CIVIL PROCEDURE BACK TO BASICS 30: THE ADVANTAGES OF APPLYING FOR AN EXTENSION BEFORE THE DATE OF BREACH: THE CASE KEEPS MOMENTUM
In Robert –v- Momentum Services Limited [2003] EWCA Civ 299 the Court of Appeal held that where an application for an extension of time is made before the expiry of the stipulated period this was not a case as one of relief from sanctions. The…
JUDGE WAS WRONG TO IMPOSE SECURITY FOR COSTS ORDER IN RESPONSE TO WITNESS STATEMENT BEING SERVED LATE: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION
In Gama Aviation (UK) Ltd v Taleveras Petroleum Trading DMCC [2019] EWCA Civ 119 the Court of Appeal overturned a first instance decision where a summary judgment application was adjourned on terms that the defendant provided security for costs. The defendant…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS GRANTED WHEN WITNESS STATEMENT SERVED LATE: DECISION UPHELD ON APPEAL
In Petrou v Lambrou (t/a KCJ Builders) [2019] EWHC 166 (Comm) Mr Justice Freedman upheld the decision of a circuit judge who granted the defendant relief from sanctions when a witness statement was served late. Interestingly the judge, on appeal, exercised…
SERVICE OF CLAIM FORM BY EMAIL ALLOWED: THE SAFEGUARDS TO RESPONDENTS TO WITHOUT NOTICE APPLICATIONS.
The case and issues in Linklaters LLP -v- Mellish [2019] EWHC 177 (QB) have already made the headlines. The procedural aspects of the decision are also of interest. Firstly Mr Justice Warby made an order allowing service of the claim form…
PERIODICAL PAYMENTS, ASBESTOS CASES AND THE CONDUCT OF LITIGATION: AMBUSH IS TO BE AVOIDED
In the judgment today in Howard v The Imperial London Hotels Ltd [2019] EWHC 202 (QB) Master Thornett had to consider whether periodical payments were suitable for someone with a very short life expectancy. The judgment is a careful and sensitive…
PROVING THINGS 140: SPECULATIVE EVIDENCE NOT ENOUGH TO PROVE A “LOSS OF CHANCE”
In Dymoke v Association for Dance Movement Pyschotherapy UK Ltd [2019] EWHC 94 (QB) Mr Justice Popplewell found that a claimant had not adduced sufficient evidence to prove a “loss of chance” in a claim for damages. This shows that a…
CONDITIONAL FEE AGREEMENT DID NOT CONTINUE AFTER A SOLICITOR HAD CEASED TO ACT: DEFENDANT NOT LIABLE TO PAY COSTS TO FIRST SET OF SOLICITORS
I am grateful to Matthew Hoe from Taylor Rose TTKW for sending me a copy of the decision of HHJ Wulwik in Roman -v- AXA Insurance PLC (13/12/2018). Roman v AXA Insurance [2018] (1) The judge found that a CFA with…
BEING A LITIGATOR “WHAT I’D TELL A YOUNGER ME”: THE SECRET BARRISTER’S SELF-DEFENCE INSTRUCTOR: SARAH ROBSON
The aim of this series is to give an insight into the experiences of a wide range of people involved in litigation. This interview, however, posed a unique problem: how do you interview someone with a black belt in Taekwando?…
CIVIL PROCEDURE BACK TO BASICS 29: EXPERTS AND FACTS: EXPERTS WHO VENTURE ONTO THE JUDGE’S TERRITORY DON’T USUALLY FARE TOO WELL
We have seen several cases recently where judges have objected, in clear terms, to an expert trying to find “facts”. That is properly a matter for the trial judge. It is worthwhile looking at the guidance and cases on this…
LITIGATORS AND THE ART OF PERSUASION: USEFUL GUIDES (1): MUNKMAN ON THE TECHNIQUE OF ADVOCACY
Every litigator is, involved in the art of persuasion. Litigation is fundamentally about the art of persuasion. Persuasion is a litigator’s daily task: in correspondence, on the phone, with opponents. It is wrong to confine the consideration of this essential skill…
WHEN WITNESS STATEMENTS ARE USELESS (AND PROBABLY HARMFUL): A FEW CASES TO ILLUSTRATE A COMMON POINT
For the third (and last) time I am returning to the judgment of HHJ Halliwell in Currie v Thornley & Anor [2019] EWHC. 172 (Ch). This time the judge’s observations in relation to witness statements. Using witness statements to “argue” the case…
THE ABSENCE OF KEY DOCUMENTS CANNOT BE EASILY IGNORED: CLAIMANT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL: JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT OVERTURNED ON APPEAL
