Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Coroners Act 2008 - SECT 74

Power of coroner to award costs

74. Power of coroner to award costs



(1) Subject to subsection (2), every person appearing before the Coroners
Court who is represented by an Australian lawyer is to bear their own costs in
relation to the inquest.

(2) If, in a particular case, a coroner is of the opinion that a person (the
first person) has acted unreasonably during an investigation or inquest, the
coroner may order the first person to pay all, or a specified part, of the
expenses (other than economic loss) reasonably incurred by another person (the
second person)-

   (a)  as a result of the unreasonable actions of the first person; and

   (b)  that relate to the participation of the second person in the
        investigation or inquest.

(3) If a person is awarded costs under subsection (2), the costs may be
recovered by the person as a debt due to the person in a court of competent
jurisdiction.