Expenses for Court Challenge.
As I understand the current situation, so far the applicants have only paid (or are in the process of paying) their own lawyers bills for the first court challenge. There were six actions running simultaneously.
Justice Kane ruled against all the motions. Some applicants are now appealing Justice Kanes decision. Myself John Hipwell (Team Hipwell) is not appealing, we see the chance of success slim and we have no money. Those applicants now launching an appeal have to not only raise money for their Lawyer bills, if not already paid for the first trial, the cost of the appeal, but are now also faced with the “Court costs” for the first trial.
In my case I have been assessed for $87,847.50 as the “Respondents Bill of costs” then there is the additional “Bill of costs of the Respondent – Disbursements” this totals $199,249.19 this should be split six ways so the total I am expected to pay is $121,055.69. I do not know how the others are faring but I expect their costs will be higher than my own. This came as a shock to me, I was naive enough to believe that costs were only awarded in frivolous cases.
I have received a few offers of assistance, which I am extremely grateful for, but I am unsure how to proceed, it is a question of personal integrity. I can ask for financial assistance to fund a legal challenge that in the end, if successful would benefit everyone, but now to ask for assistance to pay costs that will have no benefit to anyone is difficult. Then there is also the cost of challenging the $121,055.69 which we feel is grossly inflated.
This was a nice “kick in the teeth” just before Christmas. I am now “signing off” for a few days to spend time with family, I have to go and find some oats for Santa’s reindeer.
Merry Christmas to all.
John