The judgment of Clare Ambrose (sitting as a High Court judge) in Falcon Trident Shipping Ltd v Levant Shipping Ltd [2021] EWHC 2204 (Comm) held that a settlement agreed drafted after acceptance of a Part 36 offer displaced the provisions…
In Sheard -v- Cao Tri Do [2021] EWHC 2166 (QB) HHJ Robinson, sitting as a Judge of the High Court, had to consider competing witness evidence in the context of a medical negligence action. It is an example of the…
In Hodgson v Creation Consumer Finance Ltd [2021] EWHC 2167 (Comm) (29 July 2021) HHJ Pearce, sitting as a High Court Judge, made some observations about the problems caused by the pagination of electronic bundles. We have the familar problem…
This is the time of year when many of us go on, and return from, holiday. Even if people are not globe trotting a few weeks (or even days) away can lead to stress. This is an appropriate time to…
The judgment of Mrs Justice O’Farrell in Jalla & Ors v Royal Dutch Shell Plc & Ors [2021] EWHC 2118 (TCC) shows the dangers of assuming that an extension of time will be given. The judge found that an agreement…
The judgment of Mr Justice Nicklin in London Borough of Ealing v Persons Unknown [2021] EWHC 2132 (QB) serves as a stark reminder that there is a duty to comply with the rules relating to service of the claim form,…
I am grateful to barrister James Miller for sending me a copy of the decision of Deputy Master Friston in Jimenez -v- Esure Services Limited (30th July 2021) a copy of which is available here. Jimenz -v- Esure THE CASE…
The Civil Justice Council has produced its final report on guideline hourly rates. This follows a consultation process following the interim report in January 2021. THE REPORT The report is available here. THE RECOMMENDED RATES … Enjoying this post?…
The adequacy of witness evidence was considered in detail in the judgment of Deputy Master Marsh in Dukeries Healthcare Ltd v Bay Trust International Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 2086 (Ch). It shows the danger of setting out a case…
Two posts on the “Yetanotherbloggingbarrister” blog are worth reading on the, sometimes difficult, question of dress for pupil barristers. I provide the links here. This provides a chance to look again at guidance given more widely. Not only for pupils…
The decision of Deputy Master Grimshaw in ABC & Ors v The London Borough of Lambeth [2021] EWHC 2057 (QB) is, I think, the first to consider the question of the date of issue in the Electronic Working System. It…
I am grateful to barrister James Miller for sending me a copy of the decision of District Judge Rouin in Thandi -v- Esure Services Ltd (9th June 2021). Thandi v Esure – Approved Judgment – 09.06.21 V1 The claimant…
If you are ever asked the question as to what the similarities are between dancers at Spearmint Rhino and employees of Members of Parliament then there is only one appropriate answer. They have both applied for, and been refused, permission…
We see a classic mistake as to service of the claim form in the judgment of Mr Justice Fraser in LSREF 3 Tiger Falkirk Ltd I S.a.r.l & Anor v Paragon Building Consultancy Ltd [2021] EWHC 2063 (TCC). The claimant…
EXTENSIONS OF TIME AND THE DENTON CRITERIA: WHEN IT IS UNSATISFACTORY FOR AN APPELLANT TO GO HUNTING
In Secretary of State for Work and Pensions & Anor v Hughes & Ors [2021] EWCA Civ 1093 the Court of Appeal were, shall we say, slightly unimpressed by an argument that a judge should have applied the Denton test…
In J v A South Wales Local Authority [2021] EWCA Civ 1102 the Court of Appeal upheld an earlier decision refusing a defendant permission to resile from an admission. “There is no doubt that the checklist at paragraph 7.2 is…
In Tripipatkul v WH Lawrence Ltd (t/a WH Lawrence Solicitors) [2021] EWHC B13 (Costs) Costs Judge Brown set aside a contentious business agreement between a solicitor and their former client. “The decision in ex parte Cathcart requires the court to…
I have written several times about the major difficulties caused by the process of taking witness statements following the Hillsborough disaster. The process of taking statements is analysed by an academic in Hillsborough disaster: a revealing analysis of the language…
In Mahmud, R (On the Application Of) v Upper Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) [2021] EWCA Civ 1004 the Court of Appeal sent out a reminder that the need to comply with the Civil Procedure Rules extends to the Administrative…
Many of the reported cases in relation to the courts and witness experts are about the judge restricting the use of experts. In Borro Ltd & Ors v Aitken [2021] EWHC 1902 (Ch) HHJ Johns QC (sitting as a High…
In One Insurance -v- Beasley (a judgment available here) a 76 year old was sentenced to six months immediate imprisonment following his dishonest pursuit of a personal injury case. “A wheelchair was hired on two occasions in order to be…
On the 19th July 2021 I am presenting a webinar that looks at the implications of the Hillsborough case from the point of view of collecting witness evidence. Booking details are available here . NB – the webinar will be broadcast…
In Goknur Gida Maddeleri Enerji Imalet Ithalat Ihracat Ticaret Ve Sanayi AS v Aytacli [2021] EWCA Civ 1037 the Court of Appeal upheld a judge’s decision not to make a non-party order against a director of a litigant company. The…
In Mountain Ash Portfolio Ltd v Vasilyev [2021] EWHC 1853 (Comm) Stephen Houseman QC, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge, set aside a default judgment. However this was done by the narrowest of margins, the delay in making the…
