Dispute Resolution Flashcards
What is the aim of pre-action protocols?
- Encouraging the parties to focus on resolving the dispute without involving the courts.
- Enabling the parties to obtain information they reasonably need to settle the matter at the earliest possible opportunity.
- Lay the foundations for expeditious conduct of proceedings.
What is the consequence of non-compliance with pre-action protocols?
- Cost and interest.
- Court may stay the proceedings until the relevant steps are taken.
When can non-compliance of the pre-action protocol be justified?
- Where a limitation period is about to expire.
- Another reason for urgent proceedings or for the element of surprise. (destroying evidence etc.)
When does the Pre-action Protocol for Personal Injury Claims apply?
- Personal injury claims…
- Which do not fall within another pre-action protocol.
- Case which are likely to be allocated to the fast-track (a value of up to £25,000 - the ‘spirit’’ of the protocol should also be followed in higher value claims).
When does the general Practice Direction apply?
- All cases.
- Where a specific protocol applies, the provisions of that specific protocol override any conflicting provisions of the Practice Direction.
What are the steps of the Pre-Action Protocol for PI claims?
- Claimant should write Letter of Notification to potential defendant giving brief details, to enable defendant to notify its insurer.
- Parties consider any rehabilitation needs (ie any ongoing medical and care needs) and how to address them.
- Claimant should write to defendant to give full details of the claim (Letter of Claim)
- Defendant to acknowledge Letter of Claim within 21 days.
- Defendant to investigate and send full Letter of Response within 3 months of Letter Acknowledging Claim. If the defendant denies liability or quantum (or both) then…
- The parties should disclose key documents, engage in appropriate negotiations and make proposals for settlement. Claimant should send schedule of losses giving details of losses.
- Joint selection of quantum expert (ie medical expert), or claimant discloses report and defendant sends written questions.
What are the steps of the Practice Direction?
- Claimant should write to potential defendant to give details of the claim (Letter of Claim).
- Within a reasonable period (depends on complexity of claim (14 days - 3 months)), defendant should send a response letter. Response letter must either…
3.1 Accept the claim
3.2 Reject the claim (in whole or in part) - giving reasons - The parties should disclose key documents, engage in appropriate negotiations and make proposals for settlement.
What is the High Court and County Courts’ approach to allocation in PI claims?
High Court = £50,000 or more (either court)
County Court = Less than £50,000 must be in County Court.
What is the High Court and County Courts’ approach to allocation in non-PI claims?
High Court = over £100,000 can be in either court.
County Court = up to £100,000 must be in County Court.
What is disregarded to the value of a claim (financial worth)?
- Interest
- Costs;
- Any Counterclaim;
- Any contributory negligence; and
- Any deduction of social security benefits.
What is the approach to allocation if there is a choice?
- financial value
- Complexity
- Importance of the outcome of the claim to the public in general.
- the claimant believes that the claim ought to be dealt with by a High Court judge.
What can the court dissatisfied with the claimant’s choice do and what are the consequences of incorrect allocation?
The court may consider whether it should remain in the court of issue. The court may transfer cases between the HC and CC.
Additional factors may be considered by the court.
- Specialist judge will be available and the facilities at court for disabled witness or parties.
The consequences of wrong allocation is:
1. The court may transfer the case and order the claimant to pay the costs of the transfer.
2. If the matter continues in the HC, there is a separate sanction for wrongly beginning a matter in the HC when it should have been issued in the CC. The penalty is that any costs awarded in the claim can be deducted by up to 25% (court’s discretion).
What does the claimant’s solicitor need to do to bring a claim?
- file copies of the claim form (Form N1)
- one copy of the completed claim form to be kept on the court file;
- one copy for every defendant; and
- One copy for the claimant to keep on its own file. - Court issue fee.
If the claim is for money, which County Court should the claim be filed in?
County Court Money Claims Centre or ‘Money Claim Online’ (value up to £100,000 against no more than two defendants).
Who will effect service of the claim form?
The claim form may be served either:
(a) by the court (first class post; notice of issue/notice of non-service); or
(b) by the claimant/claimant’s solicitor (notify the court; claimant’s solicitor must then file a certificate of service at court within 21 days of service).
How should service of the claim form be effected?
- Personally on the defendant;
- Leaving the document at permitted address;
- First class post;
- Document exchange (DX)
- Fax (only permitted if the defendant/its solicitor has indicated)
- Other electronic methods (e.g. email) (only permitted if the defendant/its solicitor has indicated)
- Any other method authorised by the court.
What are the places of service for the claim form?
Individual = Usual or last residence.
Individual being sued in the name of a business = Usual or last known residence of the individual; or principal or last known place of business.
Individuals being sued in the business name of a partnership = Usual or last known residence of the individual; or principal or last known place of business of the partnership.
Limited liability partnership/company registered in EW = Principal office of the partnership/company; or any place of business of the partnership/company within the jurisdiction which has a real connection with the claim.
What is the time limit for service of the claim form?
Claim forms do not remain ‘valid’ indefinitely after they are issued. Where the claim form is being served in the jurisdiction, the ‘relevant step’ to serve the claim form must be completed before 12.00 midnight on the calendar day four months after the date of issue of the claim form.
Personal service/leaving the document at a relevant place = Leaving the claim form with the defendant.
FC Post/DX = Posting the claim form/leaving it with DX service.
Fax = Completing the transmission
Electronic method = Sending the email or other electronic transmission.
Under which circumstances can an extension of time to serve the claim form be granted?
If it is not possible to serve within the time limit, the claimant may consider applying to the court for an extension of time under CPR 7.6
- The application should be made within the four month period of validity of the claim form, and the claimant will need to show good reasons for the extension.
- If the application is made after the deadline for service of the claim form has already passed, then the court will grant an extension only if:
- it is the court that failed to serve the claim form; or
- the claimant has taken all reasonable steps to comply; and
- either way, the application has been made promptly.
Mistakenly serving the defendant’s insurers or solicitors when the rules required service on the defendant is unlikely to justify an extension in these circumstances.
What is the time limit where the particulars of claim is contained in or served with the claim form?
14 days
The response pack (Form N9) contains:
1. form for admission;
2. form for defending; and
3. form for acknowledging service.
What is the time limit where the particulars of claim is not contained in or served with the claim form?
must be served within 14 days of service of the claim form, and also within the period of validity of the claim form, i.e. within 4 months of issue.
When is a claim form deemed to be served?
On the second business day after completion of the ‘relevant step’.
‘Business day’ means any day except Saturdays, Sundays, bank holiday, Good Friday or Christmas day.
What is the deemed date of service of documents other than the claim form?
Depending on the method of service.
Instant methods:
- personal service, fax, email, delivering/leaving at a permitted address.
- If done before 4.30 pm on a business day: deemed served the same day.
- Otherwise: deemed served the next business day.
Not-instant methods:
- Post/DX
- Deemed served the second day after posting/giving to DX provider, if a business day.
- Otherwise: deemed served the next business day.
What is the purpose of statements of case?
- It informs the parties of each other’s case(s);
- It enables the parties and the court to identify the points of dispute (the factual matters in issue) between them.
- It provides the judge with a concise statement of each party’s case.