Cambridge wins day's costs at price of two

Cambridge University successfully recovered a day's legal costs in its battle with lecturer Gill Evans in the High Court last week - but only at the cost of an extra two days in court.

Dr Evans has always represented herself in her battle to reform the university's promotions procedures. Last week the university succeeded in forcing Dr Evans to pay the university's legal costs incurred defending her unsuccessful application for leave for judicial review in May this year (she won leave in an earlier High Court application).

Mr Justice Taylor ruled: "There are no sufficient circumstances which would justify me in refusing the application for costs." But he added: "The costs of today's hearing will not be ordered to be paid by Dr Evans." Each side had to pay its own costs.

Dr Evans's campaign to reform the university's promotion procedures and to have her case for promotion reviewed by an independent panel has so far cost the university up to Pounds 150,000 in legal fees.

Dr Evans has always maintained she is ready to negotiate outside court and she has never sought compensation for any personal damage. She had signed up to the independent mediation of former Lord Justice Sir Brian Neill, whose proposed settlement of the row was rejected by the university.

Now Dr Evans will be able to claim a fully itemised bill before she pays.