
WHEN A PARTY WANTS AN ADJOURNMENT: THE PRINCIPLES CONSIDERED
The law on adjournments sought for health reasons is relatively clear. Knowledge of the principles (or at least where to find them easily) is an essential part of the litigator’s toolkit, not least because applications tend to come “out of…

APPLICATIONS TO ADJOURN A TRIAL BECAUSE OF ILL HEALTH: APPLICATION REFUSED BECAUSE THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE DID NOT ADDRESS SOME KEY ISSUES
In Nigel Mather & Ors v Lakbir Basran & Ors [2025] EWHC 438 (Ch) HHJ Hodge KC, sitting as a High Court Judge, refused the defendant’s application for an adjournment of the ongoing trial. The defendant had produced medical evidence…
COURT GRANTS DEFENDANT’S APPLICATION FOR AN ADJOURNMENT DUE TO THE ILLNESS OF LEADING COUNSEL
In Manchester Property Development Holdings & Anor v Kuit Steinart Levy LLP [2025] EWHC 35 (Comm) Dame Clare Moulder DBE granted the defendant’s application for an adjournment of an imminent trial because Leading Counsel became unexpectedly ill. There was insufficient…

WHEN A DEFENDANT DOES NOT TURN UP FOR TRIAL: THE RELEVANT CRITERIA CONSIDERED
In Van Zuylen v Whiston-Dew & Anor [2021] EWHC 2219 (Ch) Mr Nicholas Thompsell, sitting as a High Court Judge, considered the relevant criteria the court applies when a party fails to attend trial. The judgment also considers the relevant…

ADJOURNMENT OF TRIAL ON THE GROUNDS OF ILL-HEALTH: COURT OF APPEAL OVERTURNS DECISION THAT HEARING SHOULD GO AHEAD: A TRIAL SHOULD BE “FAIR IN ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES”
“Applying for an adjournment on the grounds of ill health” is a common (indeed one of the most common) search terms that leads people to this blog. It is unusual to see a Court of Appeal decision on this issue….

JUDGE WAS WRONG NOT TO GRANT ADJOURNMENT ON THE GROUNDS OF ILL HEALTH AND TO REFUSE TO SET ASIDE SUBSEQUENT JUDGMENT
In Solanki v Intercity Telecom Ltd [2018] EWCA Civ 101 today the Court of Appeal overturned a decision discussed on this blog in 2015. The Court found that a judge should have granted a defendant an adjournment on ill-health grounds. He…
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