ABSENCE OF RISK ASSESSMENTS LEADS TO JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANT BEING OVERTURNED: THE SECOND PART OF POWELL -v- WATFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
The first part of the decision of Mr Justice Jay in Powell -v- Watford Borough Council [2017] EWHC 2283 (QB)was considered in detail in the previous post. Mr Justice Jay held that a peremptory order had not been complied with and the defence…
THE DUTIES OF A SOLICITOR IN LITIGATION: NO DUTY TO TEMPT THE CLIENT TO PURSUE LARGE SUMS: ADVERTISING “TURNED THE CLIENT’S HEAD” AND LED TO INCORRECT ASSERTIONS
In Thomas v Hugh James Ford Simey Solicitors [2017] EWCA Civ 1303 the Court of Appeal considered the extent of a solicitor’s duty and retainer. It is significant in that it: States that the courts should approach the issue of fixed…
DEFENDANT DEBARRED FROM CALLING WITNESS EVIDENCE AT TRIAL: COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS FINDING FOR DEFENDANT
The case of Durrant -v- Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Constabulary is a long-running saga. We have looked at it twice before. The incident occurred in 2009. In 2013 the Court of Appeal overturned a judge’s decision to grant…
SERVICE ON A NOMINATED SOLICITOR: BE CLEAR WHO YOU REPRESENT: “A THOROUGHLY TECHNICAL POINT”, UNATTRACTIVE, MISCONCEIVED AND “REFLECTS NO CREDIT ON THE INSURERS OR THEIR ADVISERS”
Earlier this week Master McCloud commented upon “a dry and unlovely crop of procedural service issues” in the Masters’ Corridor. These issues may well follow the Masters around. Master Davison sits as a Recorder. In that capacity he decided an…
COPYING THE OTHER SIDE INTO CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE COURT: A RECAP AND REVIEW OF THE EARLIER CASE MENTIONED
I am writing, again, about the the judgment of Mr Justice Kerr in Topping v Ralph Tristees Ltd [2017] EWHC 1954 (QB). The point the case makes about the correct route of appeal has been commented on, however I had not anticipated…
DESTINATION OF APPEALS FROM A DISTRICT JUDGE ALLOCATED A CIRCUIT JUDGE’S WORK: IMPORTANT WORDS ON COMMUNICATING WITH THE COURT
The judgment of Mr Justice Kerr in Topping v Ralph Tristees Ltd [2017] EWHC 1954 (QB) is of considerable importance in relation to the correct route for appeals. It was held that the correct route of appeal from a district…
A GOOD REASON WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE (OR AT LEAST MEDIATE WITH) THY NEIGHBOUR: INDEMNITY COSTS OF £200,000
The Court of Appeal judgment in Dickinson & Anor v Cassillas [2017] EWCA Civ 1254 serves as a warning for anyone involved in a neighbour dispute. The Court dismissed the appellants’ appeal in relation to findings against them after a trial….
QOCS: THE TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS CONSIDERED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL: CLAIMANTS CANNOT BLOW HOT AND COLD
In the judgment today in Catalano -v- Espley Tyas Development Group Limited [2017] EWCA Civ 1132 the Court of Appeal considered the transitional provisions relating to QOCS. “We cannot accept that Mr McGee is right. Not only does he seek…
INTERLOCUTORY APPEALS AND THE TIME FACTOR: DENTON, WITNESS STATEMENTS AND AMENDMENT: A HEARING WHEN SEVEN TIMES MORE TIME WAS NEEDED
The judgment of Mrs Justice May DBE in Myall -v- Ministry of Defence [2017] EWHC 1752 (QB) emphasises the point that many interlocutory appeals come about not so much because of judicial error but because of the lack of time…
INADEQUATE DISCLOSURE LEADS TO DEFENCE BEING STRUCK OUT – EVENTUALLY: CASE THAT WAS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK
There is a brief report on Lawtel today of the case of Powell -v- Watford Borough Council, a decision made yesterday by Mr Justice Jay (10th July 2017) in the Royal Courts of Justice . This post is based in…
WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE AFTER A BUDGET IS CONFINED TO COURT FEES: DECISION TO ALTER BUDGET UPHELD
In Asghar -v- Bhatti[ 2017] EWHC 1702 (QB) Mr Justice Lewis considered an issue in relation to varying a budget that was confined to court fees. The court considered “change of circumstances” – this is also a case that shows…
FAILURE TO RESPOND TO PART 18 REQUESTS PROPERLY LEADS TO STRIKE OUT: NO SECOND BITE OF THE CHERRY IN RELATION TO RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS
There are relatively few reported cases about Part 18 questions. The decision of the Court of Appeal today in Griffith -v- Gourgey [2017] EWCA Civ 926 shows the dangers of failing to respond fully and properly. “This shows the necessity…
APPEAL STRUCK OUT FOR PROCEDURAL FAILURES: THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING THE COURT INFORMED: THE DENTON CRITERIA CONSIDERED
In R (on the application of Kaur) -v- The Secretary of State for the Home Department[2017] EWCA Civ 821 Lord Justice Hickinbottom upheld a decision to strike out an appeal because of procedural failures. The case highlights the importance of…
A SOLICITOR LLP IS NOT A LITIGANT IN PERSON (AND CAN CLAIM FULL COSTS)
NB on 1st March 2018 Litigation Futures reported that the Supreme Court had refused permission to appeal in this case. The Court noted ““This is an important point of principle which would be better considered by the Civil Procedure Rule…
COSTS BUDGETING AND THE FINAL BILL: HARRISON IN THE COURT OF APPEAL
How definitive is a costs budget when it comes to detailed assessment? That is an issue that has been troubling the courts now for a few years. The judgment of the Court of Appeal today in Harrison -v- University Hospitals…
SUMMARY JUDGMENT FOR THE DEFENDANT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT CASE: DODD -V- RAEBARN IN THE COURT OF APPEAL
I am grateful to my colleague Colm Nugent for supplying me with a copy of the judgment in Dodd -v- Raeburn [2017] EWCA Civ 439 *given today the Court of Appeal upheld an order giving summary judgment in a fatal…
GLADWIN & SANCTIONS – AN ANALYSIS 3: AN ADJOURNMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN GRANTED: A BLAMELESS CLIENT IS NOT A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD
In Gladwin -v- Bogescu [2017] EWHC 1287 (QB) Mr Justice Turner overturned an order giving the claimant relief from sanctions following late service of the witness statement. In the third of the series looking at the case more closely we…
NON-PARTY COSTS ORDER MADE AGAINST CAR HIRE FIRM: ANOTHER SKIRMISH IN A FORENSIC WAR
The opening words of Mr Justice Turner’s judgment in Select Car Rentals (North West) Limited -v- Esure Services Limited [2017] EWHC 1434 (QB) contain an undeniable truth. The judge was upholding a decision to award costs against a car hire…
APPEAL AGAINST REFUSAL TO ALLOW LATE WITNESS STATEMENTS AT TRIAL: CLAIMANT’S APPEAL DISMISSED
There are a surprising number of cases and appeals in relation to late service of witness evidence. In Byrne -v- Mullan [2017] EWHC 1387 (Ch) the claimant made an application to adduce new witness evidence which was heard on the…
NO PLAYING OF THE ADVANTAGE RULE IN CIVIL LITIGATION: LATE WITNESS STATEMENTS LEAD TO CLAIMANT’S CASE BEING SENT OFF: GOOD TRY BUT NO TRIAL
In Gladwin -v- Bogescu [2017] EWHC 1287 (QB) Mr Justice Turner uses the English language to its full effect when ruling that a claimant who served a witness statement late should not have been granted relief from sanctions. The case…
LITIGANT MAY HAVE LODGED APPEAL NOTICE ON TIME WHEN THE COURT CLOSED EARLY: CLAIMANT GRANTED PERMISSION TO APPEAL
In Croke -v-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government [2017] EWCA Civ 423 Lord Justice Hickinbottom found that it is arguable that that a litigant in person had complied with the strict six week time limit for appeals because…
WISEMAN -V- MARSTON: COURT FEES CASE: TRANSCRIPT NOW AVAILABLE
The transcript of the judgment in the Wiseman -v- Marston case is now available. I have included it as an attachment to the previous posts on the case. The links are also available here. THE JUDGMENT AND COURT OF APPEAL…
WISEMAN -V- MARSTON: THE UNDERPAYMENT OF COURT FEES: DEFENDANT’S APPLICATION FOR PERMISSION TO APPEAL REFUSED
In December last year I reported on the decision in Wiseman -v- Marston’s PLC (Sheffield County Court 21st December 2016). His Honour Judge Robinson allowed the claimant’s appeal in a case relating to payment of court fees. The defendant applied for…
DAMAGES, COSTS AND MEDIATION: COURT OF APPEAL CONSIDERS THE BOUNDARIES
In the judgment today Gore -v- Naheed [2017] EWCA 369 the Court of Appeal considered the issue of damages being awarded (when they had not been claimed) and where costs should lie when a party – reasonably – declined to…
A CLAIMANT CAN SUE AN UNNAMED DRIVER (AND THE INSURER HAS TO PAY): COURT OF APPEAL DECISION TODAY