In Mackenzie v Alcoa Manufacturing (GB) Ltd [2019] EWHC 149 (QB) Mr Justice Garnham overturned a judgment in favour of a defendant. The defendant’s failure to produce key documents, or give any explanation for their not being available, was a major…
THE ORDER THE COURTS CAN MAKE WHEN A DEFENDANT HAS DIED AND THERE ARE NO EXECUTORS OR ADMINISTRATORS
Another aspect of the judgment Currie v Thornley & Anor [2019] EWHC. 172 (Ch) relates to the order the courts can make when a defendant in a civil action has died. THE CASE One of two defendants in a civil action had…
JUDGE ALLOWS CLAIMANT TO RELY ON MATTERS THAT TOOK PLACE AFTER TRIAL: VERY, VERY LATE AMENDMENT ALLOWED
There are several interesting procedural issues that arise in the judgment of HHJ Halliwell (sitting as a High Court Judge) in Currie v Thornley & Anor [2019] EWHC. 172 (Ch). One of which is the judge’s decision to allow the claimant…
FRESH PROCEEDINGS CAN BE ISSUED IF FIRST PROCEEDINGS ON BEHALF OF THE DECEASED WERE A NULLITY: DENTON CONSIDERED
In the judgment today in Hutson & Anor, The Personal Representatives of v Tata Steel UK Ltd [2019] EWHC 143 (QB) Mr Justice Turner considered several points relating to the ability of those acting on behalf of an estate to…
HAVING A COPY OF WITNESS STATEMENTS AVAILABLE AT COURT: IT IS IN THE RULES
One other aspect of the decision in Prosser v British Airways Plc [2018] EW Misc B13 is worth noting. There was a rare reference to the requirements of CPR 32.13(1). Copy witness statements must be available at the trial for inspection. …
PROVING THINGS 139: WHEN THE JUDGE HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER ITS ALL BEEN A BIT OF A CRUSH
Most of the cases looked at in this series are decisions in the High Court. However issues of witness credibility and accuracy are a constant issue throughout virtually every layer of court and tribunal. In Prosser v British Airways Plc [2018]…
CIVIL PROCEDURE BACK TO BASICS 28: EXHIBITS TO WITNESS STATEMENTS AND AFFIDAVITS
The “exhibiting” of documents to witness statements and affidavits is common. It is surprising how common it is for the exhibit, and the witness statement, to fail to comply with the rules. Here we look at the rules relating to…
ANOTHER CIVIL CONTEMPT OF COURT OVERTURNED: BREACHES OF REQUIREMENT FOR A FAIR HEARING MEANT ORDER MUST BE QUASHED
I am starting to lose count of the number of times the Court of Appeal has overturned decisions committing people to prison because of very basic and fundamental failures of procedure. It is as though all the strictures against fair…
WHEN YOU’VE SPENT ALL YOUR MONEY ON LEGAL COSTS: NO REMEDY AVAILABLE: LITTLE SYMPATHY WHEN YOUR NET INCOME IS THE SAME AS A CIRCUIT JUDGE
This blog usually looks at family cases in the context of evidence or costs. The decision in Daga v Bangur [2018] EWFC 91 has a salutary tale to tell in relation to costs. There is also an interesting comparison in relation…
CIVIL PROCEDURE BACK TO BASICS 27: WAIVING LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE IN A WITNESS STATEMENT
One matter that all litigators must be aware of is that there is a risk of waiving privilege when mentioning legal advice in a witness statement. This can (and does) happen even when the statement states, expressly, that the maker…
ORDER GRANTING TIME TO EXTEND SERVICE SET ASIDE: THE DEEMED DATE FOR SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: A BLAST FROM THE PAST: STILL APPLIES TO SERVICE ABROAD
The judgment in Punjab National Bank (International) Ltd v Srinivasan & Ors [2019] EWHC 89 (Ch) contains two interesting lessons (i) a court can always set aside an order extending time for service of proceedings; (ii) the “old” rules relating to…
WHEN THE COURT LETS YOU DOWN: A WORRYING CHRONOLOGY
In BC v BG [2019] EWFC 7 the court rejected an application to set aside an arbitration award made in ancillary relief proceedings. The application was unsuccessful (and the applicant awarded to pay costs). However the issue of concern is the…
CIVIL PROCEDURE BACK TO BASICS 26: WHEN CAN A WITNESS BE EXCLUDED FROM THE COURT HEARING?
