Disputes Flashcards
What is the overriding objective of the Civil Procedure Rules?
Who is responsible for furthering the overriding objective - e.g. who needs to help keep costs down and come to an agreement?
To enable the courts to deal with cases justly and at a proportionate cost
Responsibility of the courts AND the parties
What are the bases for the court assessing costs and what is involved on each bases?
What kind of value would this be?
- Standard basis of assessment
- Court will allow the party to cover costs which have been reasonably and proportionally incurred AND
- Are reasonable and proportionate in AMOUNT
AND
- if any doubt this will be resolved in favour of the paying party
- Generally around 60% of costs - Indemnity basis of assessment
- Court will allow the party to recover costs that have been reasonably incurred
AND
- Are reasonable in amount
AND
- If any doubt, this will be resolved in favour of the receiving party
- Generally around 70-80% of costs
When does a party need to pay costs due to other party as ordered by the court?
Either
1. Date specified in court order OR
2. If order is silent then 14 days from the order if it contains the value of costs or from the certificate stating the value of costs
How are costs determined?
- Fixed costs
- ie. small claims, enforcement proceedings and uncontested disputes - Assessed costs
- can be on a standard or indemnity basis
- can be a summary assessment (at the end of the trial or hearing) OR a detailed assessment (as a separate process at a later date)
How does the detailed assessment procedure work?
- The receiving party commences the proceedings by serving a notice and its bill of costs on the paying party
- The paying party must respond to RP within 21 days with any objections to the bill of costs
- The parties should try and agree costs between themselves
- If parties cannot agree, RP should file a request at court for a detailed assessment hearing
What is generally required from pre-action protocol?
- Letter of claim sent to D including key documents
- Letter of response from D within a reasonable time (generally 14 days - 3 months depending on complexity)
- Parties to engage in ADR if possible, or at least attempt to narrow the issues
- Parties should consider their positions before continuing (take a ‘stocktake’)
How long does a party have to enforce a judgment?
6 years from date of judgment
Limitation periods:
Contract
- 6 years from breach
- UNLESS deed - 12 years
Tort (non PI)
- 6 years from date cause accrued
- OR if latent damage, 3 years from (i) date of knowledge and (ii) had right to claim
Tort (PI)
- 3 years from later of
(i) cause accrued
(ii) date of knowledge
Fatal accidents
- if injured party would not be entitled to bring claim then cannot but
- 3 years from (i) date of death or (ii) date of knowledge of dependent
What is max success fee for a CFA and a DBA?
CFA - conditional fee arrangement:
- max = 100% of the fees
DBA
- max = 50% of the value of damages UNLESS
- PI - 25%
- employment - 35%
How should the claimant decide which court to issue a claim in?
MUST BE issued in county court if value is:
- Non-PI - up to £100,000
- PI - up to £50,000
MAY be issued in HC because of:
(i) value
(ii) complexity
(iii) importance to the public
If issued in the wrong court it can be transferred but may be cost penalties to C
How to issue claim form:
Must be issued within limitation period by filing form N1:
- 1 for court
- 1 for each D
- 1 for C
along with the court issue fee
When must the claim form be SERVED?
Can time for this be extended?
Needs to be served:
- within 4 months if in jurisdiction
- within 6 months if out of jurisdiction
Can be extended at discretion of court:
- if apply within 4/6 months
- have GOOD REASON
- apply promptly
- C taken all reasonable steps to comply
What are the timing requirements for service of the Particulars of Claim?
What needs to be attached?
Either served with CF or if not within 14 days of service of CF
Must include response pack with:
- form for admission
- form for defence
- form for AOS
Must file a copy at court within 7 days of service of POC if have not done so already (i.e. with the CF)
Deemed dates of service:
Claim form:
- second business day after relevant step
Other docs:
- Non-instantaneous - second day after relevant step unless not a business day then the following day
- Instantaneous - same day if served before 4:30pm and business day, or else following business day
Company statement of truth wording:
“The defendant believes that … I am duly authorised to make this statement…”
Must interest be awarded by the court?
In PI claims if more than £200 damages awarded then YES
In debt, if D pays whole debt during proceedings then must grant some interest
How can facts be proved?
Evidence:
1. Documentary
2. Witness (i) witnesses of fact (ii) expert witnesses
3. ‘Real’ evidence
What must a party do after it serves WS and wishes to rely on it at trial?
