CIVIL EVIDENCE: IS EVIDENCE OBTAINED BY TORTURE ADMISSIBLE?
The question of whether evidence obtained by torture in civil proceedings is one I never envisaged having address. However it was an issue considered in the judgment of Mr Justice Knowles MBE In Shangang Shipping Company Ltd -v- HNA Group…
WITNESS STATEMENTS: ALTERATIONS AND THE FALLIBLE MEMORY: A SCIENTIFIC STUDY
It is worthwhile anyone involved in assessment of witness evidence reading the post by Julia Shaw in Scientific America today: Do you suffer from memory blindness. The post refers back to the altered witness statements in the Hillsborough enquiries in the…
LEARNING HOW TO PROVE THINGS: A BASIC SKILL THAT NEEDS HONING
As part of the occasional series which jogs peoples memories about New Year’s resolutions for 2016 I am revisiting resolution number 6: “learn how to prove things”. A very basic skill in the litigator’s armoury, but one which is barely…
THE SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS THE QUESTION OF EXPENSIVE BUNDLES: COULD IT BE CHEAPER ELECTRONICALLY?
Since Supreme Court decisions on trial bundles are few and far between I am compelled to write about the judgment in Eclipse Film Partners -v- Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs [2016] UKSC 24. Here the Court considered bundles…
CIVIL EVIDENCE: ABSENT DOCTOR DOES NOT LEAD TO AN ADVERSE INFERENCE
CIVIL In Manzi -v- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [2016] EWHC 1101 (QB) Mr Justice Nicol considered the question of whether it was appropriate for a court to draw adverse inferences when a witness is not called. “… in…
EXTENDING TIME FOR SERVICE OF A CLAIM FORM: PROSECCO MAY HELP
There have been numerous cases relating to extension of the claim form on this blog. I can’t remember one which ended well for the claimant. However the claimant was successful in the Instone -v- Prosecco (Leeds) LImited [2016] EW Misc…
ASSIGNMENT OF CFAS: ROUND 2: ASSIGNMENT CAN TAKE PLACE
In the judgment today in Jones -v- Spire Healthcare Ltd His Honour Graham Wood QC had to determine the issue of whether a CFA can be assigned. The full judgment is an attachment to this post and is available here…
PROVING THINGS 17: HEADS OF DAMAGE THAT WERE "ENTIRELY BOGUS"
The case of Perma-Soil UK Limited -v- Williams & Flintshire County Council [2016] EWHC 1087 (QB) was an unusual one. The claimant (unsuccessfully) brought a claim for damages for misfeasance in public office. However I want to look at the…
WITNESS STATEMENTS & HILLSBOROUGH 3: CONFIRMATION BIAS AT ITS WORST
Much has been written and broadcast about Hillsborough. I am here concentrating on one small part of the process: the initial gathering of evidence. It was the flawed nature of this process that led to problems for the next two…
APPLICATION TO WITHDRAW ADMISSION REFUSED: SUMMARY JUDGMENT GRANTED
NB – THE JUDGE’S DECISION NOT TO ALLOW THE FIRST DEFENDANT TO WITHDRAW FROM THE ADMISSION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY OVERTURNED ON APPEAL. See the post here. The judgment yesterday in Wood -v- Days Health UK Ltd & Others [2016] WHC 1079…
FUNDAMENTAL DISHONESTY: THE PAST 12 MONTHS: A ROUND UP
On May 10th last year I did a round up of cases and commentary on the issue of fundamental dishonesty. Here we look at cases and commentary in the past 12 months. CASES Most of the cases are inevitably first…
HILLSBOROUGH AND WITNESS STATEMENTS 2: THE EARLY MIXING OF FACT AND OPINION
The previous post in this series looked at the issues that arose when the solicitors for the police force sent out a missive asking the police officers on the ground for their “comment and impression”. There was an immediate mixing…
EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM SET ASIDE: A CASE ALL CLAIMANTS SHOULD KNOW
A really easy way for a claimant lawyer to get sued is to hold onto the claim form. Cases relating to late or mis-service of the claim form are a regular feature of this blog. It is equally dangerous for…
