In a surprising decision in Kilduff & anor v Tower Insurance Ltd [2018] NZHC 2021 Gendall J ordered Tower Insurance to pay costs of $81,249 and disbursements of $122,515.20 in a case where Kilduff claimed $1,952,891 and only recovered $628,516 after a five day court hearing.  Prior to the court hearing Tower had offered Kilduff $650,000 in August 2017 and $734,000 in October 2017.  Both of these amounts exceeded the repair cost judgment of $628,516.  Nevertheless, Gendall J decided that Kilduff had been successful once he added on costs and disbursements to the judgment sum to get a total of $855,169.20.