BOOK REVIEW: CORONERS’ INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUESTS: SOMETHING WORTH BUYING
Representing a party at an inquest is always a difficult and sensitive task. In addition to dealing with the grief, and sometimes remorse, involved there are myriad of legal and technical rules to be navigated. That is why this new…
FUNDAMENTAL DISHONESTY IN PURSUING A LOSS OF EARNINGS CLAIM: “IT IS NOT NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS CASE FOR THE COURT TO DETERMINE WHETHER PSYCHIC POWERS EXIST”
I am grateful to barrister Brian McCluggage for sending me a copy of the judgment of HHJ Backhouse in Amdur -v- Krylov (13/04/21) a copy of which is available here E14YJ570 Amdur v Krylov final 13.4.21 (1). The judge…
ANOTHER ACTIONS FAILS BECAUSE OF LATE SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: NEITHER CPR 3.9 OR 3.10 CAN DIG THE CLAIMANT OUT OF THIS HOLE
Small fortunes could be made by betting that there will be a regular supply of cases on late service of the claim form on this blog (although you would get poor odds). “Dicing with procedural death” appears to be regular…
A SWORN STATEMENT IN RELATION TO DISCLOSURE IS NOT CONCLUSIVE
In Berkeley Square Holdings Ltd & Ors v Lancer Property Asset Management Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 849 (Ch) Mr Robin Vos (sitting as a judge of the Chancery Division) held that a sworn statement as to disclosure is not…
THE PARTIES CANNOT AGREE TO CONTRACT OUT OF COURT ORDERS: A LESSON FROM THE FAMILY COURT
Although the judgment of Mr Justice Mostyn in AS v CS (Private FDR) [2021] EWFC 34 relates to family proceedings the principle set out may well be of more general application. The fact that the parties have agreed to a…
LIMITATION AND THE CLAIMANT’S STATUS: COURT OF APPEAL NOT TOO SYMPATHETIC TO DEFENDANTS WHO HAVE COMMITTED FRAUD
In OT Computers Ltd v Infineon Technologies Ag & Anor [2021] EWCA Civ 501 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that an action brought by a company that was in liquidation was not statute barred. “It is, moreover,…
IF YOU’VE MADE THE DEFENDANT BANKRUPT – YOU CAN’T COMPLAIN WHEN YOU’VE GOT WHAT YOU ASKED FOR
The judgment of the Court of Appeal today in Michael Wilson & Partners Ltd v Sinclair & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 505 contains an important lesson to litigators considering enforcing a judgment. The claimant had made the defendant bankrupt whilst…
EXCEPTIONS TO THE WITHOUT PREJUDICE RULE: COURT OF APPEAL ALLOWS MATTERS SET OUT IN MEDIATION TO BE PLEADED IN A DEFENCE
In Berkeley Square Holdings Ltd & Ors v Lancer Property Asset Management Ltd & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 551 the Court of Appeal upheld an order directing that statements made in without prejudice in mediation were disclosable and could be…
PROVING THINGS 209: SOLICITORS NEGLIGENCE ACTION DISMISSED BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LOSS: THE CLAIMED JEWEL WAS BIGGER THAN THE SOCKET
In Kingsley Napley LLP v Harris & Anor [2021] EWHC 901 (QB) Margaret Obi, sitting as a high court judge dismissed a claim for professional negligence on the basis that there had not been any loss. There are important lessons…
BUNDLES AGAIN: JUDGES WASTING THEIR BREATH: “HOW MANY YEARS – DECADES – HAVE TO PASS BEFORE THOSE WHO KNOW BETTER AND WHO… ARE BEING HANDSOMELY REMUNERATED COMPLY WITH THEIR OBLIGATIONS?”
