These notes come with same caveat as the Claimant’s notes in the previous post. They are from handwritten notes taken in court today. They do not purport to be a transcript. All that can be done is to give a…
There appeal in the Mitchell case was heard in the Court of Appeal case earlier today. Judgment was reserved. I have a note of the arguments on behalf of the Claimant/Appellant. The Defendant’s arguments will be posted later. I…
The previous post at http://civillitigationbrief.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/the-importance-of-drafting-witness-statements-that-comply-with-the-rules/ discussed a case where the problems about the witnesses giving information as to source of belief and hearsay evidence. The problems were avoi… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member to read…
The Civil Procedure Rules set out rigorous requirements for the structure and layout of witness statements. The editors of the White Book note (at 32.4.5 of the latest supplement that) “Unfortunately, rules, practice directions and guidance as to the contents…
HM Courts and Tribunal Service has provided a new Chancery Guide. It is available at http://www.chba.org.uk/for-members/library/practice-directions-court-notices/chancery-guide-updated-october-2013 It is worthwhile reading for non-Chancery lawyers. The book contains invaluable advice about disclosu… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member to read…
The issues caused by the new CPR 3.9 have featured many times on this blog. Here we look at two High Court decisions where relief from sanctions was granted. Kesabo –v- African Barrick Gold Plc and (because the full transcript…
The case of Raayan Al Iraq Co. Ltd –v- Trans Victory Machine Inc [2013] EWHC 2696 (Comm) was mentioned in an earlier post. The full transcript is now available and provides useful reading for those applying for retrospective extensions of…
Following the earlier post on Part 36 offers I am grateful to Marcus Davies from DWF for pointing me in the direction of the decision of Mrs Justice Andrews in Davison –v- Leitch [2013] EWHC 3092 (QB). This provides another…
The costs consequences when a claimant fails to beat a Part 36 from the defendant are well known and long established. The advantages for a claimant who now beats their own offer were examined in a previous post. Here we…
This Order came into force on the 7th October 2013. The aim is to put forward a standard fee remission system across a whole range of tribunals as well as the civil courts. It is always prudent, when issuing…
A recent post looked at the Court of Appeal mediation scheme and examined the potential penalties for a party refusing to mediate. In PGF II SA –v- OMES Company I Limited [2013] EWCA CIV 1288 the Court of Appeal looked…
The Judiciary have published a Handbook for Litigants in Person. It can be found here. WHY YOU SHOULD READ IT I suggest every litigator has a look at it. 1. You should ensure it is sent to every litigant in…
The case of Thevarajah –v- Riordan has been discussed before. Initially relief from sanctions was refused, however it was then granted at a second application. Here we look at the decision in more detail, in particular the CPR 3.9…
If proceedings are being issued at the last moment then it is imperative that the correct fee is lodged at court. A failure to send the correct fee will mean that proceedings are not properly issued. This post looks at…
There are a surprising number of “myths” that prevail in personal injury litigation. In particular in relation to limitation. Here, as part of the “avoiding negligence” series we look at 10 of these myths. Myth 1: In a breach of…
The case of Thevarajah –v-Riordan has been reported before at http://civillitigationbrief.wordpress.com/2013/08/13/relief-from-sanctions-a-case-where-relief-was-refused/ when the court refused to grant relief from sanctions where the defendant had failed to comply with disclosure obligations. H… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member…
The Court of Appeal can recommend that appeals be referred to mediation. This blog looks at the process and some of the case law. THE GUIDANCE A Lord/Lady Justice considering an application for permission to appeal is expressly required…
An action can be struck out if a party fails to preserve evidence. Matthews –v- Collins is a fatal case where evidence was destroyed by the coroner . The defendant applied to strike out the action as an abuse of…
In Biffa Waste Services Ltd –v- Ali Dinler (QBD 10/10/13) Swift J overturned an order granting relief from sanctions. THE FACTS Biffa was a personal injury case. The claimant failed to file a pre-trial checklist in time or to…
The decision in Michael –v- Middleton [2013] EWHC 2881 (Ch) provides another example of the difficulties that arise in making an application for relief from sanctions. However close examination of the judgment also provides some interesting lessons in conducting litigation and…
The case of Sargespace –v- Eustace had a highly unusual set of facts. However it raises an interesting question of where the burden of proof lies in an application for summary judgment where a respondent to the application wishes to…
The Senior Courts Costs Office has produced a comprehensive guide to costs. At 182 pages it probably contains all the procedural points you need to know. https://www.dropbox.com/s/65gbezzxz7l2zpk/SCCO%20Guide%20October%202013.pdf… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member to read full articles and…
A hearing on the question of whether a party has complied with an unless order is always a fraught one. The stakes are high, particularly for the party alleged to be in breach. Here we look at compliance in relation…
The link to this post is at http://accidentsatworkaftertheerra.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/the-duty-to-risk-assess-and-common-law-duty-after-1st-october-2013/… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member to read full articles and access all premium content. Become a member Already a member? Log in below Username or E-mail Password Remember Me…
The making of an “issue based” costs order is now a common aspect of litigation. However how relevant is a Part 36 offer when a court is considering making an “issue based” costs order? A recent case contains discussion of…