Either
1. call the witness to give oral evidence at trial, or
2. put statement in as hearsay
Can parties extend time to serve witness statements?
Yes, by up to 28 days provided it doesn’t put the hearing date at risk
Is opinion evidence admissible?
Generally not UNLESS
1. Perceived fact (e.g. he was going fast)
2. Expert opinion
What extra paragraphs are there in a witness statement for an interim application?
- Near beginning - para stating purpose of WS i.e. what interim app it is for
- Near end - what the witness would like the court to do as regards to the interim application
What is an affidavit? How does it differ to a witness statement? What is it used for?
Affidavit = a statement made by a witness and sworn before a solicitor authorised to administer affidavits
Differs from WS:
- same content but different form
- will have wording to reflect sworn an oath
- will contain a jurat at the end which is a statement that authenticates the document
Used for
- freezing and search orders
- can elect to use affidavit instead of WS at any hearing other than trial
Definition of hearsay:
Statement made out of court and being adduced into evidence to prove the truth of the matter stated
What does a party need to do if it intends to rely on hearsay evidence at trial?
Needs to serve notice of intention to rely on hearsay evidence on the other party
When does a party need to give formal notice of hearsay to other party? When do they not?
- Hearsay in WS + witness will give oral evidence at trial = don’t need to do anything
- Hearsay in WS + witness will NOT give oral evidence at trial = no formal notice needed but need to tell why will not give oral evidence
- Hearsay not in WS - must give formal notice within a timeframe
- if fail to do so may still be admissible but judge may attach less weight to it or may impose sanctions e.g. costs
Party’s options on receipt of hearsay notice:
- Request particulars of hearsay - to the extent reasonable and practical for purpose of dealing with issues raised
- Call for cross-examination - make application within 14 days of receipt of notice
- Challenge the weight of evidence - look for multiple hearsay, could witness be produced, circumstance in which statement made
- Attack the credibility of witness e.g. inconsistent statements
- given 14 days notice of this from receipt of hearsay notice
Do parties have a right to adduce expert evidence?
No, a court order is required permitting it (they require permission of the court)
How can a party apply for permission to use expert evidence?
Apply for this in the DQ stating:
(i) estimated cost of instructing expert and using evidence
(ii) expert field required
(iii) if possible, the name of the expert although this should be approached with caution
Are instructions to expert privileged?
Does the expert report need to be verified by a statement of truth?
No, but they are not required to be disclosed for inspection unless court considers instructions as summarised by expert in report are incomplete or unclear
Needs to be verified by a statement of truth
Restrictions/provisions relating to putting questions to experts:
- Questions can only be asked once
- Questions should relate to clarifying the report
- Qs should be put to expert within 28 days of report being served
- No time limit for expert to reply unless specified by the court
- Qs must be sent to the other side
- Responses are included in the report
- If the expert fails to respond, the court may order the instructing party cannot rely on the expert evidence
Procedure if expert wants to ask the court questions?
- Send copy of proposed Q to instructing party at least 7 days before filing at court
- Serve copy of question on all other parties at least 4 days before filing at court
Procedure for making a part 36 offer:
Use form N242A
1. In writing
2. State that is a P36 offer
3. State whether relates to whole or part of the claim
4. State the period of acceptance which should be at least 21 days (relevant period)
5. Clarify whether takes into account a counter claim
If D making the offer specifically
6. If offer to settle for a sum must be a SINGLE SUM
7. If offer involves D paying after 14 days then won’t be P36 unless accepted
Consequences of acceptance of P36 offer:
- Stays the proceedings
- Next bit depends on when accepted:
(i) within RP - D pays C’s costs up to point of acceptance
(ii) outside RP - court to decide but MUST awars:
- D to pay C’s costs up to end of RP
- Offeree to pay offeror’s costs from RP to acceptance
(iii) if offer made less than 21 days before trial court will decide
Can a P36 offer be withdrawn?
- Can be withdrawn before accepted but if RP still running will terminate end of RP
- If not accepted and end of RP then can withdraw and take effect immediately
- If already accepted then within 7 days of acceptance can apply to court to withdraw/change terms. Court will grant if:
(i) change in circumstances AND
(ii) in interests of justice
Consequences of an unaccepted part 36 offer at trial?
