LATE WITNESS STATEMENTS AND THE ASSESSMENT OF COSTS: COSTS REDUCED EVEN WHEN THEY WERE ON THE INDEMNITY BASIS
There are two distinct issues arising from the judgment of HHJ Pelling QC (sitting as a High Court judge) in Various Airfinance Leasing Companies & Ors v Saudi Arabian Airlines Corporation [2021] EWHC 3509 (Comm). The first relates to the…
JUDGE GRANTS DEFENDANT RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS IN RELATION TO LATE FILING OF THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SERVICE
In Cambpell v Chief Land Registrar [2022] EWHC 200 (Ch) HHJ Hodge (sitting as a judge of the High Court) granted the defendant relief from sanctions following its failure to acknowledge service in time. “it would be unjust if two…
CLAIMANT’S APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS REFUSED: A PARTY MORE INTERESTED IN APPEALING A COURT ORDER THAN COMPLYING WITH ITS TERMS…
In Day v Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP [2021] EWHC 3236 (QB) Deputy Master Toogood refused a claimant’s application for relief from sanctions when there had been a four month delay in applying for permission to amend the Particulars of…
DEFENDANT GRANTED AN EXTENSION OF TIME WHEN IT WAS FIVE YEARS LATE: DENTON PRINCIPLES APPLIED
Until yesterday I do not recall seeing many cases where a defendant required an extension of time in order to make an application under CPR Part 11. However, like London buses, they seem to travel in pairs. In Apollo Ventures…
SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: WHEN THE DEFENDANT NEEDS AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO TAKE POINTS AS TO SERVICE: PROBLEMS BORN IN THE US OF A.
In Joe Macari Servicing Ltd v Chequered Flag International Inc [2021] EWHC 3175 (QB) Master Dagnall considered a case where the defendant required an extension of time in order to take points in relation to service of proceedings. The Master…
APPLICATIONS AND INTERLOCUTORY HEARINGS (PLUS APPLYING FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME)
On the 2nd December 2021 I am giving a webinar “Applications and Interlocutory Hearings: A Practitioner’s Guide”. Since applications are made, and resisted, on a regular basis it is easy to overlook the underlying rules and case law. This webinar…
DEFENDANT REFUSED PERMISSION TO WITHDRAW FIGURES SET OUT IN COUNTER-SCHEDULE
The judgment of Mr Justice Ritchie in Haggerty-Garton & Ors v Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd [2021] EWHC 2924 (QB) is interesting in that it shows the application of Scottish principles of damages to a fatal case (the award was much…
THE JUDGMENT IN JALLA -V- SHELL: THE JUDGMENT OF LORD JUSTICE UNDERHILL: THE ABSENCE OF ANY EXPLANATION FOR DELAY
The case of Jalla & Anor v Shell International Trading And Shipping Co. Ltd & Anor (Appeal 3: Refusal to Extend Time) [2021] EWCA Civ 1559 was covered in the previous post. It is worthwhile looking at the shorter judgment…
COURT OF APPEAL UPHOLDS DECISION NOT TO EXTEND TIME FOR COMPLIANCE WITH COURT ORDER: 28,000 CLAIMS BITE THE DUST
In the decision today in Jalla & Anor v Shell International Trading And Shipping Co. Ltd & Anor (Appeal 3: Refusal to Extend Time)[2021] EWCA Civ 1559 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision not to grant extensions of time…
APPEAL WAS OUT OF TIME DUE TO FAILURE TO USE EFILING: A POINT TO WATCH
The judgment of Eason Rajah QC (sitting as a Judge of the Chancery Division)in Walker v The Official Receiver [2021] EWHC 2868 (Ch) highlights a problem with appeals in the Chancery Division. The appellant had problems because an appeal was to…
DEFENDANTS FAILED TO COMPLY WITH PEREMPTORY ORDER: RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS REFUSED
In Parkes v Hall & Ors [2021] EWHC 2824 (QB) Sir Andrew Nicol refused the defendants’ application for relief from sanctions following failure to comply with a peremptory order. THE CASE The defendants were ordered to file further particulars…
THE DENTON CRITERIA: LATE APPEALS, NEW EVIDENCE AND PERMISSION TO APPEAL: A PROPOSED APPELLANT IS NOT ENTITLED TO TWO BITES OF THE CHERRY
The judgment of HHJ Karen Walden-Smith in Nagpal v Kumar [2021] EW Misc 17 (CC) illustrates the difficulties faced by a party that requires permission to appeal out of time and wishes to adduce new evidence at the proposed appeal….
