Commencing a Claim Flashcards
If the value of a claim is £100,000 or less, which court must it be started in?
County Court
- Money-only claims made on paper → County Court Money Claims Centre
- Specified claims made online → County Court Business Centre
- All other County Court claims → any County Court hearing centre
Which court should a money-only claim made on paper for £100k or less be made to?
County Court Money Claims Centre
Which court should a specified claim made online go to?
County Court Business Centre
When may a case be started in the High Court?
If the value of the case exceeds £100k (or £50k for personal injury)
and
The claim is complex or the outcome is important to the public in general
What is the Business and Property Court?
Umbrella term for several courts (eg. Commercial Court; Tech & Construction Court) that decide specialist business & other civil disputes (national & international)
What civil cases does the Kings Bench Division of the High Court hear?
Primarily contract & tort
What cases does the Chancery Division of the High Court hear?
Disputes arising over land
Trusts
Contentious inheritance
Partnership claims
Company law matters
For limitation purposes, when does the clock for issuing a claim ‘stop running’?
When the claim form is received by the court office
What is the maximum court fee payable by a party?
£10,000
The fee is based on the statement of value in the claim form
How does a claimant issue proceedings?
By sending to the appropriate court:
★ A claim form (form N1)
★ Particulars of claim
★ Documents required to be annexed by the CPR (eg. copy of any contract)
What is the claim form?
Summarises the most important aspects of the claim (substantive law & facts in support)
How should the details of the parties be set out in the claim form?
Names & statuses must be accurate
- Individual: full, unabbreviated names & title
- Sole traders: full name & any business name
- Partnerships: name of the firm (not the individual partners)
- Companies: correct registered name & address
How should the statement of value in a claim form be filled out for a specified claim?
The precise figure, including any interest accrued
How should the statement of value section of the claim form be filled out for an unspecified claim?
High Court
‘The Claimant expects to recover more than £100k’ (or £50k for PI)
County Court
Where they expect to recover:
(1) Not more than £10k
(2) More than £10k but not more than £25k
(3) More than £25k
Or that cannot say how much expect to recover
Nb. In a claim for personal injury, must also state whether the amount expected to recover as general damages for PSAL is more than £5k
Who can sign the statement of truth of a claim form?
The claimant or their legal representative
If the claimant is a partnership, who should sign the statement of truth in the claim form?
Any partners / persons with control or management of the business