Another post that adds to the dozens, if not hundreds, of cases about bundles. The trial bundles were the subject of considerable criticism by Sir James Munby in C (A Child) [2021] EWFC 32. “I forebear from further judicial exhortation…
APPLYING TO VARY A COSTS BUDGET: RULES AND PROCEDURE: WEBINAR 19th MAY 2021
On the 19th May 2021 I am presenting a webinar on applying to vary a costs budget. Booking details are available here. WHAT THE WEBINAR COVERS Making sure that the budget is, and remains, correct is an important part of…
SIR HARRY OGNALL: A TRIBUTE: SOMEONE PROUD TO BE DESCRIBED AS A “GORILLA FROM THE NORTH”
The death was announced today of Sir Harry Ognall. In January 2018 I reviewed his book A Life of Crime” . This is an appropriate time to pay tribute by reminding people what a remarkable book this is, written by a…
COURT GRANTS RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS: “IT IS UNFAIR… TO BE CRITICAL OF A PARTY FOR FAILING TO MEET A DEADLINE THAT WAS ALREADY UNLIKELY TO BE ANYWAY, WHATEVER STEPS HAD BEEN TAKEN TO COMPLY WITH IT”
For the second time today I am reporting on a successful application for relief from sanctions. In Melars Group Ltd v East-West Logistics LLP [2021] EWHC 874 (Ch) Mr Justice Adam Johnson granted an appellant relief from sanctions following a…
THE DANGERS OF LEAVING SERVICE OF EVIDENCE UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE: DEFENDANT MISCALCULATED TIME WITNESS STATEMENTS DUE – REQUIRED RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS
In Soriano v Forensic News LLC & Ors [2021] EWHC 873 (QB) Mr Justice Johnson granted relief from sanctions to a defendant who served witness evidence late. However the defendant’s failures were serious and significant and the defendant had no…
LIABILITY UNDER SOLICITOR’S RETAINER COULD NOT BE ASSIGNED: DEFENDANT OBTAINS SUMMARY JUDGMENT IN ALLEGED NEGLIGENCE ACTION
In Burleigh House (PTC) Ltd v Irwin Mitchell LLP [2021] EWHC 834 (QB) Deputy Master Hill QC allowed a defendant’s application for summary judgment. The defendant solicitor’s terms and conditions contained a prohibition against the assignment. The current claimant was…
APPLICATIONS TO VARY A COSTS BUDGET: SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS, PROMPTNESS AND CPR 3.15A: A JUDGMENT THAT EVERY CIVIL LITIGATOR HAS TO READ
In Persimmon Homes Ltd & Anor v Osborne Clark LLP & Anor [2021] EWHC 831 (Ch) Master Kaye provides a “cut out and keep” guide for anyone involved in attempting to vary a costs budget. There are important points made…
TIME ESTIMATES FOR APPLICATIONS: THE PROBLEMS, THE CASE LAW AND SOME GUIDANCE
The post earlier this morning on the warnings given in Finvest Holdings Sarl -v- Lovering [2021] 3WLUK 579 inrelation to inaccurate time estimates has led to some responses on Twitter. Practitioners have highlighted the difficulties, a judge expressed their concern that…
INACCURATE TIME ESTIMATES CAN LEAD TO COSTS PENALTIES: A REMINDER
There is another aspect of the judgment in Finvest Holdings Sarl -v- Lovering [2021] 3WLUK 579 HHJ Pelling (sitting as a High Court Judge) that merits examination. The judgment emphasised the need for accurate time estimates. THE CASE The judge…
THE APPROPRIATE STEPS WHEN A JUDGE HAS LIMITED THE SCOPE OF EXPERT EVIDENCE: COMPLY WITH COURT ORDERS IF YOU WANT TO KEEP A GOOD IMAGE
Another aspect of the judgement of Master Davison in Mustard v Flower & Ors [2021] EWHC 846 (QB) was a decision in relation to expert evidence. The Master refused the claimant’s application to rely on amended medical reports. Those reports…
DEFENDANT NOT PERMITTED TO PLEAD FUNDAMENTAL DISHONESTY ON A SPECULATIVE OR CONTINGENT BASIS
In Mustard v Flower & Ors [2021] EWHC 846 (QB) Master Davison refused a defendant’s application to amend its defence to plead fundamental dishonesty on a “contingent” basis. The judgment deals with important issues as to how a defendant must…
HIGH COURT GRANTS RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS FOLLOWING BREACH OF PEREMPTORY ORDER: IMPACT OF COVID CONSIDERED
In Finvest Holdings Sarl -v- Lovering [2021] 3WLUK 579 HHJ Pelling (sitting as a High Court Judge) granted a claimant relief from sanctions when the claimant failed to comply with a peremptory order. There is a detailed discussion of the…
EXPERTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND THE DUTY OF DISCLOSURE: A REVIEW OF THE RULES AND CASES: HOW EXPERTS CAN AVOID HITTING THE NET
An earlier post looked at the decision of Mr Justice Mostyn in Bux v The General Medical Council [2021] EWHC 762. Part of that judgment dealt with the duties of experts to disclose an interest they have in the case. This…
HOW TO INSTRUCT COUNSEL: USEFUL GUIDES: “DO NOT MAKE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS FLUFFY”
The post yesterday covering a case where counsel’s advice was altered led to some interesting discussions on Twitter. This led to a thread where one lawyer said that they had not been taught how to instruct counsel at any time…
