Dispute Resolution Flashcards
What is the overriding objective of the CPR?
Deal with cases justly and at proportionate costs
Two important considerations for litigants in person?
Solicitors must not take unfair advantage of them.
Court may be more lenient regarding case management decisions.
Who operates legal aid for civil matters? 2 excluded categories of legal work?
Legal Aid Agency.
Nearly all personal injury work and most civil/commercial litigation cannot be funded by the LAA
What is ATE insurance? What is an important warning you must give the client?
After the Event insurance provides cover for any adverse costs which the client may have to pay if unsuccessful.
Warn client that the premium is NOT recoverable from an unsuccessful opposing party and must be paid (with certain limited exceptions, eg defamation, privacy, some clinical negligence)
Distinguish between discounted CFA and success fees?
Discounted CFA usually requires client to pay costs and disbursements as matter progresses, but at a DISCOUNTED hourly rate with the BALANCE DUE payable only on success.
Success fee CFA usually only requires payment on conclusion of the matter (and it may be no win no fee depending on the CFA).
Requirements for enforceable CFA?
- In writing
- Must not relate to exempted proceedings (e.g. criminal and family)
Five warnings to give client when entering into CFA?
- Success fee generally NOT RECOVERABLE from opposing party
- MAXIMUM SUCCESS FEE that can be charged under the CFA
- When client MAY BE LIABLE FOR COSTS (both their own and opponent)
- Client’s ENTITLEMENT TO AN ASSESSMENT of costs
- Whether the legal representative has any INTEREST IN A CORRESPONDING FUNDING POLICY
What is a DBA? What are the 3 caps, and what is excluded?
Damages Based Agreement - fees based on a % of damages recovered by a successful client.
Capped at:
1. 25% for personal injury (excluding damages for future care/loss)
2. 35% for employment
3. 50% for other civil cases
Disbursements are excluded.
Two important clarifications on scope of permissible DBA?
- Cannot be used for appeals
- Can only be used for clients pursuing a financial remedy (by claim or counterclaim)
Three usual provisions in a DBA?
- No legal fees payable until conclusion of matter
- If unsuccessful, no need to pay costs and disbursements subject to the DBA
- If successful, must pay lawyer an agreed percentage of the recovered sum LESS any sum recovered for costs and disbursements.
*The sum payable to the legal representative under the DBA will also cap client’s claim for costs and disbursements
Two important clarifications for litigation funding?
- Usually does not extend to an adverse costs order if client is unsuccessful
- Funding agreement must comply with DBA regulations (in writing, etc)
When can formal proceedings be stayed in relation to ADR?
Where: (1) the parties wish to attempt ADR or (2) the court considers it appropriate
2 situations where court may stay proceedings for ADR purposes?
- Where one party wishes to attempt ADR and the opposing party cannot show good reasons why ADR is unlikely to work
- Where the court feels ADR is appropriate PROVIDED (i) does not impair essence of C’s right to proceed to a judicial hearing and (ii) is proportionate to the legitimate aim of a fair, quick and cost-efficient settlement of the dispute
Warning to give client who doesn’t want to do ADR?
May be penalised in costs if the matter proceeds to trial, even if successful. In awarding costs, court must consider efforts made before and during the proceedings to try and resolve the dispute
Precaution for solicitor to take in relation to ADR?
Keep detailed paper trial about the occasions on which ADR was discussed with the client and the opponent.
What is the most common ADR for commercial disputes
Executive Tribunal (comprised of panel of senior party reps not involved in the dispute plus an independent advisor)
If agreement cannot be reached, independent advisor issues NON-BINDING OPINION
3 important features of adjudication?
- REFERRAL NOTICE will set out adjudicator’s directions on timeline for written subs
- Strict time limits = decisions are usually reached within 28 DAYS of service of Referral Notice
- Issues determined can be RELITIGATED at any time through court or arbitration
2 important clarifications about the role of the mediator?
- He does not act as a judge and will not rule on the merits
- He will not impose or propose settlement terms
What are three phases normally observed during a “mediation hearing”?
- Begins with a PLENARY SESSION where mediator explains the rules and process and invites opening statements
- May involve CAUCUS where mediator explores each party’s position confidentially
- May involve SHUTTLE DIPLOMACY - mediator moves between rooms in series of private sessions to identify common ground, concessions and offers
What are the two preliminary questions when determining jurisdiction?
- D’s domicile - EU rules set out basic principle that D should usually be sued in his country of domicile
- Date the proceedings were instigated - if claim was instigated by 11 PM on 31 Dec 2020, European Rules apply; if instigated from 1 Jan 2021, common law rules apply.
What is the basuc test for whether the English courts have jurisdiction over a claim?
- If D can be served within the jurisdiction OR
- Outside the jurisdiction with permission (i.e. meets the connecting factor and forum non conveniens tests)
What are the monetary thresholds for a High Court claim? 2 exceptions?
- Exceeds 100,000 for normal claims
- Exceeds 50,000 for personal injury
Exception:
(i) where STATUTE requires it
(ii) Relates to certain other exceptions like professional negligence, fraud, undue influence, defamation, police claims, contentious probate claims
When is a litigation friend required to conduct proceedings on C’s behalf (2 examples)?
