Costs

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1973

Principle established: An applicant seeking letters of administration under the Mohammedan Marriage Act must prove he is the deceased's eldest brother, and the Administrator-General acting bona fide is entitled to costs out of the estate.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1973

Principle established: An Administrator-General appearing in an official capacity cannot be made personally liable for costs due to an irregularity in appointment, and an error of law justifies an appellate court reversing a costs order.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1972

Principle established: Leave to appeal against an order for costs may be granted where an issue of public importance arises, such as where a public officer is personally ordered to pay costs.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1972-73

Principle established: Leave to appeal against an order for costs may be granted when a question of public importance is involved, such as where a public officer is ordered personally to pay costs.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1972-73

Principle established: An error of law affecting costs justifies an appellate court in setting aside a costs order, and an Administrator-General acting officially cannot be made personally liable due to an appointment irregularity.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1964-66

Principle established: A court may deprive a successful defendant of the costs related to drawing and filing an improperly pleaded defence.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1957-60

Principle established: An appeal will not be stayed merely on the ground that the appellant has not paid the taxed trial costs and lacks the means to pay them.

Sierra Leone — African Law Reports · 1964-66

Principle established: The allowance and quantum of fees for second counsel upon taxation is entirely within the taxing master's discretion, and courts will rarely interfere absent an error of principle.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2013

Principle established: A party appealing a judgment must elect between pursuing a fresh appeal or applying to vary the existing judgment in accordance with the Court of Appeal Rules.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 2012

Principle established: A court may order an appellant to provide security for costs by paying a substantial amount into court pending the determination of an appeal.

Sierra Leone — Supreme Court · 1962

Principle established: Taxation of costs must disallow travel expenses, overseas communications, and bar enrolment fees under 'brief to counsel', which must properly reflect fees paid to counsel.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 1952

Principle established: An application by the Attorney-General to assess compensation for compulsory land acquisition is not a Crown proceeding exempt from the court's general discretionary jurisdiction over costs.

Kenya · 2024

Principle established: A taxing officer must evaluate and determine disputed items during the assessment of costs to ensure the fairness and justice of the remuneration process.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2025

Principle established: A court may grant a stay of execution of a judgment pending appeal upon specific terms, such as the payment of costs and the provision of a bank guarantee for the judgment sum.

Zimbabwe · 2023

Principle established: A review of taxation proceedings is limited to determining whether the taxing officer exercised their discretion properly and followed the prescribed rules for assessing legal costs.

Sierra Leone — Court of Appeal · 2013

Principle established: An applicant for a stay of execution generally bears the costs of the application regardless of whether the order is granted.