ACS:Law faces massive legal bill for wasting court's time

Controversial law firm ACS:Law may have to pay all the costs incurred as part of its notorious legal action against broadband ISP customers it accused of taking part in illegal internet copyright infringement.

Andrew Crossley, the last registered solicitor at ACS:Law since it ceased trading in February, was widely lambasted for sending intimidating letters to thousands of ISP customers in the hope that the alleged file sharers would pay fines out of court.

Out of the 10,000 letter recipients some 26 were hauled into court by ACS:Law, but after receiving some attention from hacktivist group Anonymous and perhaps a dose of common sense, Crossley asked to have the lawsuits dismissed.

Judge Birss QC ruled that he was "quite satisfied" that the application for wasted costs could go ahead because Crossley had breached standard solicitor conduct.

Claims for wasted costs are only allowed when a legal representative has acted improperly, unreasonably or negligently.

Judge Birss said that "ACS:Law's conduct was chaotic and lamentable" and he did not "doubt that this led to unnecessarily incurred costs".

Birss went on to describe Crossley's behaviour as "amatuerish and slipshod".

The opportunity to send the letters out was created by the Digital Economy Act, which attempts to protect against online copyright infringement.