A fundamental change in the law relating to breach of statutory duties and civil liability means that greater consideration will need to be given to drafting witness statements. I have prepared an article on this at http://accidentsatworkaftertheerra.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/witness-statements-and… Enjoying this post?…
I have started a new blog on the effect of effects on accidents on work after the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The Act abolishes civil liability for breach of statutory duty (with one limited exception). The blog is not…
The full transcript of the decision of Master McCloud in Andrew Mitchell MP –v- Express Group Newspapers [2013] EWHC 2355 (QB) is now available. The case was discussed, in outline in an earlier post, http://civillitigationbrief.wordpress.com/2013/08/11/litigatorswant-to-work-for-nothing-then-don… Enjoying this post? Become a…
It is easy to assume that every jurisdiction has a limitation period of three years. However when an accident happens abroad the Foreign Limitation Periods Act 1984 provides that the relevant limitation period is the period that prevails in…
We continue the examination of limitation periods that are not necessarily three years. Accidents that happen at sea, or on water generally, can be subject to different limitation periods and, normally, a two year limitation period applies. TWO YEAR PERIODS…
A recent e-mail enquiry has led to my considering the issue of the right to issue proceedings on behalf of the estate of someone who died intestate. The solicitor wanted to bring an action for personal injury on behalf of…
A tweet on the 8th October 2013 read: “PI Claim struck out because Montreal Convention pleaded instead of Warsaw Convention.” (The case in question is reported in detail by Jasmine Murphy on the Hardwicke Chambers website.) This reiterates the points…
Applying to extend time for service of the claim form is a practice fraught with danger, even if done prospectively. In Haskew –v- Pannone LLP (and others) the Court of Appeal considered the relevant criteria for granting an extension when…
How significant are admissions made under the MOJ portal and what is their practical significance? A close look at the case of Ullah –v- Jon and its significance in relation to construction of the RTA Protocol. I am grateful…
SANCTIONS AND DEFAULT: THE NEW APPROACH IN PRACTICE. THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF BAKER -v- HALLAM ESTATES
The post yesterday looked at the duties owed by an applicant making a without notice application. The full transcript of the case is now available and contains some salutary observations. Baker –v- Hallam Estates Baker -v- Hallam Estates [2013]…
Since the advent of CPR 3.3 and CPR 23.8 and 9 there appears to have been a growth in the number of applications made without notice. Two recent cases highlight the very onerous duty on a party making such an…
This post looks at the case law relating to Article 6 and the right to a fair trial in civil proceedings. It looks at whether decisions under the new CPR 3.9 need to consider the issue of “proportional response”. …
This post looks at the power the courts have to make costs orders when making an order of its own motion or without notice to one party. A party attempting to challenge or vary such an order must act promptly….
This post looks at a case where the claimant served the particulars of two days late. The judge stated that it was “the clearest” case for an extension of time. He also regarded the defendants’ taking of the point…
There has been a tremendous change in policy in relation to case management after 1st April 2013. This has already led to major difficulties for some litigators. This post is the first (of what may be many) survival guides for…
I have written an article for the Local Government Lawyer on drafting witness statements dealing with recent cases and guidance on the topic, see What are witness statements for For other articles in the series on drafting witness statements see…
This post looks at the unusual case of Hills Construction –v- Struth [2013] EWHC 1693 (TCC) which considered issues relating to service of the claim form and extensions of time for service of the Particulars of Claim. The facts…
This post looks at the decision in Dass –v- Dass where the defendant was refused permission to rely upon medical experts because they had not been served in accordance with court directions. Many of the recent cases in relation to…
One important change introduced from the 1st October is a slightly revised Form H. A copy of the new Form H can be found here http://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/pdf/preview/precedent-h.pdf The explanation of the Practice Direction amendments is at http://www.justice.gov.u… Enjoying this post? Become a…
There have been seven amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules so far this year. In an attempt to give easy access to the amendments They are http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/262/contents/made http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/515/contents/made http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/789… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member to read…
This post deals with misunderstandings that appear to be in place as to which cases the new CPR 3.9 provisions on relief from sanctions apply to. In particular whether the key date is the date of issue of proceedings or…
I have posted a short article on a recent case on Section 33 and the Limitation Act 1980 on my blog on Fatal Accident Law at http://fatalaccidentlaw.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/issuing-late-section-33-and-the-fatal-accidents-act-and-law-reform-act-an-example-of-a-claimant-succeeding/… Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member to read full articles and…
This post looks at the changes to the Civil Procedure Rules introduced by The Civil Procedure Rules (Amendment No 7) Rules 2013. These rules come into force on 1st October 2013. The main provisions are that: A…
This post looks at the issue raised in Parkin –v- Alba Proteins Ltd where a party failed to disclose the identity/ existence of additional defendants prior to the issue of proceedings. In Parkin –v- Alba Proteins Ltd [2013] EWHC 2036…
The Birmingham Mercantile Court has produced a standard form to be used in Case Management hearings. Although some of the provisions are specific to Mercantile Court procedure many of the matters contained in the form, and accompanying list, are of…
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