(a) Standards for costs.--The governing authority shall prescribe by general rule the standards governing the imposition and taxation of costs, including the items which constitute taxable costs, the litigants who shall bear such costs, and the discretion vested in the courts to modify the amount and responsibility for costs in specific matters. All system and related personnel shall be bound by such general rules. In prescribing such general rules, the governing authority shall be guided by the following considerations, among others:
(1) Attorney's fees are not an item of taxable costs except to the extent authorized by section 2503 (relating to right of participants to receive counsel fees).
(2) The prevailing party should recover his costs from the unsuccessful litigant except where the:
(i) Costs relate to the existence, possession or disposition of a fund and the costs should be borne by the fund.
(ii) Question involved is a public question or where the applicable law is uncertain and the purpose of the litigants is primarily to clarify the law.
(iii) Application of the rule would work substantial injustice.
(3) The imposition of actual costs or a multiple thereof may be used as a penalty for violation of general rules or rules of court.
(b) Private collection agencies.--The governing authority shall have the option of turning over delinquent accounts to private collection agencies which shall be selected through the competitive bidding process.
(Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1269, No.167, eff. imd.)
Cross References. Section 1726 is referred to in sections 1702, 3542 of this title.
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 42 - JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 17 - Governance of the System
Section 1701 - General supervisory and administrative authority of the Supreme Court
Section 1702 - Rule making procedures
Section 1703 - Meeting procedures
Section 1721 - Delegation of powers
Section 1722 - Adoption of administrative and procedural rules
Section 1723 - General supervisory and administrative authority
Section 1724 - Personnel of the system
Section 1725 - Establishment of fees and charges
Section 1725.2 - Assumption of summary conviction costs by county
Section 1725.3 - Criminal laboratory and paramedic user fee
Section 1725.4 - Fee increases and automation fee
Section 1725.5 - Booking center fee
Section 1725.6 - Countywide booking center plan
Section 1725.7 - Petition for expungement or order for limited access fee
Section 1726 - Establishment of taxable costs
Section 1726.1 - Forensic examination costs for sexual offenses
Section 1726.2 - Criminal prosecutions involving domestic violence
Section 1727 - Budget and financial matters
Section 1728 - Recognition of related organizations
Section 1729 - Conferences and institutes
Section 1730 - Boards, councils, commissions and committees