CLAIMANTS’ APPLICATION FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME REFUSED: AN APPLICATION AT (SIX MINUTES) AFTER THE DEADLINE
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…
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…
PD51ZA WAS NOT EXTENDED: NEW PROVISIONS PLANNED TO ALLOW RULES TO BE CHANGED DURING PUBLIC EMERGENCY
There have been several enquiries recently as to whether PD51ZA, which allowed the parties to agree lengthier extensions of time, was extended. The simple answer is that it was not. The rule expired on 30th October 2020. MINUTES OF…
EXTENSION OF TIME TO APPEAL REFUSED: HIGH COURT DECISION TODAY
In the judgment today in Jamous v Mercouris [2020] EWHC 2814 (QB) Mr Justice Murray refused a claimant’s application for permission to appeal out of time. It is a reminder that applications of extensions of time to appeal are dealt…
DENTON PRINCIPLES APPLY WHERE WITNESS EVIDENCE SERVED LATE
The judgment of HHJ Matthews (sitting as a High Court judge) in Wolf Rock (Cornwall) Ltd v Langhelle [2020] EWHC 2500 (Ch) considers the issue of whether the Denton principles apply when a witness statement is served late but there…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS ALLOWED WHEN JUDGE HAD RESERVATIONS AS TO WHETHER STRIKING OUT ORDER SHOULD EVER HAVE BEEN MADE
In Barakat v Greycourt Ltd [2020] EWHC 643 (Ch) Mr Justice Fancourt granted relief from sanctions to an appellant whose appeal had been struck out without notice. One thing of note in this judgment is the order striking out the…
DENTON PRINCIPLES APPLIED IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE COURT: EXTENSION OF TIME GRANTED FOLLOWING DEFAULT IN AN EXTRADITION CASE
In Zelenko v Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Latvia [2020] EWHC 1800 (Admin) the Administrative Court applied Denton principles to an issue concerning extradition. THE CASE An order had been made extraditing the applicant to Latvia. The…
SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: WHAT CAN POSSIBLY GO WRONG? TEN SIMPLE POINTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER & TO CAP OFF THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Service of the claim form remain a major cause of problems. Here we re-cap (not for the first time) on the basic causes of many of the problems, with links through to the many posts on this subject. This post…
SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: CLAIMANT SURVIVES “BY THE SKIN OF THEIR TEETH”: SOME IMPORTANT LESSONS TO LEARN HERE
Every year brings its own crop of service of the claim form cases. This year is no different. In Oran Environmental Solutions Ltd & Anor v QBE Insurance (Europe) Ltd & Anor [2020] EWHC 1271 (Comm) Mrs Justice Cockerill observed…
MORE ON THE NEW RULES EXTENDING TIME: HOW DOES THE PRACTICE DIRECTION IMPACT ON THE RULES FOR EXTENDING TIME FOR SERVICE OF THE DEFENCE?
A very sensible question was asked on Twitter last week about whether the Practice Direction extending time applied to the very specific rule about parties agreeing an extension of time for filing the defence. THE RULES RELATING TO FILING A…
THE NEW PRACTICE DIRECTION: THE LIMITATIONS ON THE POWER TO EXTEND TIME BY AGREEMENT AND MAKING AN APPLICATION
Although it is welcome the new Practice direction is a bit disappointing. It does not trust litigators at all (or not very much). Parties can agree extensions of up to 56 days, without permission of the Court, but not beyond…
CORONAVIRUS – A USEFUL CASE: MASTER ALLOWS PARTY TO VARY DIRECTIONS BY CONSENT BY 56 DAYS
7BR’s website carries an interesting report from Adam Korn of a judgment today where Master Davison made an order extending the amount of time the parties can agree to vary directions. This was directly because of potential difficulties arising out…
OUT OF TIME APPEAL ALLOWED BECAUSE OF ITS UNDERLYING MERITS: DENTON CONSIDERED
For the second time in two days I am writing about a relief from sanctions case where the court took into account the merits of the underlying case. Yesterday relief was refused because the court held that the case had…
2019 AND CIVIL PROCEDURE – THE YEAR IN REVIEW (3): SANCTIONS AND RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS (OR NOT…)
Another certainty about writing about civil procedure is that every year will bring a batch of applications relating to sanctions and relief from sanctions. This year has been no different. We start off (from the end of last year) with…
