Childish crusade

The ongoing battle between claimant and defendant personal injury lawyers is becoming more personal - and childish - by the day, Obiter hears.

We cannot name names on this, just in case it's not quite correct, but we heard a great story the other day about a conference that took place recently in a hotel involving a number of solicitors from both sides.

They were all sitting around a large table with blank paper name plates in front of them, which they were meant to fill in.

Few had done so, and during a recess, one leading defendant insurance lawyer left the room, allowing someone from the other side to scribble 'Spawn of Satan' on his name plate.

The lawyer returned and was somewhat bemused by the sight of various people sniggering in his direction.

A red hue began to spread across his cheeks, and eventually he turned the name plate around to have a look.

At this point, he apparently stood up in anger and with pointed finger accused a particular claimant nemesis of perpetrating the crime (it wasn't him, we're told).

So the costs war looks set to continue.

At the next Civil Justice Council costs forum, we fully expect to see play pens provided along with toys to chuck out of prams.