THE INTERCHANGE BETWEEN LAWYERS & EXPERTS: A DIFFICULT ISSUE
In a week where there is a report of an application being made for a doctor to be committed for contempt* it is prudent to consider that difficult issue of the relationship between the lawyers in a case and the…
THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION TO ADJOURN CANNOT BE IGNORED
A post last week noted the decision of the Court of Appeal in TBO Investments Ltd -v- Mohun Smith EWCA Civ 403 where the court stated that an application under CPR 39.3 should have been allowed when a defendant failed…
LATE SERVICE OF NOTICE OF APPEAL: COUNSEL'S ERROR DOES NOT AMOUNT TO A GOOD REASON
In the judgment today in Turner -v- South Cambridgeshire District Council [2016] EWHC 1017(Admin)Mr Justice Warby considered the Denton guidance in relation to an application to appeal out of time. Among other factors he rejected the idea that an error…
RULES EXIST TO ASSIST RESOLUTION OF ISSUES AND NOT TO THROW UP TECHNICAL OBSTACLES
In Williams -v- Devon County Council [2016] EWCA Civ 419 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision by a judge to allow substitution of a named individual in place of a group. “These rules exist to enable the court to…
STATEMENT THAT THE APPELLANTS WERE CROOKS DID NOT GIVE RISE TO GROUNDS FOR RE-OPENING AN APPEAL
In the judgment given today in Goldtrail Travel Limited -v- Aydin [2016] EWCA Civ 439 the Court of Appeal rejected an application under CPR 52.17 to re-open an appeal on the grounds of bias. THE CASE The Court of Appeal…
WHEN A PARTY FAILS TO PAY INTERLOCUTORY COSTS: MAKE A PEREMPTORY ORDER
In Peak Hotels -v- Tarek Investments Ltd [2016] EWHC 690 (Ch) Mrs Justice Asplin considered the appropriate approach when a party has failed to pay an interlocutory costs order. There is a succinct summary of the relevant case law. “If…
RTA TRIAL FEE RECOVERABLE IF CASE SETTLES AT TRIAL
In Mendes -v- Hocthtief (UK) Construction Ltd [2016] EWHC 976 (QB) Mr Justice Coulson decided a point of some importance: is the RTA Protocol brief fee recoverable if a matter settles at trial. “… there are sound policy reasons for…
COSTS: NOT EVERY DEFENDANT NEEDED REPRESENTATION ON APPEAL
There are some important observations about costs made by Mrs Justice Carr DBE in RSPCA -v- McCormick & others [2016] EWHC 928 (Admin). THE CASE The RSPCA brought an appeal by way of case stated as to the meaning of…
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS REFUSAL TO SET ASIDE JUDGMENT AFTER DEFENDANT FAILED TO ATTEND TRIAL
Given the many strictures relating to the sanctity of the trial date the decision of the Court of Appeal in TBO Investments Ltd -v- Mohun-Smith [2016] EWCA Civ 403 may be viewed as a surprising one. The defendant failed to…
COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS FINDINGS OF FACT BY THE TRIAL JUDGE
In Elliston -v- Glencore Services (UK) Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 407 the Court of Appeal took the unusual step of overturning findings of fact by the trial judge. (It is perhaps important that I emphasise how rare this is. There…
UNCERTAINTY AS TO DAMAGES: JUST HOLD ONTO THE MONEY UNTIL FULL TIME
In Gibbs -v- Leeds United Football Club Ltd [2016] EWHC 960 (QB) Mr Justice Langstaff made an order that dealt with the question of uncertainty in relation to the assessment of damages. Rather than speculate on sums to be paid…
HILLSBOROUGH AND WITNESS STATEMENTS 1: THE INITIAL PROCESS AND SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS
Hopefully we will never have another Hillsborough. It is possible (even probable) that there will be circumstances in which lawyers are involved in the large scale collection of evidence. The recent inquest has put the evidence gathering that took…
WHAT IS MEANT BY A "SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT"? AMENDING THE COSTS BUDGET WHEN CLAIM DOUBLES IN SIZE: CLAIMANT GETS THE BOOT
