# County Court Rules (Northern Ireland) 1981, Rule 20: [ Penalty in costs where oral evidence not reasonably necessary

Extent: N.I.

(1) Where it appears to [ the judge or district judge as the case may be] in any proceedings that—
(a) any witness has been called to give oral evidence where his evidence could have been put before the court in some other manner, and
(b) his giving oral evidence was not reasonably necessary, [ the judge or district judge as the case may be] may order that the costs occasioned by calling the witness to give oral evidence shall fall upon the party who caused his so to be called, and for this purpose may make such provision as he thinks fit either by fixing the amount of such costs in default of agreement between the parties or by making and order for taxation of such costs.
(2) Any costs required to be taxed pursuant to an order under this Rule shall be taxed in the same manner as costs in equity suits or proceedings.]

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/1981/225/part/55/rule/20 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/county-court-rules-northern-ireland-1981/part-55/rule-20
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.