Hawthorne v Cox - SC 35/2008

Civil appeal – costs orders – appeal from decision of the Court of Appeal to refuse leave to appeal from a decision of the High Court not to award costs in favour of the appellant who had successfully challenged a guardianship order – whether leave required when appealing a costs order originating in an appeal – whether the Court of Appeal’s decision not to award costs to the appellant was in the best interests of the child who was the subject of the guardianship order – whether counsel for the child should be immune from a cost order unless there is bad faith or clear incompetence – whether costs may be determined without the need to be heard.[2008] NZCA 146 CA 509/07 4 June 2007