3.2 - Victorian Civil Justice System Flashcards
PoJ: fairness
The first principle, ‘impartial and just treatment or behaviour without favouritism or discrimination’, means to bring everyone to an even level in terms of legal processes and hearings in the civil justice system
PoJ: equality
The second principle, ‘the stave of being treated the same, especially in status, rights, or opportunities’, all people should be treated the same and no person or group should be treated advantageously regardless of personal characteristics/beliefs
PoJ: access
The third principle, ‘the ability to approach or make use of something’, members of society should be able to approach or make use of the civil justice system, meaning people should understand their legal rights and pursue their case
Role of institutions
- Consumer affairs Victoria (cav)
- Victorian civil and Administrative tribunal (VCAT)
Consumer affairs Victoria (CAV)
An organisation established by the Victorian government under the Department of Justice and Regulation. Has the power to assist four types
of disputes: the supply of goods and services,
retirement villages, residential tenancies and
owners’ corporations.
CAV: purpose
to provide free, timely and specialised dispute resolution process involving conciliation to consumers and businesses, and tenants and landlords. Only accepts complaints from consumers or tenants.
CAV: appropriateness
Appropriate when:
- dispute is about a business or landlord/property manager and legislation or contractual rights may have been breached.
- dispute is within their jurisdiction.
- The party has reasonably attempted to resolve the problem in the past with the other party.
- The dispute has reasonable likelihood of being resolved
- A court or tribunal hasn’t heard, or isn’t willing to hear it.
CAV: strengths
- free, meaning anyone can utilise the service regardless of financial status.
- Informal (can be conducted over the phone), meaning its less stressful for the parties
- Uses conciliation, so a compromise is reached, so parties are more likely to follow the decision and be satisfied
- efficient, much faster than court (increased access)
CAV: weaknesses
- Has a limited jurisdiction, so can’t assist in much
- May be too informal, leading in to to parties not taking the decision seriously, and consequently not following it
- No power to force a party to engage during conciliation so can’t resolve a dispute if a party is uncooperative
- No power to enforce a binding decision, so a party could disregard a decision (unless a deed of Settlement is signed)
Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
A tribunal that specialises in hearing certain civil matters. Has four divisions: administrative, civil, Human Rights, and Residential Tenancies (each has ‘lists’ of more specific areas of law). Mainly uses mediation, conciliation, and hearings
VCAT: purpose
- low cost (standard claims usually under $100, no hearing fee for some claims, often parties are only required to pay a nominal amount for filing their claim)
- efficient (faster than courts, attempts to decrease waiting times for parties through Upgraded technology)
- Experts (staff at VCAT are experienced and knowledgeable, members also include professional with specialised expertise, such as lawyers, engineers, etc.)
- Accessible (less formal than cours, less strict rules of evidence and procedure)
- Independant (VCAT staff are independant and impartial)
VCAT: appropriateness
- Within jurisdiction set by Victorian legislation (disputes about it goods and services, tenants and landlords, and others)
- parties are looking for cheaper, more timely, and less formal avenue of dispute resolution than courts
- parties are not familiar with complicated court system and would rather a more accessible route
VCAT: strengths
- Cheaper than courts
timely, such as as little as two weeks for some lists - informal atmosphere makes dispute resolution more accessible to the average Victorian
- Has specialised members who are experts in their area of disputes (fairness and access)
VCAT: weaknesses
- can be just as expensive as taking a matter to court
- can have long waiting times on some lists
- informality is unsuitable for some parties
- members are usually not judicial officers, so have less expertise than judges at courts
Civil pre-trial
pleadings
discovery
exchange of evidence
directors hearing
Civil pre-trial: pleadings
- writ of summons: lodged by plaintiff in supreme court, who have one year to send to defendant. Contains plaintiffs name, address, solicitor, mode of trial, and remedy sought. Must include specific damages or they aren’t awarded.
- entry/ notice of appearance: defendant informs court within 10 working days that they will be present to defend the case. if not the plaintiff wins.
- Statement of claim: plaintift outlines case in detail (can be included in writ of summons)
- statement of defence: defence outlines their care in detail
- Counterclaim (doesn’t always happen): defendant may also make a claim against the plaintiff
Civil pre-trial: pleadings: purposes
- informs parties of all claims and defences, ensuring fairness as parties can discover the case against them and define issues at hand
- avoids element of surprise at trial
- court can make a written record of the case to manage pre-trial and trial procedures
- assist in reaching an out of court settlement
Civil pre-trial: discovery of documents
Both parties exchange documentation
Civil pre-trial: discovery of documents: purposes
- parties have access to all relevant documents aiding fairness
- avoids element of surprise at trial
- parties have opportunity to to decide how strong their case is compared to the other party
- Assist in reaching an out of court settlement
Civil pre-trial: exchange of evidence
Both parties exchanged both lay evidence (where ordinary people explain what they know about the facts of the situation) and expert evidence (when professionals give their specialised opinion on an issue
Lay evidence
where ordinary people explain what they know about the facts of the situation
Expert evidence
professionals give their specialised opinion on an issue.
Civil pre-trial: exchange of evidence: purposes
- provides both parties to use lay and expert evidence to rebut the other party’s evidence
- avoids element of surprise at trial
- parties have opportunity to decide how strong their case is compared to the other party’s case
- Assist in reaching an out of court settlement
Civil pre-trial: directions hearing
Both parties meet before a judge to see how the trial will run, and organise case (administrative procedure)