What is the general rule about costs after the trial in civil procedure?

• A. Costs usually follow the event; the winning party pays the losing party's costs
• B. The losing party pays the winning party's costs
• C. Each party bears their own costs
• D. Costs are fixed at the start of trial

Answer: (A)

The general rule in civil procedure is that costs follow the event. This means the losing party usually pays the winning party’s costs, compensating the winner for time and expenses and discouraging baseless claims. After judgment, the successful party applies for an order for costs, and the court will typically require the losing side to pay reasonable costs on the standard basis (though the court can depart from this in certain circumstances). In short, the default expectation is that the party who loses bears the costs of the case, unless a different order is justified.