Civil courts

Question 1

what is the jurisdiction of county court

Answer 1

contract, tort, recovery of land to any value
partnerships, trusts, inheritance up to £30,000
divorce and bankruptcy
small claims, fast track and some multi-track cases

Question 2

what are the three divisions of the high court

Answer 2

kings bench
chancery
family

Question 3

what is the general jurisdiction of the high court

Answer 3

deals with civil cases and appeals of decisions made in lower courts
usually heard by a single judge
in cases of defamation, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution a jury will be used

Question 4

kings bench jurisdiction

Answer 4

contract and tort matters where claims for damages are over £50,000
negligence
breach of contract
defamation

Question 5

chancery division jurisdiction

Answer 5

business and property disputes
intellectual property claims
insolvency and probate claims

Question 6

family division jurisdiction

Answer 6

all matrimonial matters
children’s act 1989 cases
cases under the child abduction and custody act 1985

Question 7

pre-action protocols

Answer 7

N1 form - starts the claim - sets out the particulars of the case, insurance forms, witness statements etc.
N150 form - deals with tracking via the allocation questionnaire

Question 8

small claims court

Answer 8

claims less than £10,000 or £1,500 for personal injury
heard in county court by a district judge
between 2-3 hours max allowed with limited witnesses

Question 9

fast track

Answer 9

for claims between £10,000 - £25,000 or 1500- 25000 for personal injury
heard in county court by a circuit judge
1 day with limited witnesses

Question 10

intermediate track

Answer 10

for claims between 25000-100,000
trial is no longer than 3 days
oral expert evidence is limited to 2 per party

Question 11

multi-track cases

Answer 11

for cases over 25,000
start in county court before a district judge
will be sent to high court if complex or over 50,000
strict timetable set

Question 12

grounds for appeal

Answer 12

error of law
error of fact
procedural unfairness

Question 13

small claims appeal

Answer 13

circuit judge in county court

Question 14

fast track appeal

Answer 14

usually to a circuit judge in county court but if complex it will go to the high court

Question 15

multi-track appeals

Answer 15

either the high court or the court of appeal depending on the complexity

Question 16

appeals from the high court

Answer 16

to appeal to the CoA an appellants notice must be submitted within 21 days of the decision

Question 17

leapfrog appeal

Answer 17

an appeal from the high court to the Supreme Court can be made if there is an issue of national importance