Michael Zander QC examines Lord Justice Jackson's preliminary report for indications of his cost recommendations
Lord Justice Rupert Jackson published his Preliminary Report on Costs, as he said he would, on 8 May. I have no doubt that he will be equally punctilious in delivering the final report by the due date, 31 December 2009.
His report (see the writer's Comment in last week's issue: NLJ, 15 May 2009, p 683), is 663 pages long with over 200 pages of appendices. There are 60 chapters divided into 12 parts. The report has no executive summary and no list of recommendations. Here and there Sir Rupert reveals what he calls a tentative view. For the most part he assembles the arguments pro and con and invites views for the second consultation phase of the exercise concluding on 31 July. After that he will settle down to write his final report.
He has however given an indication as to what he regards as the main issues in an introductory section entitled: “Fundamental questions which emerge