In civil proceedings witnesses are commonly present throughout an entire action. On occasions a request is made that witnesses be excluded. There is little authority for the proposition that a court can exclude witnesses or guidance as to how the discretion…
THE ADMISSIBILITY OF POLICE REPORTS AS EVIDENCE: NO NEGLIGENCE WHEN DRIVER FEARED HE WAS TO BE ASSAULTED: A CASE TO POINT
In Mohmed v Barnes & Anor [2019] EWHC 87 (QB) Mr Justice Turner found that a driver had not been negligent when he drove into a pedestrian an attempt to escape an assault. The case is important in relation to an…
UNDERSTANDING LEGAL TERMINOLOGY: USEFUL GUIDANCE: IT DOESN’T ALL RES IPSA LOQUITUR YOU KNOW
The Radio 4 programme “Word of Mouth” had a programme last week on “legal language”: “demystifying the language of the court room”. This led one of the participants, barrister, author and blogger Lucy Reed to write a post “Why do…
ASSESSING WITNESS CREDIBILITY: EX-FOOTBALL CLUB DIRECTORS’ EVIDENCE: ITS ALL A LOAD OF COBBLERS
This blog has looked at issues of witness credibility many times. There is a useful summary in the judgment of HHJ Simon Barker QC in Northampton Borough Council v Cardoza & Ors [2019] EWHC 26 (Ch) contains a review of the…
DETAILED ASSESSMENTS WILL NOT OVERSTEP THE MARK: THE COURTS WILL NOT (GENERALLY) REVISIT MATTERS RELATING TO THE CONDUCT OF THE CASE ON ASSESSMENT
There is an interesting and important judgment by Deputy Master Friston in Andrews v Retro Computers Ltd [2019] EWHC B2 (Costs) which highlights the dangers of attempting to use detailed assessment as a means of challenging the receiving party’s conduct. I…
THE LANGUAGE OF LAW: A JUDGMENT THAT IS WRITTEN FOR THE BENEFIT OF A CHILD
A short tweet I did yesterday has caused dozens of comments. It is not about a civil case but a family case. However it is a matter of universal interest, the language of law. In this case the judgment had…
CIVIL PROCEDURE: BACK TO BASICS 25: FATAL ACCIDENT ACT LIMITATION PERIODS AND CHILDREN
The law of limitation for Fatal Accidents Act claims for children is often misunderstood. Here we look at the limitation period in relation to fatal accident claims and children. There are two issues: the limitation period when any of…
PRACTICE NOTE: BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS IN MANCHESTER: NO BUNDLE NO HEARING
Below I reproduce a Practice Note issued Mr Justice Barling, Vice-Chancellor of the County Palatine of Lancaster. It deals with a transition process up to the point where (later this year) parties can file all documents electronically in the Manchester…
LITIGATORS KEEP A CAREFUL LOOK OUT: ITS YOUR DUTY TO MONITOR YOUR EXPERT’S CONDUCT (OTHERWISE ITS YOUR CLIENT THAT SUFFERS)
One specific aspect of the judgment in Mayr & Ors v CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP [2018] EWHC 3669 (Comm) that needs emphasising is the duty the case places on a litigant’s lawyers to monitor the conduct of an expert and…
ELECTRONIC BUNDLES, WITNESSES AND THE TRIAL PROCESS: A WARNING FROM THE COURTS: SORT THIS OUT OR THE COURT WILL GO BACK TO PAPER BUNDLES
There is a warning to anyone considering the use of electronic bundles at trial contained in the judgment of Mr Justice Birss in Invista Textiles (UK) Ltd & Anor v Botes & Ors [2019] EWHC 58 (Ch). THE CASE The judge…
TRANSPARENCY PROJECT: TRAINING FOR LAWYERS: 29th JANUARY 2019
The Transparency Project is running a training course for lawyers on the 29th January 2019 at Gresham College, Holborn, London. Attendance is free of charge, although those who attend are invited to make a donation to further the work of…
INTRANSIGENT EXPERT’S APPROACH LEADS TO “SIGNIFICANT PART OF CLAIMANT’S CASE BEING STRUCK OUT”: A CASE FOR EVERY EXPERT AND LITIGATOR TO READ – NOW
The judgment of Mr Justice Males in Mayr & Ors v CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP [2018] EWHC 3669 (Comm) is one of the most robust I have seen in relation to expert evidence. An expert’s failure to properly engage…
COURT DID NOT EXERCISE ITS DISCRETION TO POSTPONE THE PAYMENT OF COSTS: THE CLAIMANT COULD NOT OBTAIN SECURITY FOR COSTS BY OBTAINING AN ORDER DEFERRING PAYMENT OF COSTS
There is an interesting decision today in JSC VTB Bank v Skurikhin & Ors [2019] EWHC 69 (Comm), Andrew Henshaw QC, sitting as a Judge of the High Court. The court refused to delay payment of costs to a defendant…
PROVING THINGS 138 : A WHOPPER OF AN OMISSION: McDONALD’S FAILS TO PROVE TRADEMARK RIGHTS TO “BIG MAC”: ADEQUATE EVIDENCE WAS NOT ON THE MENU
I am grateful to Yisroel for pointing out the decision of the European Union Intellectual Property Office in the “Big Mac” case. It is not my usual reading. However Yisroel points out that McDonald’s failed because of a basic failure…