What are factors court considers when looking at whether just to award?
If D has offered and C has won but failed to beat the offer:
- D to pay C’s costs up until the end of the relevant period
- from the end of the relevant period, unless the court considers it unjust to do so, the court should award:
(i) C to pay D’s costs
(ii) C to pay interest on D’s costs
If C has offered and has obtained an award of equal value or more:
- D to pay C’s costs up to end of RP on the usual basis
- from end of RP, unless court considers it unjust to do so, D to pay:
(i) C’s costs from end of RP on an indemnity basis
(ii) interest on those costs up to max of 10%
(iii) interest on the award up to max 10%
(iv) an additional sum of:
- 10% of value up to £500,000
- 5% of value over £500,000
- max total £75,000
Just?
- timing of offer
- terms of offer
- was offer genuine attempt to settle
- conduct of parties
Factors court will consider when deciding if it is reasonable for a party to have refused to engage in ADR:
Can silence in response to request to engage in ADR be reasonable?
Factors:
1. Whether cost of ADR is proportionate in the case
2. Whether ADR has a chance of success
3. Merits of the case
4. Nature of the dispute - is it suitable for ADR?
5. Whether any delay to engage in ADR would have been prejudicial e.g. close to trial
Silence
- generally will never be reasonable and likely to result in sanction
Procedure for discontinuance and cost consequences?
Procedure:
- C to file a notice at court
- C to serve notice on D/other parties
- Discontinuance takes effect from date of service
Costs
- C to pay D’s costs up to the date of discontinuance unless court orders otherwise
What is the pre-trial checklist and what needs to be included?
Deadline to finish this:
It is the listing questionnaire and provides the court with details it needs to list trial
Details:
1. Extent to which parties complied with directions to date
2. If need further directions, details of these and app notice + draft order
3. Confirm if court has permitted expert evidence and if not can apply now using app notice and draft order
4. Availability of experts
5. Witness identity, availability and any special measures required
6. Who will present the case and availability
7. Prediction of length of trial including cross-examination and closing arguments
Deadline
- will be a filing deadline set by court
- BUT must have this finished before because sent to other parties 14 DAYS before filing deadline
Documents needed to be filed pre-trial and timings:
- Pre-trial checklist
- filed before filing date but served on other partied 14 days before filing date - Trial bundle
- prepared by and filed by C
- agreed between parties where poss
- filed not more than 7 not less than 3 days before trial (NB: counting time rules re 3 days)
- bundle for court, all parties, and one for witnesses - Brief to counsel
- brief fee applies covering prep and first day of trial
- non-refundable once brief delivered - Reading list
- with trial bundle
- only where in Chancery of KB division - Authorities
- when in HC
- filed before 5pm day before trial
Process for enforcing a judgment order and creditor’s options:
Which court should the creditor bring proceedings in?
Process:
1. Form N316 (individual), 316A (company)
2. Filed without notice at court
3. Obtain Order containing PENAL NOTICE
4. Serve order PERSONALLY on D unless court orders otherwise - serve within 14 days of order being made
C’s options:
1. Writ of control
2. 3P debt order
3. Charging order
4. Attachment of earnings order
5. Bankruptcy/liquidation proceedings
Which court?
1. Judgment debts over £5000 must be in HC
2. Less than £600 OR under Consumer Credit Act must be brought in CC
What goods are exempt from being repossessed under a writ of control?
Tools of D’s trade (up to £1,350) and basic domestic items e.g. bed, fridge, furniture, essential household items
Process for obtaining a taking control of goods order:
- Apply for order at court with document and fee
- doc for HC = writ of control
- doc for CC = warrant of control - Order addressed to EO and contains details of debt
- EO gives D 7 clear days’ notice of intention to enter premises
- EO enters premises and takes possession of goods up to value of debt
- notifies D of premises entered and goods taken - EO sells goods for best price reasonably obtainable generally at an auction
- takes fees out of this
- pays off debt
- surplus returned to D
Attachment of earnings order - when is it available and where?
- judgment debts over £50
- only available in CC
When can a petition for bankruptcy be brought and when can a petition for winding up be brought?
- Bankruptcy - where judgment debt is more than £5000
- WU - where judgment debt is more than £750