“VARIOUS WITNESSES CAN ALL GIVE HONEST BUT NEVERTHELESS CONFLICTING ACCOUNTS OF A GIVEN EVENT”: GESTMIN PRINCIPLES CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF A ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENT
In Barrow & Ors v Merret & Anor [2021] EWHC 792 (QB) Richard Hermer QC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) considered the guidance given in Gestmin in the context of a road traffic accident. It is a reminder…
GENERAL RESPONSE IN A REPLY DOES NOT AMOUNT TO AN ADMISSION: HIGH COURT DECISION
In Berkeley Square Holdings Ltd & Ors v Lancer Property Assets Management Ltd & Ors (Claimant amendment application) (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC 750 (Ch) Mr Robin Vos (sitting as a judge of the Chancery Division) rejected an argument that a…
WHEN COUNSEL’S ADVICE WAS ALTERED (WITHOUT COUNSEL’S CONSENT): CAVEATS REMOVED BEFORE BEING SHOWN TO INTERESTED PARTIES
Someone reading counsel’s advice would normally assume that they were reading all of it. There is a danger (I have not seen before) of advices being altered before being passed on. In Equitable Law Capital, Re [2021] EWHC 763 (Ch)…
PROVING THINGS 208: IMPACT OF COVID MEANS THAT THE CLAIMANT HAS LOST NOTHING AND DEFENDANT GAIN NOTHING: NO AWARD FOR THE CLAIMANT’S “LOSSES”
The judgment of HHJ Hodge QC (sitting as a High Court judge) in Wigan Borough Council v Scullindale Global Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 779 (Ch) has much of interest. The judge’s observation that “one of the particular pleasures of…
“THERE ARE NOT TWO SETS OF RULES FOR LITIGATION IN THIS JURISDICTION”: COURT AWARDS INDEMNITY COSTS AGAINST A LITIGANT IN PERSON
In Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation v Hardy [2021] EWHC 817 (Ch) HHJ Paul Matthews (sitting as a High Court judge) awarded indemnity costs against a litigant in person. “There are not two sets of rules for litigation in this…
SECTION 33 DISCRETION CONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF A SEXUAL ABUSE CLAIM
In SKX v Manchester City Council [2021] EWHC 782 (QB) Mr Justice Cavanagh considered the exercise of the discretion under Section 33 in the context of a claim for sexual abuse. The context was somewhat unusual in that the judge…
A SPLIT TRIAL IS NOT ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA: ORDERS MADE WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS CAN PROVE TO BE A COSTLY EXERCISE
In Mather v Ministry of Defence [2021] EWHC 811 (QB) Mr Justice Freedman refused the claimant’s application for a split trial. “The law reports are littered with cases where a preliminary issue seemed a good cost-saving exercise, but where…
LAWYER 1706% OUT IN ESTIMATE OF COSTS – AND ASSERTS THAT’S A GOOD THING: PAH
Today is April 1st. The headline to this post may be slightly deceptive, but for good reason. I wanted an opportunity to thank the many dozens of people who were kind enough to support my 10,000 steps a day in…
PERSONAL INJURY COSTS 2021: WATCH THE “SAINT AND GREAVSIE” OF THE COSTS BAR
My colleagues Craig Ralph and Andrew Hogan have delivered a webinar “Personal Injury Costs 2021” which is now available on the Kings Chambers website. THE WEBINAR The webinar takes you through the hot topics relating to personal injury costs. …
FROM TODAY I AM AN ASSOCIATE TENANT AT 4-5 GRAY’S INN SQUARE
I am delighted to report that from today I have become an associate tenant at 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square. THE ANNOUNCEMENT “A huge welcome to Gordon Exall who joins 4-5 as an Associate Tenant. He brings first class expertise…
WITNESS STATEMENTS IN THE BUSINESS AND PROPERT COURTS: GESTMIN PRINCIPLES NOW ENSHRINED IN THE RULES
From the 6th April this year some of the key principles from the judgment in Gestmin SGPS S.A. -v- Credit Suisse [2013] EWCA 3560 (Comm) are effectively enshrined into the rules. Key parts of the Gestmin principles are included in the Appendix to…
EXPERT WITNESSES & CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DECISION TO ERASE DOCTOR FROM RECORD BECAUSE OF HIS CONDUCT AS AN EXPERT WITNESS
Every litigator and, particularly, every expert witness should have a very close read of the judgment of Mr Justice Mostyn in Bux v The General Medical Council [2021] EWHC 762. Although it is a decision in the administrative court it…
WHEN A SOLICITOR SIGNS A STATEMENT OF TRUTH ON BEHALF OF A CLIENT: GET THE WORDING RIGHT (AND REMEMBER WHAT IT IS YOU ARE CERTIFYING)
A regular search term that leads people to this blog is “can a solicitor sign a statement of truth on behalf of a client?” The answer is yes, for some documents at least. The lawyer has to remember (i) what…
THE OVERRIDING OBJECTIVE AND CPR CANNOT BE USED TO OVERRIDE THE REQUIREMENT THAT CASES BE DEALT WITH “JUSTLY”: HIGH COURT DECISION
The judgment of Mr Justice Lane in Ibrahim v London Borough of Haringey & Anor [2021] EWHC 731 shows an unsuccessful attempt to argue that the “overriding objective” justified a preliminary finding made after the court did not hear evidence….
