COURT REFORM: VIEW FROM THE DISTRICT JUDGES: “WE QUESTION WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN MEANINGFUL (AS OPPOSED TO TOKEN) CONSULTATION WITH ALL LEVELS OF THE JUDICIARY”
The Justice Committee is carrying out an inquiry into the ongoing court reforms. The written evidence it has received is available here. I just want to highlight the views from The Association of Her Majesty’s District Judges. This makes interesting…
FATAL ACCIDENTS: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO BEREAVEMENT PAYMENTS : ADVANCE NOTICE FOR LECTURES LATER IN THE YEAR (AND A NEW EDITION OF A BOOK…)
The government is, at long last, putting forward a draft remedial order to amend Section 1A of the Fatal Accidents Act 1976. This would allow cohabitees, who have been living together for more than two years, to recover the statutory…
NEW PRECEDENT R: STARTED TODAY (CONTAIN YOUR EXCITEMENT): USEFUL LINKS AND GUIDANCE
Credit to Costs Lawyer Jessica Swannell for reminding people on Linked In that the new Precedent R must be used from today. It is a good time to provide a link to the new form and some useful posts and…
NEW RULES COMING INTO FORCE TOMORROW
Why anyone chose a Saturday as the implementation date for new rules may be a mystery. Nevertheless new rules are in force from tomorrow. Two crucial items: court bundles and writing directly to the court have already been looked at. …
DO NOT WRITE TO THE COURT WITHOUT COPYING IN THE OTHER SIDE: NOW ITS IN THE RULES – AND THERE ARE SANCTIONS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE
This blog has looked several times at judicial warnings against one party writing to the court without copying in the other party. Those warnings have now been inserted into the Rules. The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2019 introduce a new…
THE RULES THEY ARE A CHANGING: NEW RULES ON BUNDLES FROM THE 6th APRIL 2019
New rules are coming into force on the 6th April. The CPR update can be found here. The most important from the point of view of anyone preparing for a hearing or trial on or after the 6th April is…
NEW DISCLOSURE SCHEME IN THE BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES COURTS: USEFUL LINKS AND GUIDANCE
The Disclosure Pilot Scheme for the Business and Properties Courts commences on the 1st January 2019. Here are some links to guides, written by practitioners, to the practical impact of the Pilot Scheme. THE RULES AND PRACTICE DIRECTIONS The Draft…
101st CPR UPDATE: WELCOME TO THE VIDEO LINK WORLD
The 101st update to the Civil Procedure Rules apply from 8th and 30th November 2018. The main development is a procedure whereby applications to set aside default judgment may be heard by video link. SETTING ASIDE DEFAULT JUDGMENTS: HEARD BY…
NEW INSOLVENCY PRACTICE DIRECTION: CAME INTO FORCE TODAY: WATCH OUT FOR THIS
I am grateful to barrister Simon Bradshaw for pointing out that there is a new Practice Direction in force in relation to insolvency procedure. This was introduced today and comes into effect immediately. CHANGES The PD now refers to the…
THE NEW ELECTRONIC BILL OF COSTS: ONE DAY TO GO: USEFUL LINKS AND GUIDANCE
The electronic bill of costs will be compulsory from the 6th April. Here are some useful links to help you prepare and survive. I will add to these if anyone has any particular recommendations. PRACTICE DIRECTIONS The Practice Direction…
ATTENDING A HMCTS REFORM ROADSHOW: “JUSTICE BY SNAPCHAT”?
There have been a series of HMCTS Reform Roadshows throughout the country. These are discussing reforms to courts and tribunals. Discussing “Virtual Hearings”; “Flexible Operating Hours” and “Scheduling and Listing” I attended the Roadshow in Leeds. I made notes. This…
THE COSTS OF COSTS BUDGETING CANNOT BE ASSESSED UNTIL THE END OF THE CASE – A QUICK REMINDER: THE PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES
The early part of the year may be a good time to remind people that it is now not possible to put the 1% and 2% figures in the costs budget at the end of the budgeting process. CHANGE IN…
HOT TUBBING OF EXPERTS: NEW PRACTICE DIRECTION
The 93rd Update on Practice Direction Amendments also introduced a change in the rules as to concurrent evidence from experts. This gives the trial judge a considerable degree of flexibility about the way in which expert evidence is heard. These rules came…
CHANGES TO THE RULES IN RELATION TO THE COSTS OF COSTS MANAGEMENT: COMPARE AND CONTRAST
There has been a change to the rules governing the costs of costs management. This was introduced by the 93rd Update on Practice Direction Amendments. The Ministry of Justice have confirmed that these have come into force. * THE NEW RULE:…
STRIKING OUT THE CLAIM FOR NON-PAYMENT OF TRIAL FEE: THIS IS ALWAYS A POINT TO WATCH
In April this year the rules were amended to introduce a concept of “automatic striking out”. Put simply if a claimant does not pay the court fee by the relevant date. I have seen occasions where this has had effect….
THE NEW PRE-ACTION PROTOCOL FOR DEBT CLAIMS: LINKS AND COMMENTARY
A new Pre-Action Protocol for debt claims comes into force on the 1st October 2017. Here are links to the Protocol itself and commentary on the Protocol. THE PROTOCOL The protocol itself is available in full here ARTICLES AND COMMENTARY…
SCOTTISH CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES: CHANGES NORTH OF THE BORDER: USEFUL LINKS (WITH PHOTOS)
Civil procedure in Scotland is undergoing major changes. In preparing for a talk at the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow I looked at quite a few posts and articles to help me understand what was going on (and to…
REFORMS TO SOFT TISSUE PROCESS: LINKS TO OFFICIAL PAPERS AND COMMENTARY (FROM CLAIMANTS AND INSURERS)
The proposed reforms were set out in detail for the first time today. Here are links to the relevant documents and some of the commentary: Official publications The 49 page paper from the government is here The summary is here …
COURT FEES AND STEALTH TAXES: REPAYMENT OF TRIAL FEES TO END NEXT YEAR
Thanks to Kerry Underwood for pointing out the provisions of The Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2016 which comes into force on the 6th March 2017. There is a hidden “tax” in that the repayment of court fees has ended….
DESTINATION OF APPEALS: THE NEW RULES
The Access to Justice Act 1999 (Destination of Appeals) Order 2016 makes some important changes to the destination of appeals. It “simplifies” the appeals process so that, as far as possible, an appeal lies to the next level of judge….