Katherine Deal KC – (Instructed by Charles Russell Speechlys LLP (London)) – Respondent
Case ID
JCPC/2023/0116
Jurisdiction
Trinidad and Tobago
Parties
Appellant(s)
Bhagwantee Singh-Weekes (as Legal Personal Representative of the Estate of Navin Singh)
Respondent(s)
South-West Regional Health Authority
Issue
Did the Court of Appeal err in not ordering that VAT be paid on the prescribed costs ordered to be paid in circumstances where the appellant’s attorneys were registered for VAT but the appellant was not?
Facts
Appellant appeals part of the decision of the Court of Appeal dated 28 July 2023. Appellant sued the respondent for damages for medical negligence arising out of the death of her sub. Quinlan-Williams J at first instance on 14 February found the respondent liable. Quinlan-Williams J awarded the appellant damages in the sum of $1,664,334.51. Importantly, Quinlan-Williams J ordered the respondent pay the appellant prescribed costs in the amount of $142,216.73. “Prescribed costs” are one basis on which costs can be quantified under the Civil Proceedings Rules 1998. The Appellant argued that Quinlan-Williams J erred in not ordering that VAT was to be paid on the prescribed costs order to be paid in circumstances where the Appellant’s attorneys were registered for VAT and the Appellant was not. The Court of Appeal affirmed the orders of Quinlan-Williams J subject to certain variations. Importantly for present purposes, it held that Quinlan-Williams J had been correct in not ordering that VAT was to be paid on the prescribed costs ordered to be paid, and dismissed that part of the appeal. The Appellant now appeals to the Board with leave of the Court of Appeal.
Date of issue
20 December 2023
Judgment details
Judgment date
20 February 2025
Neutral citation
[2025] UKPC 10
Judgment links
Appeal
Justices
Hearing dates
Start date = 12 November 2024
End date = 12 November 2024
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