A creditor challenged the admission of the proof. The parent company opposed that challenge. On appeal the creditor sought and obtained an indemnity costs order against the parent company, because of the clear falsity of the proof of debt.
The creditor also sought a costs order against the chair of the meeting, a director who had been appointed a month before the creditors’ meeting, whose decision it had been to admit the false proof of debt.
However, under rule 15.35(6) Insolvency Rules “the person who made the decision is not personally liable for costs incurred by any person in relation to an appeal under this rule unless the court makes an order to that effect.”
In the circumstances of this case and against the backdrop of rule 15.35(6) there was no good reason why the chair of the meeting should be personally liable for the costs of the creditor having to appeal the decision to admit the parent company proof of debt.
In the matter of Rochay Productions Limited [2020] EWHC 1737 (Ch)