A general rule of thumb would be this, (but not always, if the case is complex this changes).
If the parties have submitted a claim to resolve say 8 issues, both parties submit their reasons for having things done their way etc.
If the final judgment on say 6 of the issues are awarded in one parties favour then it is possible for that party to seek costs for having been successful on the majority of the issues. This basically means that this party was more reasonable in their claims then the non successful party. Therefore the courts feel that had both parties been reasonable they would both have come to the same conclusion not requiring court intervention. Thus the award of costs, to basically deter unreasonable claims.
Of course this is not always the case.
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