Solicitors can claim RTA Protocol costs for claims which dropped out after the first stage, the Court of Appeal has held. Stage 1 of the three-stage fixed costs protocol ascertains whether the defendant’s insurer admits liability. J C and A Solicitors v Andeen Iqbal & Ors [2017] EWCA Civ 355 concerned three claims where the insurer admitted liability and paid the fixed cost but the claimant took no further steps and the claims became statute-barred. Lord Justice Briggs held that the law firms were entitled to the costs.