Oikeudenkäyntikululaki

Oikeudenkäyntikululaki, or the Act on Legal Costs, is a Finnish statute that governs the allocation of costs incurred during legal proceedings. The primary principle enshrined in the law is that the losing party in a legal dispute is generally obligated to compensate the winning party for their reasonable legal expenses. This principle aims to deter frivolous litigation and ensure that parties are not unduly burdened by the costs of defending themselves against unfounded claims or pursuing valid ones.

The law specifies what constitutes reimbursable legal costs, typically including attorney fees, court fees, and other necessary expenses related to the proceedings. It also outlines exceptions to the general rule, such as situations where the court deems it equitable to deviate from the principle of allocating costs based on the outcome. This might occur if a party has acted in bad faith, unnecessarily prolonged the proceedings, or if the dispute involves complex issues where neither party can be clearly identified as the sole winner.

Furthermore, the Oikeudenkäyntikululaki provides mechanisms for assessing and determining the amount of legal costs to be reimbursed. This often involves a process where the winning party submits a detailed claim for their expenses, which the losing party can then contest. The court ultimately decides on the final amount of compensation. The legislation plays a crucial role in the Finnish legal system by balancing the rights of parties to access justice with the need for efficient and fair dispute resolution.