Law digests: 15 September 2023

Appeal

Bowser v Smith [2023] EWCA Civ 923, [2023] All ER (D) 106 (Aug)

The Court of Appeal, Civil Division, dismissed an appeal from a cost decision of a judge. A dispute had come before the judge on the hearing of an application for interim relief in proceedings brought by the claimant, one of the original executors of a will seeking the removal of the other executor. With some encouragement from the judge, an agreement was quickly reached. Both original executors of the will were removed and replaced with an independent administrator. The question of costs remained outstanding and in dispute. The judge made a costs order adverse to the claimant. The judge felt that the claimant’s conduct in bringing and pursuing the proceedings had not been a reasonable and proper exercise of his powers as personal representative. The claimant appealed with six grounds of appeal. The costs order had fallen comfortably within the wide scope of the judge’s discretion, and the claimant had been unable to show that, in all the circumstances,