Context and Preliminary Considerations Flashcards

1
Q

What is the mantra underpinning CPR 1998?

A

Litigation as a last resort

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2
Q

What two types of case are heard in the County Court?

A

Money only under £100k, personal injury under £50k

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3
Q

What are three divisions of the High Court and what cases does each deal with?

A

Queens Bench - contract and tort / Chancery - wills and inheritance disputes, company law and bankruptcy / Family - family (e.g. adoption).

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4
Q

What do Masters deal with in the High Court?

A

Interim applications and case management matters

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5
Q

What do High Court Judges do?

A

Primarily deal with trials but will also deal with interim applications and case management as appropriate

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6
Q

What do District Judges do in District Registries?

A

Interim applications and case management matters

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7
Q

Who is a court manager?

A

The senior civil servant in charge of a court office. Court docs are addressed to them and they are supported by administrative staff.

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8
Q

What do ushers do?

A

Ushers are present when the court is sitting, they may wear legal robes. They note who is in attendance, swear witnesses at trials and ensure court lists are efficiently dealt with.

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9
Q

What do bailiffs and enforcement officers do?

A

Serve court documents and enforce court orders and judgments

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10
Q

What are the three stages of litigation?

A

Pre-action stage / issue of proceedings to judgment / steps taken after judgment

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11
Q

What is the overriding objective of CPR?

A

To enable the courts to deal with cases justly and at a proportionate cost (r1.1)

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12
Q

What are the six objectives of the court to achieve the overriding objective?

A

ensure parties are on equal footing / save expense / deal with the case proportionately to the money involved, issues and parties’ financial positions / deal expeditiously and fairly / allot an appropriate share of resources / enforce compliance with rules, PDs and orders

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13
Q

What is CPR r1.2?

A

The court must give effect to the overriding objective when making decisions

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14
Q

What is CPR r1.3?

A

The parties must assist the court in furthering the overriding objective.

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15
Q

What is CPR r1.4?

A

The court must take an active role in managing cases.

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16
Q

What 5 ways can r1.4 be achieved? (court must take active role in managing cases)

A

Encouraging co-operation of parties / identifying issues and which of these need investigating / encouraging ADR / giving timetables and directions / considering steps to take and their costs

17
Q

What is the aim of the court in civil litigation matters?

A

To put the wronged party in the position they would have been in had there been no breach of contract.

18
Q

What is the civil standard of proof?

A

The balance of probabilities - it is more than 50% certain that a party has proved its case

19
Q

Give the types of contract dispute, claim and aim of damages

A

disputes: defective goods/services, non-payment of monies due and failure to perform contract - claims: breach of contract, debt, commercial disputes -damages aim to put claimant in position of contract being performed

20
Q

Give the types of tort negligence dispute, claim and aim of damages

A

dispute: RTAs, trips and slips, accidents at work, medical/professional negligence - claim: negligence (breach of duty of care) - damages aim to put claimant in position had negligence not occured

21
Q

Give the types of tort nuisance dispute, claim and aim of damages

A

dispute: noise, tree roots, escape of water onto property - claim: nuisance (use or enjoyment of land is repeatedly interfered with by another landowner) - damages: claimant in position of nuisance not occurring

22
Q

What is the Civil Money Claims Service?

A

An online litigation service available to litigants in person. Quick online forms with guidance which encourages settlement/mediation.

23
Q

What is the Online Court?

A

A pilot scheme which will be mandatory in future for claims under a certain value (under £25k likely).

24
Q

What are the three stages of the Online Court?

A

Automated triage (access to basic legal advice and assistance), conciliation and then a determination stage for unsettled cases.

25
Q

Where are appeals from the online court sent?

A

County Court, then further appeals to Court of Appeal

26
Q

What does the Limitation Act (LA) 1980 set out?

A

Strict time limits between cause of action and commencement of litigation.

27
Q

What is the purpose of limitation periods?

A

To stop potential defendants remaining under constant threat and recognising the difficulty in memory of potential witnesses

28
Q

What is the general rule on limitation?

A

Actions commenced outside of the limitation period will not proceed, unless in exceptional circumstances

29
Q

What is the limitation period for claims set out by LA 1980

A

Personal injury - 3 years, other tort and contract claims - 6 years

30
Q

When does the limitation time start to run?

A

Negligence - when the claimant suffers / Child’s personal injury - from 18th birthday / Contract - date of breach

31
Q

In what situation may the limitation be extended?

A

In personal injury it may sometimes run from the date of knowledge - i.e. the date the claimant first becomes aware the injury is linked to the incident.

32
Q

What three things must be considered when considering viability of a claim?

A

Who is the defendant? (individual or company?) / Where is the defendant? (address for service) / Can they pay any judgment? (Are they bankrupt or likely to be?)

33
Q

Which six ways can you check if a defendant will be able to pay a judgment?

A

Companies House / credit rating companies / Land Registry / Register of Judgments / enquiry agent or private investigator / ask client or sub-contractor for information