AVOIDING PROCEDURAL ERRORS IN CIVIL LITIGATION (AND WHAT TO DO IF THINGS GO AWRY) : WEBINAR 17th FEBRUARY 2025
This webinar looks at common mistakes in personal injury litigation and recent cases where things have gone wrong. It then looks at how mistakes can be rectified and how to make an application for relief from sanctions. Booking details are…
EXPERTS AT TRIAL: THE JUDGE PREFERS THE EXPERT WITH DIRECT PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE OF THE ISSUE BEING CONSIDERED
In Dobson v Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police [2025] EWHC 272 (KB) HHJ Bird (sitting as a High Court Judge) considered which expert should be accepted in the context of a case against the police. He preferred the expert with…
WHOSE EXPERT EVIDENCE IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTED AT TRIAL (CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE): WEBINAR 14th FEBRUARY 2025
Expert evidence plays a critical, often decisive, role in clinical negligence litigation. An ability to assess expert evidence is a key part of the litigator’s role. This webinar looks at the rules and cases that govern the credibility of expert…
WHOSE EXPERT EVIDENCE IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTED AT TRIAL (?) PERSONAL INJURY: WEBINAR 7th FEBRUARY 2025
This blog regularly features cases where there have been issues, sometimes major problems, with expert evidence. This webinar takes a close look at the factors that the courts take into account when considering which expert’s view should be accepted. It…
MISCONDUCT IN ASSESSMENT AND REDUCTIONS IN COSTS – A REVIEW OF THE CASES 1: LAHEY -v- PIRELLI TYRES LIMITED
Recent cases on the issue of costs being reduced, or disallowed, due to the conduct of the assessment proceedings have led me to review the cases on this topic. This is the first in a series of posts about the…
THREE WEBINARS ON COSTS TO START OF THE CALENDAR (IF NOT THE FINANCIAL) YEAR
There are three webinars on costs this January of interest to most litigators. The first deals with the summary assessment of costs; the second the role of the litigator in detailed assessments and the third on the topic of deducting…
“DICING WITH PROCEDURAL DEATH” AND SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM: TEN SIMPLE POINTS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER
Last year saw another – large – batch of cases relating to service of the claim form. Mistakes continue to be made and things have not changed much over the years. Below is a revised post first written ten years…
MAXIMISING INTER PARTES COSTS RECOVERY IN HOUSING LAW CASES: WEBINAR 10th JANUARY 2025
I am speaking about costs for housing lawyers on the 10th January 2025 in a webinar arranged by Steve Cornforth. Booking details can be found by emailing Steve on stevecornforthconsultancy@gmail.com THE WEBINAR This webinar looks at how housing…
A CLAIM FOR WORKING 24.4 HOURS A DAY – EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR: WHEN DRAFTING SCHEDULES OF DAMAGES ARE LEFT TO THE CLAIMANTS: PROFOUND PROBLEMS FOLLOW
We are returning to the judgment in Samrai & Ors v Kalia [2024] EWHC 3143 (KB). It is interesting to isolate out the parts of the judgment relating to the drafting of the schedules. The claimants’ schedules were found to…
CLAIMANT IS SUCCESSFUL ON APPEAL, BUT DEFENDANT’S PART 36 OFFER MEANS THAT CLAIMANT PAYS THE COSTS: A REMINDER THAT PART 36 REMAINS IMPORTANT – EVEN AT THE APPEAL STAGE
I am grateful to my colleague Steven Turner for sending me a copy of the Court of Appeal decision on costs in Majid -v- HSF Logistics Polksa AP.ZO., a copy of which is available here CA Decision on Costs (and…
EXPERTS AND THE COURTS: DEVELOPMENTS IN 2024: “WHOSE EXPERT EVIDENCE IS GOING TO BE ACCEPTED AT TRIAL?”: SOME INTERESTING WEBINARS IN THE NEAR FUTURE
Issues relating to expert evidence have formed a large part of the material considered in this blog so far this year. The webinar on the 11th December reviews the key cases and their significance for practitioners and experts alike. Webinars…
DELEGATION IN LITIGATION: A CASE TO POINT – AND A WEBINAR ON THE 9th DECEMBER 2024
It is often the function, if not the duty, of someone who writes about civil procedure to look at a decision and then extract the most uninteresting aspect of the case for wider publication. I am doing this in relation…
