[MC 12,190] SCHEDULE 1 SCALE OF LEGAL PRACTITIONERS’ COSTS

[Sch 1 subst LN 77 of 2006 r 2, effective 7 July 2006]

					Where the sum recovered or the value of property recovered or, in landlord and tenant cases, the annual value of the land or the rent amounts to—
					Over $4,000 and not exceeding $8,000	Over $8,000
SUMMONSES ETC—					$	$
	1.	Preparing writ of summons, claim, defence (other than a general denial), counterclaim, including all particulars annexed or 50 00 .........................			75	125
	2.	For each copy required for service .........................			3	3
	3.	Preparing request for further particulars claim or counterclaim, and fair copy .........................			15	15
	4.	Preparing further particulars, and fair copy .........................			20	20
	5.	For each copy required for service .........................			3	3
	6.	Preparing witness summons or subpoena (If duces tecum discretion to taxing masters to allow higher fee) .........................			20	20
	7.	Copy for service, each witness (If duces tecum, discretion to taxing master as under Item (6) .........................			5	5
NOTICES—
	8.	Preparing notice to produce or admit facts (if necessarily long, such additional allowance as taxing master shall think proper not exceeding $3 per page) .........................			10	20
	9.	Preparing motion paper or any other necessary notice, and fair copy .........................			20	30
	10.	Preparing notice of discontinuance fair copy .........................			10	10
	11.	Preparing notice of appointment to tax costs, and fair copy .........................			10	10
INSTRUCTIONS—
	12.	To sue or defend in any proceedings .........................			50	100
	13.	For interrogatories .........................			25	40
	14.	For Affidavit .........................			40	60
	15.	For interlocutory application .........................			50	75
	16.	For trial .........................			100	175
	17.	For proof of each witness allowed on taxation .........................			50	100
	18.	To admit facts or answer interrogatories .........................			30	60
DRAWING—
	19.	Admission of facts, and fair copy .........................			20	40
	20.	Interrogatories or answers thereto, and fair copy or per page .........................			30	50
	21.	Affidavit, and fair copy or .........................			25	40
		per page .........................			15
	22.	Accounts, statements and other documents when required by the court or the opposing party, per page .........................			10	10
	23.	Bill of costs for taxation, and fair copy or per .........................			20	20
		page .........................			10	10
	24.	Writ of fieri-facias, committal order or warrant and fair copy .........................			40	60
COPIES—
	25.	Of all documents for which no special provisions made herein, per page .........................			5	5
ATTENDANCE—
	26.	To enter summons, judgement summons or motion or to file counterclaim, further particulars, answer to interrogatories admission of facts, affidavit of documents, particulars of claim in interpleader proceedings etc .........................			20	40
	27.	On adverse party or his or her legal practitioner with copy of any such documents taxing master to take time and distance into account .........................			10	15
	28.	To issue subpoena or to discontinue action .........................			10	10
	29.	To apply for costs on receiving notice of discontinuance .........................			5	5
	30.	To inspect documents or produce same for inspection .........................			30	50
	31.	To obtain or give any necessary consent or admission, or to swear an affidavit .........................			10	10
	32.	On hearing of judgment summons .........................			80	100
	33.	On an interlocutory application or any other application not otherwise provided for .........................			100	150
	34.	On trial:
		(a)	When case adjourned, not part heard .........................		30	60
		(b)	When judgement given in default .........................		40	40
		(c)	When case defended for each hour .........................		75	100
			but not exceeding per diem .........................		300	400
	35.	To hear reserved judgment .........................			30	60
	36.	To obtain appointment for taxation .........................			10	10
	37.	To tax bill of cost .........................			30	40
	38.	To issue writ of fieri facias .........................			15	15
		But not to exceed a total of .........................			250	300
	39.	For any other attendances upon the Magistrate or clerk or court, or upon the opposite party, or upon the bailiff or court messenger in interpleader proceedings, not otherwise provided for, or, where, in consequence of done by opposite party during the progress of an action or matter, it becomes necessary to advise or receive instructions from a client; for each attendance the taxing master may deem necessary and not for a purpose which could have been effected at any previous or subsequent attendance allowed .........................			40	50
LETTERS ETC—
	40.	Letter before action .........................			30	30
	41.	Letter in lieu of attendance which could properly be allowed under Item 39 .........................			20	20
	42.	Pursuing any necessary documents, per page .........................			10	10
	43.	Inclusive sum to cover— Instructions, for commons, Instructions for affidavit. Drawing affidavit and fair copy; Attending, swearing; Copy to serve; Preparing summons and fair copy; Copy to serve .........................			150	200
	44.	For attending to apply for payment out of money paid into court, or to obtain a judgment or against the garnishee where the garnishee does not dispute the debt and judgment debtor does not oppose .........................			30	60
		NOTE: Any step or attendance not specifically provided for by Items 43 and 44 shall be according to the general scale;
TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES—
	45.	For every day or portion of a day during which, in the opinion of taxing master, a legal practitioner is necessarily engaged in travelling from his or her place of business within Fiji to the place of trial and returning therefrom, and for everyday which, in the opinion of the taxing master, a legal practitioner is necessarily detained at the place of trial, prior to or subsequent to the trial, such an amount per diem as the taxing master may think reasonable, not exceeding .........................			175	200
	46.	In respect of travelling expenses, a legal practitioner shall be entitled to charge a reasonable sum for expenses of conveyance to and from the court, when he or she resides more than 3 miles from the court. If a legal practitioner attends in more than one cause, he or she will be entitled to a proportionate allowances, under this and the preceding item, in each cause only.
	NOTE:	No allowance shall be made in respect of Item 45 or 46 if another legal practitioner has his or her place of business at the place of trial and his or her services were available, unless special circumstances are shown.
GENERAL—
Where the work done is non-contentious business or judgement is given for some relief other than any of those specifically provided for in this scale, such costs shall be allowed under this scale as the court or Magistrate may direct.