1 March 2017, and the claimant is entitled to her costs up to and including that date.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed

Orders

  • Claimant entitled to her costs up to and including 1 March 2017
  • Claimant to pay defendant's costs of the trial