PROMOTING THE ART AND SCIENCE OF THE HUMBLE COURT BUNDLE: A “LITIGATOR’S SURVIVAL GUIDE”: WEBINAR 4th DECEMBER 2024
The problems that courts have with bundles have always been a prominent part of this blog. A post about bundles, “Sedley’s Laws” and how to prepare a bundle was the most read post on the blog for four years. However…
LIMITATION, DEFAULT AND SANCTIONS – THE KEY CASES OF 2024: WEBINAR 27th NOVEMBER 2024: HELPING YOU TO AVOID PROBLEMS IN 2O25 (AND BEYOND…)
This webinar looks at the key cases relating to limitation, default and sanctions that have occurred in 2024. The aim is to look at problem areas to help litigators avoid problems in the future. Booking details are available here. THE…
SERVICE AND CLAIM FORM ISSUES IN 2024: WEBINAR 19th NOVEMBER 2024
I have had enough cases for a webinar on service of the claim form since about February this year. Claim form issues have been a major part of the blog throughout 2024 (and there may be more to come…). This…
BUNDLES PREPARED IN A CHAOTIC MANNER: CHRONOLOGICAL IS BEST: COMMENTS FROM THE HIGH COURT
There are over a hundred posts on this blog about the subject of bundles. Problems occur everywhere, from the Supreme Court to the Employment Tribunal. We see another example in the judgment of Mr Justice Ritchie in Mok v Fitzmaurice…
LOSS OF EARNINGS CLAIMS: THE FUNDAMENTALS: WEBINAR 11th NOVEMBER 2024
We have seen some interesting cases on loss of earnings claims this year, with a claimant being found fundamentally dishonest, because of the way the claim for loss earnings was presented, an “unreliable” schedule leading to a claim for loss…
MENTIONING WITHOUT PREJUDICE MEETINGS IN WITNESS STATEMENTS: PART OF THE WITNESS STATEMENTS WERE STRUCK OUT
In Bond & Anor v Webster & Ors [2024] EWHC 989 (Ch) Master Bowles (sitting in retirement) granted an application to strike out parts of a witness statement that referred to an offer made at a without prejudice meeting. The…
WEBINAR ON NON-PARTY COSTS ORDERS: 5th NOVEMBER 2024
My colleagues Steven Turner and Andrew Hogan are presenting a free webinar on the 5th November on Non-Party Costs Orders. Booking details are available here. The webinar considers the law practice and procedure relating to non-party costs orders in the context…
WHEN THE CLAIMANT HAS TO CHANGE JOBS, EARNS MORE THAN BEFORE – BUT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL AWARD FOR LOSS OF EARNINGS: THE VERY REAL VALUE OF “FRINGE BENEFITS”
A webinar on the 5th November looks at loss of earnings from the point of view of loss of benefits and pension claims. It is important that the very real value of “fringe” benefits is not overlooked when looking at…
PROVING THINGS 246: THE SELF EMPLOYED CLAIMANT AND LOSS OF EARNINGS: HIGH COURT DECISION
There are many difficult issues facing a self-employed claimant making a claim for loss of earnings. This issue was considered by Neil Moody KC (sitting as a High Court judge) in Winterbotham v Shahrak [2024] EWHC 2633 (KB). …
The Supreme Court decision in Oakwood -v- Menzies: Deducting costs from damages:The practical implications for solicitors and clients: Webinar 13th November 2024
In Oakwood Solicitors Ltd (Respondent) v Menzies (Appellant) [2024] UKSC 34 the Supreme Court overturned the Court of Appeal decision that the sending out an account and deducting costs from damages meant a bill had been “paid” for the purpose…
THE COURT’S POWERS IN RELATION TO ORDERING MEDIATION: A SUMMARY: AND A WEBINAR ON MEDIATION OF PARTICULAR USE TO HOUSING LAWYERS
The Civil Procedure Rules were amended on the 1st of this month to make it clear that the court can compel the parties to engage in alternative dispute resolution. Here we look at the changes. There is a webinar on…
SENIOR MASTER COOK’S GUIDANCE ON COST MANAGEMENT HEARINGS: A PIECE BY PIECE GUIDE (2):DELEGATION
We are continuing with our detailed examination of the Kings Bench Masters Cost Management Hearings Guidance Note. This time we are looking at issues relating to delegation. Costs budgeting and Cost Judges encourage delegation. The problem for many practitioners is that…
KEEPING WORKERS SAFE: THE EMPLOYER’S DUTY TO PREVENT ASSAULTS AT WORK: THE PRACTICAL ISSUES FOR THOSE BRINGING CLAIMS: WEBINAR 24th OCTOBER 2024
The Health and Safety Executive website reports that there were were 649,000 incidents of violence at work in 2022/23 and that 292,000 adults experienced violence at work in the same period. 41% of the assaults resulted in actual injury. The…
