Costs: Routine Costs Neither Expressly Listed Nor Prohibited Can Include Items Which Litigators Routinely Believe Are Justified

Read On … For the List!

     Ramos v. Romero, Case No. E062963 (4^th Dist., Div. 2 Mar. 30, 2016) (unpublished) hopefully will bring a smile to many California state litigators as far as routine costs which can be recouped when they are not expressly prohibited or not expressly listed, invoking trial court discretion to award them as reasonable and necessary under Code of Civil Procedure section 1033.5(c)(2)-(3).

     Here are the routine costs found to be awardable if reasonable and necessary in nature:

· Certified copies of documents (authenticity);

· CourtCall appearance fees;

· Recording fee for a lis pendens;

· Attorney service costs;

· Litigation guarantee from title insurance company;

· Court attendance parking fees (if reasonable—these were under $50).