CIVIL PROCEDURE AND COSTS: BLOG AND ARTICLES ROUND UP – NOVEMBER 2019
Here we have links to blogs and articles about civil procedure and costs from November 2019. COSTS Costs Barrister Blaming others Costs Barrister The undiscovered country Herbert Smith Freehills Court of Appeal confirms jurisdiction to award claimant interim payment on account of costs…
SERVICE OF THE PARTICULARS OF CLAIM AND THE “TRAP FOR THE UNWARY CLAIMANT”: THE TRAP OPERATED AND RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS NOT GRANTED
The judgment of Chief Master Marsh today in Maggistro-Contenta & Anor v O’Shea & Anor [2019] EWHC 3035 (Ch) is a prime example of difficulties being caused because of a mistake in relation to the rules relating to service. It…
STAGE 3 PROCEEDINGS AND LATE SERVICE OF EVIDENCE: COURT OF APPEAL DECISION
The judgment of the Court of Appeal yesterday in Wickes Building Supplies Ltd v Blair [2019] EWCA Civ 1934 is an important one in relation to late service of evidence and Stage 3 of the Protocol. It shows the importance…
PROSPECTIVE APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENSIONS OF TIME (CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYERS DO NOT GET EXCITED)
Today seems a good day to consider prospective applications for extensions of time. These are going to figure in every litigators career at some point. A knowledge of the relevant law is essential. A prospective application of time is dealt…
DENTON APPLIED TO OUT OF TIME APPLICATION IN COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS: THE APPLICANT STAYS IN JAIL
In Lakatamia v SU [2019] EWCA Civ 1626 the Court of Appeal refused an application for permission to appeal out of time in a case where the applicant had been committed to prison for contempt. “Hysaj establishes that the…
DEFENDANTS – WAKE UP, SERIOUSLY: A “VERY RELAXED” ATTITUDE TO THE RULES WILL COST YOUR CLIENTS DEAR: APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE A DEFENCE REFUSED: REFUSAL CONFIRMED ON APPEAL
In Joan Angela Kember v (As Personal Representative of the Estate of Leonard John Kember, Deceased And On Her Own Behalf And On Behalf of His Dependants) [2019] EWHC 2297 (QB) Mrs Justice Lambert upheld a refusal to grant a…
WHEN A JUDGE MAKES A WRONG DECISION BECAUSE RELEVANT PAPERS (WHICH HAVE BEEN SENT TO COURT IN GOOD TIME) HAVE NOT REACHED THEM
The decision in Singh v The Secretary of State for the Home Department [2019] EWCA Civ 1504 related to a case where a decision was made when the judge was not given relevant papers that had arrived at court. “In…
AVOIDING NEGLIGENCE CLAIMS IN LITIGATION 11: PROCEDURE: AN EIGHT POINT SURVIVAL GUIDE
Here we have a short eight point guide on some of the key problem areas in relation to procedure once proceedings have been issued. Rule 1: Have everything ready pre-issue and have a plan. Effectively this means that you have,…
WHY IT IS IMPORTANT LITIGATORS KNOW HOW TO COMPUTE TIME PROPERLY: 7 DAYS MEANS 7 DAYS: APPLICATION TWO DAYS LATE: CLAIMANT COMES TO GRIEF
In Evans v Pinsent Masons LLP [2019] EWHC 2150 (QB) Mr Justice Martin Spencer overturned a decision granting relief from sanctions. A major issue arose out of confusion by the claimant’s solicitors over the calculation of the time period. This…
WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE TEST IF SOMEONE APPLIES IN ADVANCE TO EXTEND TIME TO COMPLY WITH A PEREMPTORY ORDER? HIGH COURT DECISION
In Everwarm Ltd v BN Rendering Ltd [2019] EWHC 2078 (TCC) Mr Alexander Nissen QC (sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge) considered the appropriate test to be applied when the court made a peremptory order and an application was…
AGREEMENTS TO EXTEND TIME : THEY CAN BE A GOOD THING – BUT MUST BE DONE PROPERLY
In Cowan v Foreman & Ors [2019] EWCA Civ 1336 the Court of Appeal were far more supportive of the idea that parties in Inheritance Act claims could agree a “limitation amnesty”. However an agreement has to be drafted with…
PROVING THINGS 160: DELAY MUST BE EXPLAINED: COURT CAN DIRECT THAT EXTRA EVIDENCE BE FILED
In Hendry v Hendry & Ors [2019] EWHC 1976 (Ch) Master Shuman refused the claimant’s application for an extension of time to bring proceedings under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975. THE CASE The claimant was married…