FATAL CLAIMS AND THE VICTIMS OF CRIME: WEBINAR 15th OCTOBER 2024
On the 15th October I am presenting a webinar looking at fatal claims when the deceased person has died because they are a victim of crime. This webinar looks at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in detail and then considers…
THE DIFFICULT ISSUE OF THE CHILD CLAIMANT AND LOSS OF EARNINGS CLAIMS: WEBINAR 14th OCTOBER 2024
For many years now I have been researching and writing about the particular problems that face practitioners when they are dealing with a claim by a child who could suffer loss of earnings in the future as a result of…
SOLICITORS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE DUTY TO THE COURT: THREE CASES REVIEWED
The judgment in Williams-Henry v Associated British Ports & Anor (Re Wasted Costs Order) [2024] EWHC 2415 (KB) we looked at last week contained some important observations about the limit of a solicitor’s duty to check their own client’s social media…
AN “UNRELIABLE” SCHEDULE LEADS TO A CLAIM FOR LOSS OF EARNINGS BEING STRUCK OUT (AND FOUR WEBINARS ON LOSS OF EARNINGS)
The way in which a claim for loss of earnings claim is presented is of crucial importance in most claims for damages. There are a series of four seminars below where many of the essential elements are considered. A case…
PREPARING TRIAL AND APPLICATION BUNDLES: A LITIGATOR’S SURVIVAL GUIDE: WEBINAR 4th DECEMBER 2024
The previous post on Serra -v- Harvey [2024] EWHC 2250 (KB) has led to me finalising a (long-prepared) webinar on bundles. In Serra wasted costs were ordered on an indemnity basis against the claimant’s solicitors because the lateness and condition of the trial bundles. The bundles…
WHEN A PARTY IS BANKRUPT: WEBINAR ON THE 16th SEPTEMBER 2024: AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT MAY HELP FLOAT YOUR BOAT
In The Mayor And Burgesses of the London Borough of Richmond v Trotman [2024] EWHC 2145 (KB) Mr Justice Kerr was critical of the claimant’s failure to consider the consequences of the defendant being bankrupt. Insolvency issues in litigation…
MAKING APPLICATIONS TO THE COURT: A PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE: WEBINAR 10th SEPTEMBER 2024
It is surprising how many applications are made which do not comply with the most basic requirements of procedure and evidence. This webinar on the 10th September 2024 aims to help practitioners avoid errors and aims to ensure that participants…
NO “VYING AND REVYING”: WITNESS STATEMENTS, EVIDENCE AND LOTS OF OTHER MATERIAL BESIDES: AFTER 287 YEARS OF JUDICIAL PROMPTING HAVE PRACTITIONERS GOT THE MESSAGE?
Anyone involved in civil litigation will spend a great deal of their time reading witness “evidence” which, in reality, is no such thing. Witness statements tend to be seen as an opportunity to put forward opinions, submissions and innuendo. As…
PROVING THINGS 240: PROVING THE “EELES” CRITERIA ON AN APPLICATION FOR AN INTERIM PAYMENT: GAPS IN THE EVIDENCE PREVENT A FINAL DETERMINATION BEING MADE
In XS1 (A Child) v West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust [2024] EWHC 1865 (KB) Master Stevens adjourned a claimant’s application for a substantial interim payment. The primary ground for this was that there was insufficient evidence before the court to…
THREE WEBINARS: MAKING APPLICATIONS TO THE COURT; INSOLVENCY AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER
In September and October there are a number of webinars relating to procedure and evidence. Firstly on the essential issue (but often overlooked) elements and rules relating to making applications to the court; secondly on insolvency and personal injury and…
DAMAGES IN ANTICIPATION OF DEATH AND DAMAGES FOR LOSSES PRIOR TO DEATH: WEBINAR 12th AUGUST 2024
This webinar looks at the difficult areas of (i) losses in anticipation of death, when a claimant has a reduced life expectancy; (ii) losses prior to death, including financial losses and pain and suffering. It provides practical guidance on order…
CHILDREN AND FATAL ACCIDENT LITIGATION 2024: KEY ISSUES CONSIDERED: WEBINAR 6th AUGUST
There are particulars challenges and difficulties facing a practitioner in cases where children are the only or primary dependants in a fatal claim. This webinar addressed the key issues, in relation to the law, practice and procedure and helping with…