CONSTRUING REGULATIONS AFTER BREXIT: COURT OF APPEAL GUIDANCE: THE CASE OF THE ABSENT PILOT
I am grateful to my colleague Michael Rawlinson QC for sending me a copy of the Court of Appeal judgment in Lipton -v- BA City Flyer Limited [2021] EWCA Civ 454. The judgment of Lord Justice Green contains a comprehensive…
CHILDREN AND LIMITATION IN FATAL ACCIDENTS: LIMITATION AND THE DEATH OF 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…
DRAFTING WITNESS STATEMENTS IN THE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS AFTER THE 5th APRIL: THE QUESTIONS YOU ASK WILL DETERMINE THE ANSWERS YOU GET
This blog has looked in detail at the rule changes coming into force early next month. In particular there is a need for the whole process of taking witness statements to be transparent. Lawyers are enjoined not to ask leading…
“POSSIBLE CRIMINAL ACTIONS THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THIS CASE INCLUDE PERJURY, CONSPIRACY TO DEFRAUD AND CONSPIRACY TO PERVERT THE COURT OF JUSTICE”: THE NON-EXISTENT TRIP TO ILKLEY
The judgment of HH Judge Davis-White QC (sitting as a High Court Judge) in The British University in Dubai v Ebrahimi [2021] EWHC 757 (Ch) contains clear findings of fact in relation to three witnesses. Among the matters of interest…
LIMITATION AND EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS: CLAIMANT DID NOT HAVE ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE & ACTION ISSUED WITHIN TIME
In Balls v Reeve & Anor [2021] EWHC 751 (QB) David Pittaway QC (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) found that the claimant’s date of knowledge was not more than three years prior to issue. THE CASE…
A CAP OF 25% ON COSTS TO BE DEDUCTED FROM DAMAGES GIVES RISE TO PRESUMPTION OF INFORMED CONSENT FROM CLIENT
The Law Society Gazette carries a report of the decision of Regional Costs Judge Rouine in Swann -v- Slater & Gordon. The judge decided that the existence of a cap on costs liability of 25% indicated that a claimant/client had…
“WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WITNESS STATEMENT AND SUBSTANTIVE SUBMISSIONS”
The title of this piece is a search term that led someone to this blog today. Again it caused me to repeat a point made several years ago on this blog. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EVIDENCE AND SUBMISSIONS In a…
MORE ON WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG: GOOD ADVICE IN TIMES OF STRESS AND PANIC
The Law Society Gazette today has an article by John Hyde “Prosecute the firms that force junior solicitors to cover up mistakes”. The central thrust of the argument is that there has to be a duty on firms employing lawyers…
“THE OPTIMUM CASELOAD”: WHY YOU SHOULD READ AN ARTICLE ABOUT IT?
Workload is likely to be the main source of stress for most litigators. The very basic issue of what is an appropriate caseload for litigators is often complained about but rarely analysed. Here we look at one sensible, and wholly…
WITNESS STATEMENTS THE TIMES WILL SOON BE CHANGING: “A SOMEWHAT OVERLAWYERED DOCUMENT”: “A LOT OF COMMENT THAT IS INADMISSIBLE”
The judgment of John Kimbell QC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) in One Blackfriars Ltd, Re [2021] EWHC 684 (Ch) provides a reminder as to why the strictures as to witness statements are being tightened next month. “It…
MAKING MISTAKES AS A YOUNG LAWYER: HELPFUL GUIDANCE – WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS…
The post yesterday on making mistakes as a young lawyer got a lot of attention and comment. For that reason I have decided to re-post something on the same vein. This post is based on guidance given on Twitter in…
MAKING MISTAKES AS A YOUNG LAWYER (INDEED A LAWYER OF ANY AGE): LEARNING HOW TO CRASH LAND
There have been reports today of an overturning of an SRA decision, with remission back to the SDT, of a case of a young solicitor who made the mistake of leaving documents on a train. The real issue came with…
WITNESS STATEMENTS: KEEPING DRAFTS AND “THE SHREWSBURY 24”: LESSONS FROM PAST MISTAKES
It may seem strange to link the highly important Court of Appeal decision in Warren & Ors v R. [2021] EWCA Crim 413 with modern civil litigation. However this is an important case and there are direct parallels to many…
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