Opinion ID: 2199783
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Fees of expert witnesses.

Text: The fees of the expert witnesses called by Solubles were taxed as costs against Fisheries. Fisheries asks for a modification of the ruling on the ground that the major part of the expert testimony was not a deciding factor in the decision of the court below. The Vice-Chancellor fixed the expert witness fees and taxed them against Fisheries pursuant to the authority of 10 Del.C. § 8906. It is to be noted that the cited code section makes this a discretionary act on the part of the judge. To the same effect is Chancery Rule 54(d), Del.C.Ann. We think it unwise to hamper the administration of justice by requiring reliance by the trial judge upon each expert witness called before the fees of that witness may be taxed as part of the costs against the losing party. Such a rule would unduly restrict counsel preparing for trial who must always be prepared to meet, so far as he is able, the vagaries of the judicial mind and the counter tactics of opposing counsel. We think the taxation of all costs is properly to be left to the sound discretion of the trial judge. Furthermore, the exercise of that discretion will not be disturbed in the absence of a showing of abuse. Tri-Continental Corp. v. Battye, 31 Del.Ch. 523, 74 A.2d 71; Meade v. Pacific Gamble Robinson Co., 30 Del.Ch. 509, 58 A.2d 415.