The judgment of Sir Michael Burton in Mad Atelier International BV v Manes [2021] EWHC 1899 (Comm) shows that it is essential for civil litigators to have detailed knowledge of what is “opinion” evidence and when it is allowed in a…
The judgment of Mr Justice Bryan in Lakatamia Shipping Co Ltd v Su & Ors [2021] EWHC 1907 (Comm) could be used as a textbook for several important issues of civil procedure and civil evidence. Here we look at that…
The judgment of Sir Michael Burton in Mad Atelier International BV v Manes [2021] EWHC 1899 (Comm) is possibly the first time that Practice Direction 57AC – Trial Witness Statements in the Business and Property Courts has been considered by the…
This webinar looks at the legal principles and arguments that can be used to reduce claims for personal injury damages. It is being held on the 16th July 2021 (and available as an on-demand recording to the 16th January 2022). …
In the judgment today in West v Burton [2021] EWCA Civ 1005 the Court of Appeal held that a case pursued by the estate of a deceased person was not subject to the fixed costs provisions of Section III of…
Some of the difficulties a court has when considering witness evidence through a translator are set out in the judgment of Deputy Judge Agnello QC in Jackson v Song [2021] EWHC 1636 (Ch). “I have considered the evidence of…
The legal problems caused by Brexit raised their head in the judgment of Master Clark in Shanavazi, Re [2021] EWHC 1832 (Ch). “It will be apparent from this judgment that a relatively simple practical problem has given rise to…
In Karunia Holdings Ltd v Creativityetc Ltd [2021] EWHC 1864 (Ch) HHJ Halliwell considered, and refused, a claimant’s application to adduce new evidence after a draft judgment had been handed down in an application for summary judgment. ” The…
There is an interesting discussion of the use of expert evidence in the context of specialist proceedings in the judgment of Mr Justice Fraser in Bop-Me Ltd v Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Rev 1) [2021] EWHC…
In AL v Collingwood Insurance & Ors [2021] EWHC 1761 (QB) Mr Justice Robin Knowles allowed a claimant’s application for a further interim payment of £500,000 to secure accommodation for a brain injured child. The case contains an important discussion…
In the judgment today in Rogerson (t/a Cottesmore Hotel, Golf and Country Club) v Eco Top Heat & Power Ltd [2021] EWHC 1807 (TCC) Mr Alexander Nissen QC (sitting as a Judge of the High Court) considered the circumstances in…
I have written many times about cases where claimants have come to grief in relation to service of the claim form. Another example can be found in the judgment of Mrs Justice O’Farrell. In R (on the application of The…
On the 8th July 2021 I am presenting a webinar on Periodical Payments and Provisional Damages. Booking details are available here. THE WEBINAR This webinar looks at the law, practice and procedure relating to provisional damages and periodical payments…
The judgment of the Court of Appeal today in Smith v The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc [2021] EWCA Civ 977 highlights the fact that the small claims track is a “no costs” regime, even when matters reach the Court…
This is the third post in a detailed examination of the judgment in Chouza v Martins & Ors [2021] EWHC 1669 (QB). Here we look at the judgment in relation to the claim for pain and suffering prior to death. …
On the 30th June 2021 I am presenting a webinar on accommodation and appliance claims. Booking details are available here. THE WEBINAR Claims for accommodation and appliances are a major part of many serious claims. Here we look at the…
This is the second post in a detailed examination of the judgment in Chouza v Martins & Ors [2021] EWHC 1669 (QB). Here the we look at the position as to whether adult children were in fact “dependants” entitled to…
In Smith v W Ford & Sons (Contractors) Ltd [2021] EWHC 1749 (QB) Master Davison refused a defendant’s application that costs budgeting take place in a case that was in the Asbestos list. “These listing arrangements cannot accommodate costs budgeting….
In Acupay System LLC v Stephenson Harwood LLP [2021] EWHC B11 (Costs) Costs Judge Leonard rejected a claimant’s argument that a conditional fee agreement it had entered into with a solicitor was unfair, unreasonable and not supported by consideration. (There…
In Alli-Balogun v On the Beach Ltd & Ors [2021] EWHC 1702 (QB) Mr Justice Jacobs considered the relevant criteria for a party seeking to set aside a default judgment on the merits. The defendant in this case did not…
In JR & B Farming Limited v Hewitt [2021] EWHC 1704 (Comm) HH- Davis-White QC (sitting as a High Court judge) issued a clear warning to parties and transcription services that they must follow the correct procedure if a record…
It is rare for fatal accident dependency cases to reach trial. A detailed examination of many aspects of fatal accident damages was carried by Mr Justice Martin Spencer in Chouza v Martins & Ors [2021] EWHC 1669 (QB). This is…
The judgment of Mr Justice Martin Spencer in Chouza v Martins & Ors [2021] EWHC 1669 (QB) contains much of interest and importance to anyone involved in fatal accident litigation. Indeed I will be writing a series of posts on…
Today marks the 8th anniversary of Civil Litigation Brief as a blog. This may be an appropriate time to look back and consider some “facts and figure” FACTS AND FIGURES Last year the blog had 1,464,443 views and 505,431 visitors…
In the judgment today in Axnoller Events Ltd v Brake & Anor [2021] EWHC 1706 (Ch) HHJ Matthews (sitting as a High Court Judge) had to determine an issue in relation to who pays the costs of copying a trial…



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