Case Management Flashcards
What is the aim of case management?
To promote justice but in a way that makes the best use of the courts resources, and to ensure cases are pushed through efficiently and effectively
What is the overriding objective, set out in r 1.1 of CPR?
Aim is to enable to court to deal with cases justly and at proportionate cost
What are the 6 objectives that the court should seek to achieve when dealing with cases?
Ensure parties are on equal footing
Saving expense
Dealing with case in ways that are proportionate to amount of money involved ; importance of case ; complexity of issues ; financial position of each party
Ensuring case is dealt with expeditiously and fairly
Allotting to it appropriate shares of courts resources
Enforcing compliance with rules, practice directions
What is the importance of the aims both to the court and parties, through case management?
Court must give effect to overriding OBJECTIVE when making procedural decision s
Parties are required to HELP the court to further the overriding objective
What are examples of the courts active role?
Encourage parties to co-operate
Identify issues early on
Decide promptly which issues need to be investigationed
Decide order in which issues are to be resolved
Encourage parties to use ADR
Help parties settle
Fixing timetables
Consider benefits of taking a particular step
Dealing with as many aspects of case as it can on on occasion
Making use of technology
When wll the court decide where to allocate a case?
When a defence is filed, the court will provisionally decide which track appears most appropriate
Court will serve on parties a notice of proposed allocation, requiring them to file and serve completed directions questionnaire
What is included in the directions questionnaire?
Settlement - confirm that they have explained to client the need to settle
Court - reasons why case needs to be heard at specific court
Pre-action protocols - if complied
Case management information - if any applciations have been made to court
Experts needed?
Witnesses needed?
How long trial will last
Cost budget
Any other information
Parties shoudl attempt to agree directions and a a draft order must accompany the questionnaire
(Fast track : standard)
(Multi : specimen directions )
What is the name of the directions questionnaire firm?
Form N181
What is the directions questionnaire?
This is a KEY document, in the progress of a case, and will be used by the court to confirm the track, and determine directions for case amazement.
What are the consequences that will follow if a part FAILS TO FILE the directions questionnaire?
If claim is for money in county court, court will serve notice on defaulting party, requiring compliance in 7 DYAS. Failure - struck out
In all other cases - court will make necessary order.
What other factors, other than cost, are taken into account when allocation to track is determined?
Remedy sought
Complexity of facts
Number of parties
Value of counterclaim
Amount of oral evidence
Inoprotance to non-parties
Views and circumstnaces of the parties
What factors are DISREGARDED when determining allocation to track?
Interest
Costs amount
Contributory negligence
Any sum not in dispute
What is the value for small claims track?
10,00 or less
Personal injury - 5,000 or less
What are examples of small claims?
Consumer disputes, disputes about ownership of goods, landlord v tenant, lower value personal injury
What is the procedure for small claims track?
Litigants are able to represent themselves. Therefore parts of CPR do not apply.
Each party must delivery to others copies fo documetns to hearing
Parties not allowed to rely on experts report without EXPRESS permission from court
What is the value for fast track?
And what is the length of fast track?
Must fall between 10,000.01 - 25,000
The court will ALSO take into account the LENGTH of the trial. ONLy those cases where it is going to last no longer than 1 DAY are suitable for fast track
What is the procedure for fast track?
Court will give directions on how the matter is to proceed to trial, and the court will issue standard directions.
What are the 6 steps on the timetable for fast track?
Disclosure
Exchange of witness statements
Exchange of expert reports
Corut sends pre-trial checklists
Parties file pre-trial checklists
Hearing (trial)
What are the dates for the 6 stages of timetable on fast track?
Disclosure - 4 weeks after date of allocation
Exchange of witness statements - 10 weeks
Exchange of expert reports - 14 weeks
Corut sends pre-trial checklists - 20 weeks
Parties file pre-trial checklists - 22 weeks
Hearing (trial) - 30 weeks
What are the differences between fast track and multi-track?
Directions are standard in fast track, therefore not tailored to individual case
Expert evidence is MORE LIMITED in fast track. Usually order a single joint expert, UNLESS good reason not to
Trial is only 1 day in fast track
Power to award costs is more limited, and judge will assess these SUMMARILY (instantly) at end of trial