The judge presiding over the continuing legal battle between Multiplex and Mott MacDonald over Wembley stadium is urging the pair to resolve it by mediation, as he revealed that combined costs for the firms have risen to 拢73.2m.
Multiplex is expected to spend 拢45.7m on the case by next January (of which 拢12m has already been spent on expert advice); Mott MacDonald鈥檚 costs will reach 拢27.5m.
It also emerged that the 拢253m case, which is due to be heard in January 2011, would now take four weeks instead of the envisaged two, leading to rising costs on both sides.
In a hearing this week, Mr Justice Coulson said a mediation service 鈥渨ould be a sensible next step, to be taken sooner rather than later鈥�.
He added that should the case be heard, he would base his cost orders in part on both firms鈥� willingness to participate in mediation.
A legal source said: 鈥淭hese costs are staggering. The firms need to seriously consider mediation, otherwise whoever wins could still have costs awarded against them.鈥�
Meanwhile, Mott MacDonald is continuing to prepare its counter-defence, which will come in one month later than expected, at the end of April.
