When an action pending in a District or Superior Court or in the Supreme Court involves the trial of several and distinct issues or of several and distinct claims, in taxing the costs, the court shall allow to each party the costs accruing upon the issues or claims upon which he or she prevails. (Amended 1965, No. 194, § 10, eff. July 1, 1965, operative Feb. 1, 1967; 1973, No. 193 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. April 9, 1974.)