Legal Definitions - costs of increase

Definition: Costs of court awarded in addition to what a jury awards. Juries usually awarded the successful party only a small sum for costs. A party wishing to recoup the additional costs had to file an affidavit of increase setting forth what further costs were incurred by taking the matter through trial.

Example: If a plaintiff wins a case and is awarded damages, they may also be entitled to additional costs such as attorney fees, witness payments, and other expenses incurred during the trial. To recoup these costs, the plaintiff would need to file an affidavit of increase.

Explanation: The example illustrates how costs of increase are additional costs awarded to the successful party in a court case. These costs are not automatically included in the jury's award and must be claimed through an affidavit of increase.