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Cost allocation in moot driver's license suspension proceedings

AGVE_2009_22Administrative Court / Chamber 1Dec 31, 2009Not Examined

Open source

Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

This digest concerns Aargau administrative costs in traffic-law cases. It states that, when proceedings over a precautionary driver's license suspension become moot, costs are allocated by a summary assessment of who initiated the administrative and appeal proceedings and at what stage mootness occurred. For the instance before the court where the case became moot, a flat cost split is appropriate, while the lower authority's cost ruling is not to be altered. The digest also notes that under the revised Administrative Procedure Act, procedural and party costs in cases of partial success are allocated according to the new party concept, including set-off.

Omnilex headnote

Cost allocation under the Administrative Procedure Act in moot driver's license suspension proceedings; the decisive criteria are, by summary assessment, which party caused the administrative or appeal proceedings and at which procedural stage the matter became moot. If mootness occurs only before a particular instance, that instance may resort to a lump-sum apportionment of costs, whereas the cost order of the lower authority need not be corrected. In cases of partial success, procedural and party costs are to be distributed according to the revised party concept, including set-off where appropriate.

Full text

2009 Strassenverkehrsrecht 95

I. Strassenverkehrsrecht

22 Entzug des Führerausweises; vorsorglicher Sicherungsentzug

  • Kostenregelung gemäss Verwaltungsrechtspflegegesetz vom 4. Dezember 2007 bei Gegenstandslosigkeit eines Verfahrens betreffend vorsorglicher Sicherungsentzug des Führerausweises.
  • Es ist sachgerecht darauf abzustellen, wer das Verwaltungs- und Beschwerdeverfahren veranlasst hat (summarische Prüfung), und in welchem Stadium (vor welcher Instanz) das Verfahren gegenstandslos geworden ist, wobei sich für das Verfahren vor dieser Instanz eine pauschale Kostenaufteilung aufdrängt, während der Kostenentscheid der Vorinstanz nicht zu korrigieren ist (Bestätigung der Rechtsprechung, vgl. AGVE 1998, S. 160 ff.). vgl. AGVE 2009 52 280 23 Warnungsentzug
  • Verfahrens- und Parteikostenverlegung gemäss Verwaltungsrechtspflegegesetz vom 4. Dezember 2007 bei teilweisem Obsiegen (neuer Parteibegriff; Verrechnung). vgl. AGVE 2009 51 278

Keywords

driver's licensecost allocationmootnessprecautionary measurepartial successparty costs

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

How are costs allocated when a proceeding about a precautionary driver's license suspension becomes moot?

Extracted holding

Costs should be allocated by a summary assessment of who caused the administrative and appeal proceedings and at what procedural stage the case became moot; for the instance before that court, a flat cost split is appropriate.

Extracted reasoning

The court held that the decisive factors are who triggered the proceedings and in which instance the matter became moot. If mootness occurs before a given instance, that instance should generally impose a lump-sum allocation of costs, while the lower instance's cost decision should not be corrected.

Key legal question

How are procedural and party costs allocated when a party only partially prevails under the revised Administrative Procedure Act?

Extracted holding

Procedural and party costs are to be allocated according to the new party concept, including set-off when appropriate, in cases of partial success.

Extracted reasoning

The court applied the cost rules of the revised Administrative Procedure Act and confirmed the approach to costs and party compensation in situations of mixed success.

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