Following a civil jury trial arising from a motor vehicle accident where liability was admitted, the plaintiffs recovered modest damages far below the amounts claimed.
The plaintiffs sought over $422,000 in partial indemnity costs while the defendants argued the claim was disproportionate and relied on prior settlement offers.
The court analyzed proportionality, conduct of the litigation, trial duration, settlement efforts, and Rule 57.01 cost factors.
Although the defendants’ offers did not strictly comply with Rule 49.10, they were considered relevant under Rule 49.13.
Balancing the disproportionate costs sought, litigation conduct, settlement history, and the plaintiffs’ financial circumstances, the court declined to award costs to either side.