An administrative error by HMCTS when it listed a final hearing meant wasted costs for solicitors

What happened

A final hearing was listed to take place in spring 2013. The solicitors and their client attended court but only to find that an administrative error by HMCTS meant the hearing had to be adjourned. The solicitors complained to HMCTS, who accepted the error, and offered the solicitors £2,000 for wasted costs. The solicitors wanted £2,750 to fully reflect all the extra work they had to do as a result of HMCTS's error. However, correspondence continued between the solicitors and HMCTS about the appropriate level of financial redress. The solicitors referred their complaint to us.

What we found

The £2,000 offered by HMCTS was not an adequate remedy to the solicitors' complaint. Based on the cost schedule provided by the solicitors to show what their losses were as a result of HMCTS's error, we worked out the exact direct financial loss to be just over £2,600. We put that to HMCTS, who agreed to put matters right.

Putting it right

HMCTS increased its offer to the solicitors of financial redress from £2,000 to over £2,600.