David Rodkiss, a former Carter Holt Harvey engineering manager who successfully sued a wood products company in the Employment Court, has been left almost $30,000 out of pocket, an outcome the presiding judge called "unsatisfactory and of considerable concern".
In an Aug. 27 judgment in the Christchurch Employment Court, Judge Tony Ford awarded costs and disbursements of $149,500 in favour of Rodkiss, on top of the $51,258.85 in compensation and lost wages he won in a March ruling.
The earlier decision asked the parties to try and reach an agreement on costs, something they weren't able to do, and required another decision by the judge, in which "the statistics relating to costs make for disturbing reading" as Rodkiss racked up a $230,313.61 legal bill.
"On those figures, he will still be left significantly out of pocket. I say at once that such an outcome is unsatisfactory and of considerable concern," Judge Ford said.
"Mr Rodkiss, with justification, must be left wondering whether it has all been worthwhile."