Arokiasamy Steven Joseph v Lee Boon Chuan Nelson: Costs for Dismissed Summonses

In Arokiasamy Steven Joseph and Tan Kin Tee v Lee Boon Chuan Nelson, Gomathinayagam Kandasami, and Institute of Mental Health, the High Court of Singapore addressed the issue of costs following the dismissal of two summonses brought by Arbiters Inc Law Corporation. The court ordered Arbiters to pay costs to the plaintiffs, the first defendant, and the third defendant, rejecting Arbiters' submissions that the other parties should be liable for costs. The court fixed the quantum of costs to be paid to each party.

1. Case Overview

1.1 Court

General Division of the High Court of the Republic of Singapore

1.2 Outcome

Arbiters Inc Law Corporation ordered to pay costs to the plaintiffs, the first defendant, and the third defendant.

1.3 Case Type

Civil

1.4 Judgment Type

Judgment

1.5 Jurisdiction

Singapore

1.6 Description

Costs arising from dismissed summonses. The court ordered Arbiters Inc Law Corporation to pay costs to the plaintiffs and certain defendants.

1.7 Decision Date

2. Parties and Outcomes

Party NameRoleTypeOutcomeOutcome TypeCounsels
Arokiasamy Steven JosephPlaintiffIndividualCosts awardedWon
Tan Kin TeePlaintiffIndividualCosts awardedWon
Lee Boon Chuan NelsonDefendantIndividualCosts awardedWon
Gomathinayagam KandasamiDefendantIndividualNeutralNeutral
Institute of Mental HealthDefendantGovernment AgencyCosts awardedWon

3. Judges

Judge NameTitleDelivered Judgment
Choo Han TeckJudge of the High CourtYes

4. Counsels

Counsel NameOrganization
Vijay Kumar RaiArbiters Inc Law Corporation
Anil Narain BalchandaniRed Lion Circle
Samuel Lim Jie BinDonaldson & Burkinshaw LLP
Thanjit Kaur SekhonDonaldson & Burkinshaw LLP
Kuah Boon ThengLegal Clinic LLC
Shenna TjoaLegal Clinic LLC
Felicia ChainLegal Clinic LLC

4. Facts

  1. Arbiters Inc Law Corporation filed two summonses, SUM 2331 and SUM 2424.
  2. The plaintiffs had discharged Arbiters and Red Lion Circle before SUM 2331 was filed.
  3. SUM 2331 sought to secure settlement money for Arbiters' fees.
  4. SUM 2424 sought to join Arbiters as a party to the suit.
  5. Both summonses were dismissed in the judgment of 25 August 2023.
  6. The parties could not agree on the quantum of costs.
  7. The plaintiffs are now litigants-in-person.

5. Formal Citations

  1. Arokiasamy Steven Joseph (administrator of the estate of Salvin Foster Steven, deceased) and anothervLee Boon Chuan Nelson and others and other matters, Suit No 833 of 2020, [2023] SGHC 291

6. Timeline

DateEvent
Suit No 833 of 2020 filed
Judgment issued in Arokiasamy Steven Joseph v Lee Boon Chuan Nelson [2023] SGHC 230
Hearing date
Judgment reserved
Judgment issued

7. Legal Issues

  1. Quantum of costs to be awarded to successful litigant-in-person
    • Outcome: The court determined the appropriate quantum of costs to be awarded to the plaintiffs, taking into account their status as litigants-in-person.
    • Category: Procedural
    • Related Cases:
      • [2023] SGHC 52

8. Remedies Sought

  1. Costs

9. Cause of Actions

  • No cause of actions

10. Practice Areas

  • Litigation

11. Industries

  • Legal Services

12. Cited Cases

Case NameCourtAffirmedCitationJurisdictionSignificance
Arokiasamy Steven Joseph (administrator of the estate of Salvin Foster Steven, deceased) and another v Lee Boon Chuan Nelson and others and other mattersHigh CourtYes[2023] SGHC 230SingaporeRefers to the judgment where the summonses were dismissed, leading to the present costs determination.
Mah Kiat Seng v Attorney-General and othersHigh CourtYes[2023] SGHC 52SingaporeCited for the principle of capping costs for litigants-in-person, following the UK Civil Procedure Rules.

13. Applicable Rules

Rule Name
Rules of Court 2014 (O 59 r 18A)
Rules of Court 2021 (O 21 r 7)

14. Applicable Statutes

Statute NameJurisdiction
No applicable statutes

15. Key Terms and Keywords

15.1 Key Terms

  • Costs
  • Litigant-in-person
  • Quantum of costs
  • Summonses
  • Party-and-party costs
  • Solicitor-and-client costs

15.2 Keywords

  • costs
  • litigant in person
  • singapore
  • court
  • judgment

17. Areas of Law

Area NameRelevance Score
Costs95
Quantum of costs80
Civil Practice75
Litigant-in-person70
Contract Law30
Evidence Law25

16. Subjects

  • Civil Procedure
  • Legal Costs