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STATES OF JERSEY
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COURT AND CASE COSTS: INVESTIGATION
Lodged au Greffe on 20th July 2004 by Deputy A. Breckon of St. Saviour
STATES GREFFE
PROPOSITION
THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion
( a ) t o agree that the Finance and Economics Committee should appoint appropriately qualified
independent consultants to investigate and report to the Committee on the following matters –
(i ) t h e r easons for the increase in Court and case costs since 1998, and the manner in which
such costs are incurred, accounted for and managed at the present time;
(i i) t h e l egal fees paid by the States to Mourant du Feu and Jeune (Mourants) for their services
in representing the States in the litigation involving Les Pas Holdings Limited;
(b ) to request the Finance and Economics Committee to make funding available of up to £50,000 to
fund the commissioning of the report;
(c ) to charge the Finance and Economics Committee to present the report to the States as soon as it is
received.
DEPUTY A. BRECKON OF ST. SAVIOUR
REPORT
My attention was drawn to increasing or unforeseen costs on reading the Finance and Economic Committee's report R.C.14/2004 "General Reserve: Grant of Additional Funds to 31st December 2004". This shows –
1st March 2004 | Finance and Economics Committee Court and Case Costs | £3,312,247 |
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1st March 2004 | Home Affairs Committee Court and Case Costs | £190,379 |
This led me to seek further information from the States Treasury and on request the following information was supplied –
Court and Case Costs: | 1998 | £2,760,310 |
| 1999 | £2,413,525 |
| 2000 | £2,606,098 |
| 2001 | £4,895,363 |
| 2002 | £6,153,558 |
| 2003 | £5,979,026 |
I believe the above figures are worth further investigation (or scrutiny) and I would recommend that this is undertaken by independent consultants.
Les Pas legal fees
Members will know that the States has paid over £1.5 million to Mourant du Feu and Jeune (Mourants) and I am seeking the same consultants to review these charges.
Financial and manpower implications
I believe that a sum of £50,000 should be made available for this report. It is also possible that considerable future savings could be identified. There are no manpower implications.