THE SECRET BARRISTER T SHIRT COMPETITION: THE OUTCOME: THE COTTON T-SHIRT IS NOW ON ITS WAY TO A SILK…
The signed Secret Barrister T-shirt has been successfully sold by way of a Twitter Auction. THE RESULT Fortunately (for me at least) there was none of the drama of last year where I managed to have two successful bidders for …
CIVIL PROCEDURE: BACK TO BASICS 24: THE BANKRUPT CLAIMANT (PERSONAL INJURY LITIGANTS IN PARTICULAR)
I am writing this primarily because of a conversation I had with a law graduate who thought the term “bankruptcy” was a generic term to cover anyone who was hard up. The very basic point about what bankruptcy is, and…
EXPERTS IN THE FAMILY COURT: PERMISSION TO ADDUCE EXPERT EVIDENCE REFUSED
I usually look at cases in the family courts when there are judgments that may be of some interest to civil litigators. The judgment of Mr Justice Keehan in M v Derbyshire County Council & Ors [2018] EWHC 3734 (Fam) …
FATAL ACCIDENTS: AVOIDING THE PITFALLS: WEBINAR 29th MARCH 2019
I am presenting a webinar on avoiding the pitfalls in fatal accident claims on the 29th March 2019, 1 – 2 pm. The idea came about from of a number of search terms that led to this blog, including “fatal…
PROVING THINGS 137: PROVING A DEFENCE TO A COUNTERCLAIM: NO EVIDENCE TO PROVE MATTERS – THEN JUDGMENT IS GOING TO BE ENTERED AGAINST YOU
The judgment in UK Dry Risers Ltd v Maher [2019] EWHC 44 (QB) shows the importance of being able to prove a defence to a counterclaim. The claimant succeeded on a claim for £3,690.72, the defendant obtained a judgment for £13,628.00. …
THE SPI NORTH (NON-ADMISSION IN PLEADING CASE) IN THE COURT OF APPEAL: THE SECOND POINT: COMPELLING EVIDENCE NEEDED AND NO SATELLITE LITIGATION PLEASE
Yesterday’s post on SPI North Ltd v Swiss Post International (UK) Ltd & Anor [2019] EWCA Civ 7 concentrated upon the Court of Appeal guidance in relation to the drafting of a pleading. However the second point on which the claimant’s appeal …
A WHOLE COURT OF APPEAL CASE ABOUT WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE TO DRAFT A “NON-ADMISSION”: NO DUTY ON A DEFENDANT TO SEEK OUT INFORMATION FROM A THIRD PARTY WHEN DRAFTING A DEFENCE
In the judgment today in SPI North Ltd v Swiss Post International (UK) Ltd & Anor [2019] EWCA Civ 7 the Court of Appeal carried out a close analysis of the rules relating to pleading a defence. In particular the…
“CIVIL JUSTICE IS A PUBLIC GOOD”: SPEECH BY LORD JUSTICE GROSS: WHY WE ARE WORKING IN THE “CINDERELLA” SECTOR
This morning I am encouraging you all to read the speech of Lord Justice Gross given to the London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association Annual Lecture. It is a wide-ranging speech, the essential theme is that Civil Justice is…
YOU CAN’T MAKE SOMEONE BANKRUPT IF THEY’VE GOT NOTHING: AN INTERESTING APPEAL
In Lock v Aylesbury Vale District Council [2018] EWHC 2015 (Ch) HHJ Hodge QC (sitting as a High Court judge) allowed an appeal against the granting of a bankruptcy petition. Essentially the petition should have not have been granted because the…
PUPILLAGE & HOW TO GET IT: A WHOLE NEW OUTLOOK: A WEBSITE WELL WORTH READING
One of the (many) surprising things I have come across as a result of starting this blog is a recommendation (almost a requirement) from a prominent set of chambers that their prospective pupils read it before attending for interviews ….
NON-PARTY COSTS ORDER AGAINST INSURER: UNTANGLING THE WEB
In Various Claimants v Giambrone & Law (a firm) & Ors [2019] EWHC 34 (QB) a non-party costs order was made against the defendant insurers. It provides a (fairly complex) example of a court determining a non-party order. This “summary procedure”…
TIME FOR APPEALING: ANOTHER TRICKY POINT TO WATCH: TIME RUNS FROM THE DATE OF THE DECISION AND NOT ANY LATER DATE: A HELPFUL GUIDE TO THE PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED
In McDonald v Rose & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 4 the Court of Appeal highlighted an important point in relation to the time for appealing. Time for appealing runs from the date that the decision is given, not a later date….
THE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS: GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WHO GO LIVE AT LEEDS
HHJ Malcolm Davis-White QC has sent out guidance for the County Court at Leeds Property and Business Work. Solicitors and advocates may want to note the strictures in relation the filing of bundles and skeleton arguments in particular. Note it…
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