DISCLOSURE AND INSPECTION Flashcards
Disclosure and Inspection
In this context, ‘disclosure’ means to clearly identify
and inform the other side of the existence of a document; it
does not mean to show the document. Inspection is the term given to the separate but related process which enables the other side to view certain of the documents disclosed.
Documents that Must Be Disclosed
The starting point for disclosure is that a party must disclose
both any document on which it relies and any document
which adversely afects its case. The CPR makes it clear that
‘documents’ are not confned to paper or just originals. The
term ‘document’ includes anything that has information re-
corded on it, including electronically stored information such as emails (including deleted emails), databases, fle servers,
and hard drives.
STANDARD DISCLOSURE
In fast track and personal injury multi-track cases, the court normally makes an order for standard disclosure. This re-
quires each party to disclose any documents on which it
relies together with any documents that:
*Afect their case adversely;
*Afect the other party’s case adversely; or
*Support the other party’s case.
Only Documents Relevant to Issues in
Question
A party need disclose only documents relevant to the issues
in question, but the obligation for disclosure extends to any
document within the party’s control. This can extend to doc-
uments no longer in the party’s possession so long as they
have a right to control the document.
When Does a Party Have Control?
A party has ‘control’ of a document if they:
*Have physical possession of the document;
*Have a right to possession, a right to inspect, or a right to
take copies; or
*Had the document in their possession but no longer have
it.
Reasonable and Proportionate Search
The court expects each party to make a reasonable and pro-portionate search for documents. What constitutes reason-
able and proportionate depends on the nature of the case,its value, and its importance. The court will also bear in mind the ease of retrieval of documents and the costs involved.
The order for disclosure is usually contained within the initial directions order. The court has the power to order:
*Disclosure on the standard basis;
*Dispensing with disclosure altogether;
*Disclosure on such basis as it directs; or
*Disclosure on an issue-by-issue basis.
Disclosure List
In** fast track **and **personal injury multi-track **cases, the par-
ties are required to fle and serve a disclosure list. The list is divided into three sections:
*A list of documents in its control that they do not object
to the other party inspecting;
*A list of documents in its control that they object to the
other side inspecting, along with reasons for objecting.
(The most common reason for objecting is that the docu-
ments are privileged.)
*A list of documents that are no longer in its control, stat-
ing when they were last in their control and where they
are now.
Disclosure Statement
1.Each party is required to make a disclosure statement detail-
ing the extent of the search made. The statement must certify that the person signing the statement understands the duty
to give disclosure and that they have carried out that duty,
to the best of their knowledge.
2. It is the party, not the legal representative, who signs the disclosure statement. Proceedings for contempt of court can arise against anyone who makes a false disclosure statement without an honest belief in its truth.
Time Limits for Disclosure
- Standard directions usually allow 28 days from the date
of the directions order for the parties to serve their lists of
documents. - The order will also routinely require that inspection take place within** seven days**, although in practice many solicitors send copies of the documents on which they propose to rely to their opponent when serving the disclo-
sure list.
Party Not Content with Disclosure
If a party is not content with the disclosure provided by an
opponent, they can challenge.
Options to Obtain Information
- Options are to apply for specifc disclosure, to serve a Notice to Admit Facts, or to apply for an unless order if the opponent continues to disregard their obligations under CPR
- A Request for Information may be an alternative way of obtaining information that may be missing from a party’s disclosure list.
Automatic Right to Inspection
Disclosure of a document provides an automatic right to
inspect unless specifcally challenged. The grounds for refus-ing inspection would include:
*Privilege
*The document is no longer in the party’s control; and
*It would be disproportionate to allow inspection.
If a party with a right to inspect a document wants to exer-
cise that right, they must give notice to the other party, who must permit inspection within **seven days **after the date they received the notice.
Disclosure in MULTI-TRACK CASES
- In a non-personal injury, multi-track claim, the court requires
each party to prepare a disclosure report, which must be fled at least 14 days before the frst Case Management Confer-
ence or otherwise with the Directions Questionnaire.
SPECIFIC DISCLOSURE
- The court can make an order for specifc disclosure, requiring a party to disclose or search for and disclose documents that:
*It has a reason to believe may contain information which
will assist the applicant’s case or damage the respon-
dent’s case; or
*May lead to a train of enquiry which has either of the
consequences above.
2.An application for specifc disclosure also may arise if a party believes that another party’s disclosure is inadequate. The
application normally takes place after standard disclosure
has taken place