Digicel (St. Lucia) Ltd & Ors v Cable & Wireless Plc & Ors [2010] EWHC 888 (Ch) (23 April 2010)

Digicel (St. Lucia) Ltd & Ors v Cable & Wireless Plc & Ors [2010] EWHC 888 (Ch) (23 April 2010)

Claimants' conduct, including deliberate breach of Pre-Action Practice Direction, excessive publicity, unwarranted and serious allegations, speculative and weak claims, and exaggerated quantum, justifies indemnity costs for Defendants in SLU, SVG, Grenada, Barbados, and Cayman. In T&T, Defendants' misconduct warrants a reduction in recoverable costs.

Citation
[2010] EWHC 888 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant: Digicel (St. Lucia) Limited; Claimant: Digicel (SVG) Limited; Claimant: Digicel Grenada Limited; Claimant: Digicel (Barbados) Limited; Claimant: Digicel Cayman Limited; Claimant: Digicel (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited; Claimant: Digicel (Turks & Caicos) Limited; Claimant: Digicel Limited; Defendant: Cable & Wireless Plc; Defendant: Cable & Wireless (West Indies) Limited; Defendant: Cable & Wireless Grenada Limited; Defendant: Cable & Wireless (Barbados) Limited; Defendant: Cable & Wireless (Cayman Islands) Limited; Defendant: Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
23 April 2010
Procedural Posture
Commercial Litigation / Post Trial Costs and Orders
Outcome
Claims dismissed except nominal damages; Defendants awarded indemnity costs subject to reduction for T&T misconduct.
Legal Topics
Costs, Indemnity Costs, Standard Costs, Breach of Contract, Conspiracy, Statutory Duties, Pre Action Protocols
Civil Procedure Commercial Law Costs Indemnity Costs Standard Costs Breach of Contract Conspiracy Statutory Duties +1 more

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Parties

Digicel (St. Lucia) Limited

Claimant

Digicel (SVG) Limited

Claimant

Digicel Grenada Limited

Claimant

Digicel (Barbados) Limited

Claimant

Digicel Cayman Limited

Claimant

Digicel (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited

Claimant

Digicel (Turks & Caicos) Limited

Claimant

Digicel Limited

Claimant

Cable & Wireless Plc

Defendant

Cable & Wireless (West Indies) Limited

Defendant

Cable & Wireless Grenada Limited

Defendant

Cable & Wireless (Barbados) Limited

Defendant

Cable & Wireless (Cayman Islands) Limited

Defendant

Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Commercial Litigation / Post Trial Costs and Orders

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Defendants are entitled to indemnity costs or standard costs
  2. 2 Whether Claimants' conduct justifies indemnity costs
  3. 3 Whether costs should be reduced for Defendants' misconduct in T&T

Ratio Decidendi

Claimants' conduct, including deliberate breach of Pre-Action Practice Direction, excessive publicity, unwarranted and serious allegations, speculative and weak claims, and exaggerated quantum, justifies indemnity costs for Defendants in SLU, SVG, Grenada, Barbados, and Cayman. In T&T, Defendants' misconduct warrants a reduction in recoverable costs.

Court Disposition

Claims dismissed except nominal damages; Defendants awarded indemnity costs subject to reduction for T&T misconduct.

Orders

  • Second Defendant to pay Seventh Claimant £2 nominal damages by set-off against Defendants' costs.
  • Claims by all Claimants otherwise dismissed.