I am grateful to barrister Colm Nugent for his notes of the decision of Mr Justice Picken in Churchill -v- Boot (22/04/2016) in relation to costs budgeting (a summary of this case is also available on Lawtel). KEY POINTS A…
PROVING THINGS 16: IF YOU DON'T PROVE IT YOU DON'T GET IT
In Undre & Down to Earth (London) Limited -v- the London Barrow of Harrow [2016] EWHC 931 a claimant failed, totally, to prove any loss. The judge found that there was a total failure by the claimant to prove…
A BASIC THING THAT ANYONE PREPARING A WITNESS STATEMENT SHOULD KNOW: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FACTS AND OPINION
This blog has often observed that many litigators could make life a lot simpler if lay witnesses statements stopped trying to give expert evidence and expert witnesses stopped trying to determine issues of fact. I am grateful to Jeff…
TAKING TECHNICAL POINTS AS TO SERVICE: JUDICIAL "DISMAY" THAT THE MATTER WAS PURSUED
One of the most difficult decisions that litigators now face is whether to take “technical points”. Technical points, particularly as to service of the claim form, can potentially bring proceedings to a premature end. However there are risks as well…
QOCS AND DISHONESTY: YOU CAN TRY TO CHECK OUT ANY TIME YOU LIKE BUT YOU CAN’T ALWAYS LEAVE
Thanks to Sintons LLP there is now a copy available online of the judgment of HH Judge Gosnell in Rouse -v- Aviva Insurance Limited (15th January 2016). This is another case that relates to discontinuance by the claimant in a…
PROVING THINGS 15: DAMAGES & EVIDENCE: GOING BACK TO COLLEGE
One harsh shock for many litigants occurs when they are asked to prove their damages at trial. We have looked several times when a litigant has come to grief at this stage, largely because there is no evidential support for…
CASE FAILS BECAUSE OF MATTERS NOT PLEADED: ANOTHER LESSON FOR PLEADERS
The decision of His Honour Judge David Grant yesterday in Bridgland -v- Earlsmead Estates Limited [2016] EWHC B9 (TCC) makes salutary reading for anyone who drafts pleadings. If the claimants had pleaded their case differently they may have won. It…
CAR HIRE CHARGES SHOULD STAY IN PROTOCOL: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION TODAY
In Phillips -v- Willis [2016] EWCA Civ 401 the Court of Appeal gave some clear guidance as to the appropriate approach of the courts when the issues relating to damages are “whittled down” by agreement. The normal procedure is for…
THE RISKS OF JOINING A THIRD PARTY INTO AN ACTION: THE DEFENDANT MAY NOT RECOVER THE COSTS
The judgment on costs in Axon -v- Ministry of Defence [2016] EWHC 883 (QB) highlights the risks of a defendant bringing a Third Party into an action. The defendant was successful, however the claimant was not ordered to pay all…
THE LIMITS OF QOCS: HIGH COURT DECISION TODAY
NB THIS DECISION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY OVERTURNED ON APPEAL. SEE THE POST ON THE APPEAL AVAILABLE HERE In Howe -v- Motor Insurers’ Bureau [2016] 884 (QB) Mr Justice Stewart considered the meaning of an action for “personal injury”. He held that…
A CASE YOU MUST READ IF YOU THINK PLEADINGS ARE NOT IMPORTANT
The opening paragraphs of the Court of Appeal decision today in The Prudential Assurance Company Limited -v- Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2016] EWCA Civ 376 should be compulsory reading for anyone who considers that pleadings can be…
ASSESSMENT OF COSTS CAN BE IN PRIVATE: DECHERT DECISION CONFIRMED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL
In Dechert LLP -v- Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation Ltd [2016] EWCA Civ 375 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that an assessment of costs could be in private.” “The issue is clearly of importance for both parties. On the…
ANOTHER CASE OF TWITTER PROVIDING EVIDENCE: CLAIMANT CAUGHT OFFSIDE
There is a report in the Solicitors Journal of a sentence passed today for contempt of court. It is another example of the evidence coming from twitter and shows the growing importance of social media in many types of litigation….