NB THIS DECISION WAS OVERTURNED BY THE SUPREME COURT IN Cameron v Liverpool Victoria Insurance Co Ltd [2019] UKSC 6 t In Cameron -v- Hussain [2017] EWCA Civ 366 the Court of Appeal (by a majority) considered the question whether a claimant…
APPEALS, TIME, SERVICE, VENUE: A REAL PROCEDURAL HOTCHPOTCH – EVEN BEFORE THE MAIN ISSUE IS CONSIDERED
The judgment of Mr Justice Jay in Enniful -v- Motor Insurers Bureau [2017] EWHC 1086 (QB) is a procedural hotchpotch. It relates to service, delay, dates of compliance, venue for appeals and relief from sanctions. All of this occurred before…
SERVICE OF DOCUMENTS II: SERVING AT AN ADDRESS THAT HAD BEEN VACATED (AND OVERTURNING FINDINGS OF FACT)
In Grimes -v- The Trustees of the Essex Farmers and Union Hunt [2017] EWCA Civ 361 is another one of the batch of recent cases on service. The Court of Appeal considered the question of whether a document could be…
NO OBLIGATION TO RETURN STAGE ONE PROTOCOL COSTS: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION TODAY
In JC and A Solicitors Limited -v- Iqbal [2017] EWCA Civ 355 the Court of Appeal held that there is no obligation to repay costs paid at stage 1 on the Protocol when claimants failed to pursue the matter further….
BUNDLES IN THE SUPREME COURT: EXERCISING RESTRAINT
There was a short postscript to the judgment of the Supreme Court in Poshteh v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea [2017] UKSC 36> Lord Carnwath gave the single judgment. Even the Supreme Court complains about bundles. This adds to…
MEDIATION AND LITIGATION: A REVIEW OF KEY CASES: IGNORE THEM AT YOUR PERIL
It is sometimes difficult to keep track of the cases that refer to mediation. Given that ADR can play a central role in the litigation process this is an appropriate time to review the key cases, particularly in the light…
DUTY TO DRAW ADVERSE AUTHORITIES TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COURT: HOW FAR DOES IT GO?
The duty to draw the court’s attention to authorities that do not support your case is an important one. In Weir -v- Hildson [2017] EWHC 983 (Ch) Mr Justice Nugee discusses the extent of this duty. THE CASE The applicant…
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS FINDINGS OF FACT & CONSIDERS THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF THE SINGLE JOINT EXPERT
We have already looked at the decision in Perry -v- Raleys Solicitors [2017] EWCA Civ 314 in the context of the award of interest. The decision also contains important observations about evidence and the way in which the courts approach…
BOUNDARIES, BORDERS AND COSTS: IF YOU LEAVE THE ISSUE OF COSTS TO THE JUDGE YOU MAY NOT GET THE ANSWER YOU WANT
The judgment of the Court of Appeal in Powles -v- Reeves [2016] EWCA Civ 1375 shows the dangers of not being able to agree the principle of who should pay the costs of litigation. It shows the dangers of just…
APPLICATIONS TO AMEND APPEAL NOTICE AND PARTICULARS AT A LATE STAGE NOT ALLOWED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL
I am grateful to Jill Greenfield from Field Fisher for sending me a copy of the Court of Appeal transcript in Howe -v- Motor Insurers Bureau (CA 8th February 2017). This is a judgment refusing permission to amend and for…
MERRIX NOT BEING APPEALED (BUT HARRISON IS – WATCH THIS SPACE)
The decision in Merrix -v- Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust [2017] EWHC 346 (QB) is not being appealed by the defendant. The rationale is, apparently, that the defendant did not want to risk losing the listing of the appeal in Harrison…
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WRITE: THE SUPREME COURT MAY READ IT ONE DAY (AND IT MAY END UP ON A BLOG SOMEWHERE…)
There has already been some interesting debate on Twitter about one aspect of the Supreme Court decision in Times -v- Flood [2017] UKSC 33 that has not made the headlines. Dominic Regan observed that the case is another example…
DELAY, DENTON, APPEALS AND CROSS-APPEALS: EXTENSION OF TIME WOULD HAVE BEEN GRANTED
In Pinisetty -v-Manikonda [2017] EWHC 838 (QB) Mr Justice Langstaff considered an issue relating to an appeal (and cross-appeal) being out of time. Although the judgment on this issue is largely academic (the appeal failed in any event), it contains…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS GRANTED TO DEFENDANT WHO APPEARED BY COUNSEL: A “SURPRISING STATE OF AFFAIRS” PUT RIGHT
