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I have said this time and time again, unless the civil litigation (and in particular the Claimant PI sector) get their act together and start looking a bit more inwards at these kinds of firms, fixed costs and increasing the threshold for claims being in the fast track or multi track simply cannot be fought off. I have worked on both sides of the fence in costs work and I can say with great certainty that there are a good number of firms out there who regularly claim inflated costs. We see with great regularity budgets presented for PL claims, employers liability claims and RTA claims from firms in the traditional Band 1 and 2 regions claiming up to £409.00 per hour and beyond for claims that would traditionally be lucky to get guideline grade A rates. The judges appear to be getting esxasberated by it and the budgets are slashed by tens of thousands. I had one across my desk yesterday for a liability admitted RTA, 2 day trial expected, the firm was in the old Band 2 region and they were claiming £390 p/h!!! Yes, the costs can be reduced at the CCMC or assessment but it gives an awful impression of greedy Claimant Solicitors that need to have their costs controlled and fixing them is the only way.