Recoverable costs under 28 U.S.C. 1920 include filing fees, transcript costs, printing, witness fees, copying for use in the case, and certain exemplification. Attorney fees are not costs absent a fee-shifting provision.
The clerk taxes costs subject to court review.
Alternative Names:
Costs Bill, Taxation of Costs
Why it Matters?
Recoverable categories are narrower than parties expect, and e-discovery costs are the recurring dispute since courts have divided on whether processing and hosting fall within exemplification and copying. Most circuits construe the categories narrowly, permitting only conversion costs directly analogous to copying. Expert fees beyond the statutory witness attendance rate are not recoverable absent a separate authorization.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Are e-discovery costs recoverable?
Are expert fees recoverable as costs?
