What does &#39;attach costs&#39; mean?
<p>Mindy Chen-Wishart. <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Contract-Law-Mindy-Chen-Wishart/dp/0198806353/ref=dp_ob_title_bk" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><em>Contract Law</em> (2018 6 edn)</a>. p 495.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/0oSC7.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/0oSC7.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>If a judge awards claimant nominal damages, this means the defendant lost and must pay costs. Thus I'd guess 'attach' to mean 'impose' or 'award'? But the dictionary's definition doesn't fit. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If a judge awards claimant nominal damages, this means the defendant
  lost and must pay costs. Thus I'd guess 'attach' to mean 'impose' or
  'award'? But the dictionary's definition doesn't fit.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In this context attach means precisely what you are guessing that it means, the winner gets nominal damages and the costs to which they are entitled to as a prevailing party.</p>

<p>The terms "impose" or "award" would be more conventional and less confusing, but in this particular context, this is what is meant.</p>

legal-terms