ANOTHER COMMENT ON BUNDLES: TOO MUCH AND TOO BIG
I do not scour the law reports for complaints about trial bundles, they just keep occurring and I keep commenting. It is a matter that has a surprisingly large readership: the post on how to prepare a trial bundle has…
EXPERT REPORTS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT: PART 35 APPLIES
In the judgment today in Khaled -v- Secretary of State for the Home Department [2016] EWHC 857 (Admin) Mr Justice Garnham considered Part 35 of the CPR and the admissibility of expert reports in proceedings in the Administrative Court. “The…
£50,000 COSTS INCURRED: £500,000 ALLOWED: HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
The decision of Mr Justice Spencer in Bolt Burdon Solicitors -v- Tariq [2016] EWHC 811 (QB) is an interesting consideration of non contentious business agreements.” The judge found that an agreement which meant that the solicitors recovered 50% of the damages…
PROVING THINGS 14: PROVING MITIGATION OF LOSS
The previous post in this series looked at the Court of Appeal decision in Bacciottini -v- Gotelee and Goldsmith [2016] EWCA Civ 170 where the court upheld an award of £250 in damages because of issues relating to mitigation of loss….
MORE ABOUT SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: GOOD REASONS, DELAY AND A FAILURE TO PAY THE PROPER COURT FEES
In TMT Asia LImited -v- BHP Billiton Marketing AG [2016] EWHC 287 (Ch) Mr Justice Burton considered several issues relating to late service of the claim form and failure to pay the correct court fee. KEY POINTS The defendant’s application…
"IN TIME" APPLICATION TO EXTEND TIME FOR PEREMPTORY ORDER REFUSED: CLAIM STRUCK OUT
I am grateful to Charles Bagot of Hardwicke Chambers for bringing my attention to the decision in Kranniqi -v- Watford Timber Company Ltd (District Judge Parfitt 13/04/2016). It is a working example of (i)the dangers of failing to comply with…
COSTS SHOULD NOT NORMALLY BE REDUCED WHEN A CLAIMANT BEATS THEIR OWN PART 36 OFFER: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION
|n Webb -v-Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust [2016]EWCA Civ 365 the Court of Appeal overturned an “issue based” decision on costs in a case where a claimant had beaten there own Part 36 offer. “It is a sad fact that…
DOES COSTS BUDGETING APPLY TO A FATAL ACCIDENT CLAIM WHERE A CHILD IS A DEPENDANT? SOME MORE DETAIL
Over the weekend I heard two speakers on costs budgeting mention my view that costs budgeting may not now apply to fatal accident claims where children are dependants. Given the potential significance of this, it is worth expanding my concerns….
"AMPLIFYING" WITNESS STATEMENTS AT TRIAL: IT IS PROBABLY FAR TOO LATE
Anyone giving a talk, particularly to a group of lawyers, always has a fear that someone will ask the “unanswerable” question. There was a good question today at the PIBA conference after a talk I gave about witness statements. The…
WITNESS STATEMENTS: THE LAWYER'S DUTY NOT TO MISLEAD
There are some important observations by Mr Justice Leggatt in Al-Saadoon & Others -v- the Secretary of State for Defence [2016] EWHC 773 (Admin). The case relates to witness statements and the duty of the lawyer when they know that…
WITNESS STATEMENTS AND CREDIBILITY: LATE CHANGE OF MIND DOESN'T HELP
There are many aspects of the judgment today of Mrs Justice Lang DBE in Sparrow -v- Andre [2016] EWHC 739 (QB) that are of interest. Here I concentrate upon one aspect – witness credibility. “In my view, such a late…
MORE ON BUNDLES: VERY DIFFICULT TO USE
I worry that it is unfair on judges for me to select a small part of a carefully crafted judgment for discussion. However comments on practice and procedure are clearly made, within a judgment, for a reason. So…
