The President of the High Court has said “comfortable assumptions” that legal fees should continue as before “without the slightest regard for privations experienced by citizens”, including other professionals, does not serve “the interests of justice”. Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns made the remarks in a significant decision on fees claimed in a medical negligence case. He upheld a Taxing Master’s decision cutting to €276,000 the €485,000 claimed by Augustus Cullen Law, Wicklow, for a solicitors instruction fee based on a rate of €375 an hour. The defence had offered to pay a €250,000 instructions fee. A senior counsel in the case, Denis McCullough, had claimed a €125,000 brief fee on grounds...
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