WHY DEFENDANTS HAVE TO KNOW THE RULES ABOUT SERVICE AND JURISDICTION AND ACT PROMPTLY: YOU’LL FIND YOURSELVES MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS
The judgment today in Babcock Marine (Clyde) Ltd v HS Barrier Coatings Ltd [2019] EWHC 1659 (TCC) highlights the need for defendants to be prompt if they are making an application in relation to service or jurisdiction. CPR 11 gives…
EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SERVICE SET ASIDE: THE DANGERS OF SEEKING TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF A CLAIM FORM ON A WITHOUT NOTICE BASIS – EXEMPLIFIED
In Al-Zahra (PVT) Hospital & Ors v DDM [2019] EWCA Civ 1103 the Court of Appeal allowed an appeal by defendants who objected to an extension of time being granted for service of the claim form. It is an object…
MAKING APPLICATIONS IN ADVANCE OF A BREACH: WHY A STITCH IN TIME OFTEN, BUT NOT INVARIABLY, SAVES AN APPLICANT
The post earlier today about the decision in Bedzhamov & Ors Re Vneshprombank LLC [2019] EWHC 1430 (Ch) was an example of the court refusing an application for an extension of time made in advance of the date of breach. The…
APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION MADE AHEAD OF TIME REFUSED: AN UNREASONABLE SECOND BITE OF THE CHERRY
In Bedzhamov & Ors Re Vneshprombank LLC [2019] EWHC 1430 (Ch) Mrs Justice Falk refused an application for an extension of time that had been made ahead of the date of compliance. In these circumstances the courts will normally grant…
ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN EXTENSIONS OF TIME BY INFORMAL EMAIL : THE COURT TAKES A “SINGULARLY DIM VIEW” OF ATTEMPTS BY PARTIES TO CIRCUMVENT THE RULES (OH, AND BUNDLES AGAIN)
In Saint Benedict Land Trust Ltd v London Borough of Camden & Anor [2019] EWHC 1433 (Ch) (17 May 2019) Mr Justice Marcus Smith took a very dim view indeed of an attempt by a litigant to obtain an extension…
CIVIL PROCEDURE BACK TO BASICS 42: WHY A DAY EARLY IS SO VERY DIFFERENT TO A DAY LATE: THE ROBERT CRITERIA
There is a world of different between a prospective and retrospective application to extend time, or comply with an order. Every litigator has to know about Robert -v- Momentum Services [2003] EWCA Civ 229. An application made in advance means that the…
“LAST KNOWN ADDRESS” : CLAIMANT HAD TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS : EXTENSION OF TIME TO SERVE CLAIM FORM UPHELD
In Colley V Shuker & Ors [2019] EWHC 781 (QB) Mrs Justice O’Farell upheld an order extending time for service of the claim form. The judgment considers, but does not decide, whether the claimant had taken reasonable steps to establish…
RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS, LATE SERVICE OF NOTICE TO APPEAL AND THE LITIGANT IN PERSON
In London Borough of Hamlets v Al Ahmed [2019] EWHC 749 (QB) Mr Justice Dove set aside an order granting an appellant an extension of time for appealing. The fact that the appellant was a litigant in person was not a…
DENTON CONSIDERED: EXTENSION ALLOWED WHEN NOTICE HAD GONE INTO SOLICITOR’S SPAM FOLDER
In Adetoye v The Solicitors Regulation Authority [2019] EWHC 707 (Admin) Mr Justice Mostyn allowed an appellant an extension of time when a notice of appeal was served late. The delay was because the appellant had not noticed the order appealed…
AGREEING EXTENSIONS OF TIME: ADVICE FROM M’ LEARNED FRIEND: “DON’T PANIC” AND BE TOTALLY CLEAR IN WHAT YOU ARE AGREEING
In his post yesterday Agreeing An Extension to the Limitation Period Nigel Poole QC dealt with some of the issues arising from the judgment in Cowan v Foreman and ors [2019] EWHC 349 (Fam) where Mostyn J suggested it was not possible for the…
“THE DEFENDANTS DID NOT TAKE THE DIRECTIONS SERIOUSLY ENOUGH”: ANOTHER RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS CASE
In Otuo v The Watch Tower Bible And Tract Society of Britain (Relief from Sanctions 1) [2019] EWHC 341 (QB) Mr Justice Warby granted the defendant relief from sanctions. However the observations made in relation to the conduct of litigation are…
LIMITATION AND INHERITANCE ACT CLAIMS: SOMETHING TO WATCH CAREFULLY: AGREEING “LIMITATION AMNESTY” MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE
NB – THESE COMMENTS ON THE POWER TO AGREE AN AMNESTY WERE DOUBTED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL SEE THE POST HERE In Cowan v Foreman & Ors [2019] EWHC 349 (Fam) Mr Justice Mostyn set out some importance principles in…


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