Sugar Hut Group Ltd and Ors v A J Insurance Service (a partnership) [2014] EWHC 3775 (Comm)

The Court of Appeal (LJs Tomlinson, Longmore and McCombe) today gave judgment allowing the appeal of the Sugar Hut Group against part of the costs order that AJ Insurance had obtained following trial of the claim heard by Eder J [2014] EWHC 3775 (Comm). Angus Piper represented the Defendant (AJ Insurance) at trial and as respondent to the appeal on costs. The issue-based costs order obtained in favour of the Defendant at trial was not altered, but the CA took the view that the conduct of the Claimant in settlement negotiations was not such as to justify the additional costs order made by Eder J to the effect that the Claimant must pay the entire costs of the claim from the 13th June 2014. Accordingly the appeal in respect of that costs order succeeded.