MITCHELL CONSIDERED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR A THIRD TIME: ANOTHER TWIST IN THE THEVARAJAH TALE
In the case heard today of Thevarajah –v- Riordan [2014] EWCA Civ 15the Court of Appeal reiterated the rigorous nature of the Mitchell test. Here we look at that decision in detail and the trenchant observations made by the Court….
THE MITCHELL CRITERIA AND THE CHOICE OF JUDGE
The case of Mitchell featured in the decision of Mr Justice Turner in Biljani -v- Unum Ltd[2014] EWHC 27 (QB) . An application for the matter to be listed in front of a High Court judge was refused, part of the…
APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS REFUSED WHEN PARTY FAILED TO SERVE STATEMENT OF REASONS: FULL TRANSCRIPT AVAILABLE
There is a decision by Master Rowley in the case of Long -v- Value Properties Ltd 13/1/14 available on dropbox at https://www.dropbox.com/s/h8keoeme94gvrzp/Long%20v%20%20Value%20Properties%20%26%20Anor.pdf THE APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS This was an application for relief from sanctions ar… Enjoying this post? Become…
MITCHELL AND INDEMNITY INSURERS: A WORRYING TIME
One obvious concern about the Mitchell fallout is the position of Indemnity insurers. This is reflected in a piece by Hill Dickinson. The observations need to be noted. HILL DICKINSON’S POST There is a succinct summary of the decisions in…
DO YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS OR AN EXTENSION OF TIME? ANOTHER KEY ISSUE PRACTITIONERS SHOULD BE CERTAIN ABOUT
There was an interesting debate on twitter on Friday evening about whether Mitchell was being cited too widely. It was reported that, in some cases district judges had rejected the argument that when parties were applying for extension of time…
SECOND ACTION STRUCK OUT AS AN ABUSE OF PROCESS: REPORT OF FIRST INSTANCE DECISION
Searches for “abuse of process and section action” formed more than half of the search terms that brought people to this blog earlier in the week. It is clear that this is going to be a major subject of litigation…
WHAT CAN A DEFENDANT ARGUE ABOUT DAMAGES IF THE CLAIMANT HAS JUDGMENT OR THE DEFENCE HAS BEEN STRUCK OUT?
One important aspect of the new rules about relief from sanctions is that they apply to defendants as well. A defendant who is late in adducing evidence can be debarred from calling evidence as in the Durrant case. Here we…
CIVIL PROCEDURE, COSTS & SANCTIONS: LINKS TO RECENT ARTICLES AND POST
Links to posts and articles on all aspects of civil procedure. Linking does not indicate approval or agreement but that all discussion on these issues is useful. RECENT POSTS AND ARTICLES 23rd June 2019 Herbert Smith Freehills Litigation Notes…
ISSUING PROCEEDINGS A SECOND TIME: NOT AN ABUSE OF PROCESS: HALL –v- MINISTRY OF DEFENCE EXAMINED
Can a claimant issue again if an action is struck because of a failure to comply with the rules and? This is likely to become a question of considerable interest given the number of cases that are failing because of…
SURVIVING MITCHELL A PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE 3: IF YOU CANNOT COMPLY WITH A RULE OR PRACTICE DIRECTION THEN MAKE AN APPLICATION BEFORE IT IS BREACHED
The Mitchell case makes it clear that applications for relief from sanctions made after breach will be granted sparingly. Here we consider the merits of making an application in advance of the date of breach. WHAT THE COURT OF APPEAL…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS AND SERVING NOTICE OF FUNDING: A TALE OF TWO CASES
Results of relief from sanctions applications are now being reported regularly. Here we look at two apparently contrasting applications in relation to relief from sanctions and the failure to give notice of funding. Both cases were reported today; both are…
ANOTHER COURT OF APPEAL CASE ON RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS : DURRANT –V- CHIEF CONSTABLE OF AVON & SOMERSET CONSTABULARY
In the first relief from sanctions case to reach the Court of Appeal since Mitchell, the Court of Appeal reiterated the tough new approach which courts should taken when considering relief applications. The Claimant brought a claim against the Defendant…
SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: MITCHELL: RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS AND A “GOOD” REASON: AND SO TO BED: A LOOK AT THE CASE LAW
In Mitchell the Court of Appeal stated that a court should normally consider relief from sanctions in a “non-trivial” case if there were good reasons and referred to the case law relating to extending time for service of the…
FULL COPY OF TRANSCRIPT OF ALDINGTON -v- ELS