A DEFENDANT IS ENTITLED TO SEEK TO AVOID SERVICE OF PROCEEDINGS: IT WON’T WIN YOU ANY HONOURS BUT IT IS NOT WRONG…
In Broom v Aguilar [2024] EWHC 1961 (Ch) HHJ Paul Matthews rejected an argument that a different costs order should be made because the defendant did not co-operate in relation to service of proceedings upon her. Seeking to avoid service…
RECENT CASES IN FATAL ACCIDENT LITIGATION – WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THEM? WEBINAR 30th JULY 2024
This webinar looks at recent cases in relation to liability, quantum and damages involving fatal accident victims. It enables us to spend enough time looking at each case in detail, in particular the evidence that was adduced and the conclusions…
THE JOINT MEETING OF EXPERTS AND THE JOINTLY INSTRUCTED EXPERT: WEBINAR 29th JULY 2024
I was a more than a little shocked to read the judgment in Glover & Anor v Fluid Structural Engineers & Technical Designers Ltd & Ors [2024] EWHC 1257 it is a case that shows that lawyers are still making…
WITNESS STATEMENTS A GUIDE FOR GRADE C FEE EARNERS (AND THOSE WHO SUPERVISE THEM): WEBINAR 18th JULY 2024
On the 18th July I am giving a webinar “Drafting witness statements in high value personal injury claims: A guide for Grade C fee earners (and those who supervise them)”, booking details are available here. THE REASON FOR THE WEBINAR…
FOUR WEBINARS ON FATAL ACCIDENT LITIGATION: CORONERS; RECENT CASES; CHILDREN AND FATAL CLAIMS & DAMAGES IN ANTICIPATION OF DEATH
There are four webinars over the next four weeks dealing with key elements of fatal accident litigation. An introduction to the coroner’s court for personal injury and clinical negligence lawyers 23rd July 2024 This webinar is an introduction to the…
COST BITES 169: AN EXAMPLE OF A SUMMARY ASSESSMENT OF COSTS IN ACTION
There is an interesting example of a summary assessment of costs in action in the judgment of Mr Andrew Twigger KC (sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) in Wootton & Anor v Wootton & Ors (Re Costs)…
THE COSTS JUDGE OVER YOUR SHOULDER (SOLICITOR AND OWN CLIENT COSTS): WEBINAR 15th JULY 2024
The previous post on the judgment in St. James v Wilkin Chapman LLP [2024] EWHC 1716 (KB) highlights the fact that great care is needed in entering into funding agreements with clients when the solicitor proposes to deduct costs from the…
COMPETENCES, CORONERS COURTS AND ADVOCACY: A REVIEW (AND A USEFUL WEBINAR ON THE 23rd JULY)
In 2021 a working group of legal professionals published a set of Competencies for practitioners working in the Coroners’ Courts, in addition to providing a useful toolkit. Concerns were raised following the experiences of the families of the victims of…
IS ANYTHING IMPORTANT HAPPENING ON THE 4TH JULY? WEBINAR ON CONTRIBUTORY NEGLIGENCE – RECENT CASES
There is a danger that this webinar may be overshadowed by other events on the day. This webinar considers the law and practice in relation to contributory negligence. Booking details are available here. THE WEBINAR The webinar considers the…
WEBINAR ON STATEMENTS OF CASE, DRAFTING, DANGERS AND PITFALLS: 14th JUNE 2024
This blog has looked at many cases where the courts have been critical of the way in which statements of case have been drafted. On the 14th June there is a webinar on the importance of accurate drafting, coupled with…
PART 36 THE PAST 12 MONTHS: HOW HUGH GRANT AND THE DUKE OF SUSSEX FEATURE IN A WEBINAR ABOUT CIVIL PROCEDURE: USEFUL WATCHING IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SPARE…
The webinar I gave on the 13th May discussing Part 36 cases over the previous 12 months is now available on YouTube on this link. Cases looked at include: Holden -v- Holden – were Part 36 offers valid offers? Colicci…
AVOIDING LIMITATION PROBLEMS AND THE (POSSIBLE) LIFELINE OF SECTION 33: WEBINAR 29th MAY 2024
Over the year this blog has recorded many cases of claimants (but not always claimants) coming to grief because of limitation issues. This webinar is designed to help practitioners avoid limitation problems, looking at major problem areas, common mistakes and…
CROSS-EXAMINING EXPERTS: USEFUL GUIDES AND HINTS
There are hundreds of posts on this blog about the role of experts in civil litigation. In many of those cases the experts have been cross-examined and this has not ended well – for them. I have already planned a…
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