31 Jan 2018
LIU & ORS v CUTTING [2018] NZHC 33
- Citation
- [2018] NZHC 33
- Court
- High Court
The appellants were liable for reasonable fees charged by counsel instructed by their solicitor despite no direct contract or engagement letter with counsel; the District Court correctly exercised its discretion to reduce the claimed fees from $15,125.82 to $10,500 on broad-brush grounds; the appellants' counterclaim failed for lack of proven loss; procedural/interlocutory complaints (including lien and curtailed re-opened cross-examination) did not negate the fee liability, and the High Court dismissed the appeal and awarded costs to the respondent.