Landlords and tenants who are involved in civil court cases may be affected by a change in the way cases are dealt with.
Issues such as landlord and tenant action and personal injury claims are heard in civil court cases.
Lord Justice Jackson today (January 15th) published his Review of Civil Litigation Costs, which examined the financial side of such cases.
One of his main conclusions was that more money will be paid to the victims of events rather than to "intermediaries", Lord Justice Jackson noted.
Conditional Fee Agreements (CFAs) - also known as "no win, no fee" agreements - will see an overhaul as a result of the report.
At the moment, the losing side in these agreements must pay the success fee and insurance premiums of the lawyer who wins the case.
This can be many times more than the action actually cost.
Lord Justice Jackson recommended that lawyers should be paid out by the winning side instead.
Success fees should be no more than 25 per cent of the total pay out, he advised. Also known as a contingent fee, the money is only payable if there is a favourable result.
Written by John Weeks