There may well be a term for the process by which a number of decisions, which appeared sensible at the time they were made, lead to a ridiculous result. This principle may well apply to what happened in Falmouth House…
PROVING THINGS 60: PUTTING SEAWEED OUT OF THE WINDOW: THE ABSENCE OF EVIDENCE AND THE JUDGE WHO WAS EVEN-HANDEDLY OFFENSIVE:
The Court of Appeal judgment in McBride -v- UK Insurance Ltd [2017] EWCA Civ 144 has been covered widely on the issue of the appropriate rate for car hire charges after an accident. However less widely discussed is the fact that,…
JUDICIAL INTERVENTION, INTERRUPTIONS AND HOT TUBBING: JUDICIAL LATITUDE IS NOT UNLIMITED
In Shaw -v- Grouby [2017] EWCA Civ 233 the Court of Appeal made some observations about the dangers of a judge getting too inquisitorial in the course of a trial, particularly in the course of cross-examination. “The judge intervened in…
THE TRIAL JUDGE AND FINDINGS OF FACT: COURT OF APPEAL DID NOT OVERTURN FINDINGS OF TRIAL JUDGE
A disappointed insurer failed in its attempt to overturn findings of a trial judge in Hamid -v- Khalid [2017] EWCA Civ 201. “The task of a trial judge is difficult enough without having to deal expressly with every single piece…
WHEN THE EVIDENCE OF THE “INDEPENDENT” WITNESS IS NOT ACCEPTED: WHEN WE WILL EVER LEARN?
In a case where there are disputed facts a party that has an independent witness usually holds a strong hand. However in Elson -v- Stilgoe [2017] EWCA Civ 193 today the Court of Appeal upheld a decision where the trial…
INTERIM PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF COSTS: READ (AND CITE) THE CORRECT CHAPTER OF COOK ON COSTS
I am grateful to John McQuater for sending me a copy of an order from HH Judge Robinson, It relates to an application on account of costs. The appeal was (for obvious reasons) compromised. However the robust terms of the…
A JUDGE CANNOT GIVE PERMISSION TO APPEAL AFTER THE HEARING: MONROE -v- HOPKINS – SECOND ROUND
The case of Monroe -v- Hopkins [2017] EWHC 645 (QB) is the second judgment on the case. The judgment today related solely to the defendant’s application for permission to appeal. The judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction to…
INTEREST ON DAMAGES AFTER FAILING TO BEAT A CLAIMANT’S PART 36 OFFER: THE AIM IS TO ENCOURAGE GOOD PRACTICE AND NOT SIMPLY TO COMPENSATE
In Ovm Petrom SA -v- Glencore International SA [2017] EWCA Civ 195 the Court of Appeal overturned a decision not to award 10% interest on damages in a case where a defendant failed to beat a claimant’s Part 36 offer….
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS GRANTED AFTER SECRETARY OF STATE RELIED UPON AN OUTDATED REFERENCE IN THE WHITE BOOK
In AM (Pakistan) -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department [2017] EWCA Civ 180 the Court of Appeal granted relief after an appeal was filed late. The appellant had relied upon an out of date commentary in the white…
ADJOURNMENTS, ILL HEALTH, FAIRNESS AND THE DENTON PRINCIPLES: COURT OF APPEAL UPHOLDS CASE MANAGEMENT DECISIONS
In Dove -v- London Borough of Havering [2017] EWCA Civ 156 the Court of Appeal considered a number of procedural issues prior to giving judgment on the substantive point. The defendants argued that they should have been granted an adjournment of…
APPEAL JUDGE OVERTURNS FINDINGS OF KNOWLEDGE IN AN ACTION AGAINST THE MIB
In Whyatt -v- Powell & the Motor Insurers Bureau [2017] EWHC 484 (QB) Mr Justice Lewis overturned the findings of the trial judge that three claimants had knowledge that a driver was not insured. The judgment considers what inferences a…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS: COURT OF APPEAL ALLOWS APPEAL AND GRANTS RELIEF WHEN THE ORIGINAL ORDER WAS PRE-DENTON
It is surprising, perhaps embarrassing, that the Court of Appeal is still hearing appeals where the judge at first instance applied the pre-Denton approach to relief from sanctions. However a judgment today involved just that*. In Patterson -v- Spencer [2017]…
COURT OF APPEAL: REFUSAL TO ENGAGE WITH AN OPEN OFFER OF SETTLEMENT IS AN ABUSE OF PROCESS
In Balk -v- Otkrite International Investment [2017] EWCA the Court of Appeal was highly critical of a litigant’s failure to respond to an open offer of settlement of appeal. The failure to engage with an open offer of settlement amounted…
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