I am grateful to Gordon Wignall of No 5 Chambers for sending me a copy of the full transcript of Aldington -v- ELS where a claimant was granted relief from sanctions. (The transcript is upside down – click rotate clockwise…
WEBINAR ON "SURVIVING MITCHELL":29th JANUARY 2014
I am broadcasting a Webinar for CLT on “Surviving Mitchell” on the 29th January 2014 at 13.00. The link for subscribing can be found at http://www.clt.co.uk/webinar.aspx?crseidcode=1695882 “This webinar which is presented by Gordon Exall, will explain exactly what went wrong for…
POST MITCHELL MAYHEM 2: A CASE WHERE RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS WAS GRANTED
Litigation Futures carries a report of a High Court case where relief from sanctions was granted. The link is at http://www.litigationfutures.com/news/exclusive-high-court-grants-first-post-mitchell-relief-sanctions Details will be added to the Mitchell Case Watch later today…. Enjoying this post? Become a Civil Litigation Brief member…
SANCTIONS: CASE WATCH
This section looks at decisions in relation to relief from sanctions and the general principles of CPR 3.9. Often there are links to the decisions themselves, together with links to posts on this blog. CASES IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER 2026 February…
SG DG PETROL: A (HIGH COURT) POST-MITCHELL DECISION ON RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS
There is a High Court decision on relief from sanctions at http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Comm/2013/3920.html An application for relief from sanctions was dismissed. The judge went on to make general observations about how applications for relief from sanctions should be conducted. In SG DG Pet……
I NEVER LIKED THAT ORDER ANYWAY – CAN I SET IT ASIDE NOW? CONSIDERATION OF THE TIBBLES CRITERIA IN APPLICATIONS FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS”.
In the Mitchell case the claimant made an attempt to challenge and set aside one of the orders made by the Master which had been breaches. The Court gave clear guidance as to the steps to be taken if a…
DECISION OF THE COUNTY COURT FOLOWING MITCHELL: ROMANO –v-K PAPERS (BLACKBURN) LTD
The courts now have a clear basis upon which to consider applications for reinstatement following the decision in Mitchell. The case of Romano –v- K Papers (Blackburn) Ltd an appeal heard at Manchester County Court today (29th November 2013) provides…
THE MITCHELL CRITERIA FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS: A DETAILED EXAMINATION
There has been much comment about the effect of the Court of Appeal decision in Mitchell on litigation and litigators. Here we look, in considerable detail, at the guidance given in relation to relief from sanctions and associated case law….
MITCHELL: 20 KEY POINTS OF JUDGMENT
The Court of Appeal gave judgment in Mitchell -v- News Group Newspapers [2013] EWCA Civ 1537 today. The case has been much covered. The Claimant’s application for relief from sanctions was refused. The key points of general importance are: 1….
BIFFA WASTE SERVICES: RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS: FULL TRANSCRIPT NOW AVAILABLE
Biffa Waste Services Ltd –v- Ali Dinler [2013] is a case where the judge, on appeal, overturned an earlier order granting relief from sanctions. The full transcript is now available and is notable for its detailed consideration of the principles…
“AN OBJECT LESSON IN HOW MODERN LITIGATION SHOULD NOT BE CONDUCTED.”
It may be thought that commentary on issues of procedural default is in abeyance until the Mitchell decision from the Court of Appeal. However, as recent posts have shown, cases are still coming through thick and fast. When a judge…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS AND CPR 3.9: TWO CASES WHERE RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS WAS GRANTED
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…
EXTENSIONS OF TIME WHEN THERE IS A MINOR BREACH: FULL TRANSCRIPT IN RAYYAN AL IRAQ CO LTD NOW AVAILABLE
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…
THEVARAJAH –V- RIORDAN NOW FULLY REPORTED: SECOND BITE OF CHERRY IN RELATION TO RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS
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…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS GRANTED SECOND TIME AROUND: QUITE A TWIST TO THIS TALE?
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…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS ORDER OVERTURNED ON APPEAL: ANOTHER CASE GOES TO WASTE
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…
LITIGATION AFTER JACKSON: A 10 POINT SURVIVAL GUIDE
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…


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