Expert Costs Add Up.

Plaintiffs turned down a $10,000 offer made under Civ.Proc. §998 and the matter proceeded to trial.  Ford won and submitted a cost bill totaling $185,741.82.  The court rejected plaintiff’s argument the offer was unreasonable and made in bad faith and that, besides, the expert witness fees were not reasonably necessary for Ford’s trial preparation.  The Court of Appeal found the trial court did not abuse its discretion when it denied plaintiff’s motion to tax costs.  Adams v. Ford Motor Company   (Cal. App. Second Dist., Div. 1;  September 29, 2011) (Ord. Pub.; October 19, 2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 1475, [132 Cal.Rptr.3d 424].