A solution to taxing queues
Equillore Taxation Services
Attorneys are familiar with the frustrations of having to get a bill of costs taxed.
Taxing bills in order to recoup client's costs is vital, yet the difficulty in obtaining a court date makes it near impossible for legal practitioners to deliver this service to clients.
Despite attempts by various Judge Presidents to expedite the taxing roll through appointment of additional taxing masters and increased taxing hours, it remains impossible to obtain a taxing date within a few weeks of receiving a final court order.
Neither the common law nor the Rules of Court, or any of the local rules offer any assistance as far as expediting the finalisation of the question of costs. The only alternative would be the “modernisation” of the rules relating to the taxation of costs and the enforcement of an order for costs through the Rules Board of each division.
Equillore's innovative taxing service offers a speedy and cost-effective solution that cuts through the congestion of the courts. The days of endless waiting before collecting on a bill of costs are over.
An database of accredited taxing masters is available to render service under the auspices of Equillore. The service enjoys the endorsement of the courts who are willing to make taxation settlement agreements an order of court
Both parties must consent for a matter to be taxed with Equillore. The parties can obtain consent in one of the following manners:
- By consenting to use Equillore's taxation service prior to the matter being heard or by recording the consent in a settlement agreement;
- Obtaining a Court Order that the bill will be taxed by Equillore simply by including such a prayer in your pleadings;
- Each party giving consent to attend the taxation with Equillore after the fact.
In light of this new awareness, especially amongst the legal profession in the Cape Provincial Division, attorneys are now electing to incorporate a prayer in their settlement agreements and draft orders that “costs be taxed by Equillore”.
The Cape Provincial Division recently set a precedent by granting an order in such prayers (S.A.R.L Tonnellerie Loureiro vs. Latarie (Pty) Ltd). In a recent case, a settlement agreement in these terms was made an order of court.
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