What does Rule 42.4 empower the court to specify regarding costs?

Rule 42.4 of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules empowers the court to specify a gross sum instead of requiring detailed assessment of costs. This provision is particularly useful in streamlining the process of recovering costs, as it offers the court flexibility in determining what it sees as a fair and just sum without necessitating a detailed account of every individual expense incurred.

This approach can expedite resolution in cases where assessing precise costs may be cumbersome or unnecessary, thus facilitating quicker settlements or judgments. The use of a gross sum allows both parties to avoid the protracted process of cost assessment, which can drain resources and prolong disputes.

In contrast, other choices focus on aspects that are less aligned with the intention of Rule 42.4, such as dictating a total sum of incurred costs, limiting reimbursement to only reasonable costs, or permitting excessive costs without limitation, which do not align with the intent of the rule to foster efficiency and fairness in cost assessments.