Usually (1) child under 18 or (2) person lacking mental capacity to conduct the proceedings
How do partnerships commence legal proceedings?
Partnerships lack legal personality, so partners usually sue (and are sued) in their individual names OR in the name of the firm (the words “(a firm)” must be added to the title)
How should a sole trader commence proceedings? What about proceedings against a sole trader?
In his own name (add the term “trading as….”)
If D’s real name is not known, he may be sued in the business name following by the words “(a trading name)”
How should claims brought by a deceased party be dealt with (2 scenarios)?
- Death before claim issued - must be brought by his personal representatives
- Death after claim issued - must apply to court to: (i) substitute personal representatives for deceased party; (ii) direct a person to represent the estate; or (iii) order action to proceed without deceased party being represented
When is a claim commenced for purposes of computing limitation periods?
Time ends when the claimant delivers the claim form and corresponding fee to the court for issue. ACTUAL RECEIPT by the court office is the test (note for post).
When does the claim form expire? What does Claimant have to do with the claim form?
Four months after the sealing of the claim form. Claimant must serve claim form and particulars on D within four months or it will lapse (and if LP has ended, the claim will be time-barred).
Two key considerations when advising clients regarding limitation periods?
- Protective proceedings may be needed to ensure LP does not expire
- Limitation must be specifically pleaded as a defence - it does not automatically apply
What are the two main categories of time bar?
6 months (contract, tort, enforcing judgment)
3 months (personal injury, Fatal Accident Act claims, consumer protection, negligence where facts relevant to cause of action not known at date of accrual)
As a general rule, when does time start to run (2 points)? Apply to tort and contract claims.
Time runs from the DAY AFTER which facts exist establishing all of the ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS of the cause of action.
Tort - when damage suffered.
Contract - date of the breach of contract.
When may a limitation period be tolled by characteristics of the defendant (2 scenarios)?
- When claimant is a child, time bar will only start to run from the date of his 18th birthday
- When C is a protected party of unsound mind at the time the cause of action arose, from the date they are no longer of unsound mind
Two special time bar considerations for fraud claims?
- Time bar only starts running once C DISCOVERS or could with reasonable diligence have discovered the fraud
- Will not run whilst D DELIBERATELY CONCEALS a relevant fact
What special time bar test applies where a claim is for relief from consequences of a mistake?
Time only runs from the date the mistake is (or could have with reasonable diligence been) discovered
What special time bar is created by the Latent Damage Act 1986?
3 years from the “starting date” - earliest date when C knew that the damage was sufficiently serious, and could attribute it to D’s negligence
Deviates from usual tort time bar of 6 years
What is the ultimate long-stop time bar for all civil claims?
15 years from the date of the act or omission
How is time bar computed for a claim for contribution to civil liability?
2 years from the date on which the person seeking a contribution is held liable by the judgment. Time begins running from the date of the damages assessment.
(3 situations) When may the court exercise discretion to extend the statutory limitation period?
- Defamation
- Judicial Review
- Personal Injury
How does C usually prosecute joint debtors?
All joint debtors should be made parties to the action; if C does not do this, D may apply to add his joint debtor(s) as additional partie(s)
3 partners are jointly and severally liable. C only sues one partner. How would you advise that partner?
While he may be liable for the whole debt (since they are jointly liable), he is entitled to seek contribution from his co-obligors under the doctrine of several liabilit.
What is the Claims Portal and what kind of claims is it meant to cover (1 general. 3 specific)?
Online dispute resolution portral intended to speed up the resolution of claims where liability (but not necessarily quantum) is admitted and the issues are straightforward.
Covers RTAs, Employer’s Liability and Public Liability personal injury claims up to 25,000 GBP BEFORE issue of proceedings.
For Claims Portal - what is the first step?
Filing a Claims Notification Form. If the claim is admitted, it will continue to be processed through the Portal; otherwise claim will exit Portal and Claimant will need to follow usual protocol.
For Claims Portal - what is the second filing step for C, and what is the timeline thereafter? What is the fee?
Complete Medical Report Form and Settlement Pack.
Insurer has 15 days to agree to pay the settlement figure or counter-offer; following which C has 20 days to consider the counter-offer.
300 GBP for RTA or 600 GBP for EL/PL IF matter is concluded
What happens if, for a claim submitted to the Claims Portal, liability is admitted but not quantum?
C will send the insurer a COURT PROCEEDINGS PACK FORM EPL6.
Proceedings will then be commenced by a modified Part 8 procedure, with the final assessment being a paper or oral hearing.
Describe the aim of the equitable remedy of rectification. Does the remedy have retroactive effect?
Correcting a contract to reflect the contractual intention of the Parties, with effect from the date of the original agreement.
Two procedural requirements when seeking an interim injunction before issuing proceedings?
- Application must be made on notice
- Applicant must undertake to issue proceedings on the same, or next working day
Four substantive requirements for an interim injunction?
- Locus standi (i.e., a substantive cause of action)
- Equitable maxims (because injunctions are discretionary)
- Damages not an adequate remedy
- It appears to be just and convenient to grant the injunction, pursuant to the American Cyanamid Rules
What are the four steps of the American Cyanamid test?
- Is there a serious question to be tried / real prospect of success?
- Would damages be an adequate remedy for either party?
- Balance of convenience
- Special factors