Enforcement Flashcards
What are enforcement proceedings?
Steps taken post-judgement by successful party to obtain payment from unsuccessful party (judgement debtor)
At what point in litigation should the opponent’s means (ability to pay) be considered?
Before any action is taken at all in litigation
Inc:
* Opponent’s financial status
* What if they can pay but won;t
* If their assets are located abroad/difficult to enforce against
How can the judgement creditor find out information about the debtor’s assets?
Judgement debtor = someone who owes under the judgement
An order to obtain information from the judgement debtor under CPR 71
What is the oral examination of a judgement debtor under CPR 71?
As part of an order to obtain information from the judgement debtor
Can require judgement debtor (officer of debtor if they are a company) to attend court and provide information about judgement debtor’s means
Must produce documents referred to in order and answer Qs under oath
How is the procedure for an order to obtain information from judgement debtor different for individual and officer of a company?
- Form N316 used for individual judgement debtor
- Form N316A used for officer of company
What can application for order to obtain information (oral examination) be made without?
Notice
What must an order to obtain information contain to incentivise debtor to attend hearing?
Under CPR 71 oral examination
A penal notice - if judgement debtor fails to attend hearing/refuses to comply a judge may make an order for their committal
When must an order to obtain information from the judgement debtor be served personally on them?
Re oral examination
Not less than 14 days before the hearing
Is the judgement creditor limited as to what method of enforcement they can use?
Can they only use 1?
No - can use more than one method at any time and keep going until judgement debt fully paid up
When would proceedings need to be transferred to a different court for the purposes of enforcement?
Where the method is only available in one particular court
- Attachment of earnings only available in County Court
- Using a High Court Enforcement Officer to take control and sell goods only available in High Court
What sums can only be enforced in each court?
- £5,000 or more = High Court
- Less than £600 = County Court
Between = either
Would have to transfer if in one limit
What starts enforcement action and when can it start?
- Judgement creditor must take steps to enforce judgement (court does not automatically take enforcement)
- Debt must be due before proceedings can start (time for payment must have elapsed)
I.e. cannot start before 14 days are up!
Can a judgement creditor recover more than is due to it under the judgement?
No!
What may be used to investigate the debtor’s means and when should they be updated?
- Company search
- Enquiry agent
- Land Registry official copies
- Searched against relevant registers
Should be updated/repeated at end of action, post-judgement
To work out most effective method of enforcement
What can enquiry agents (essentially PIs) do? What is the problem of misconduct here?
- Procure extensive information on individuals/companies on request
- Any misconduct will be imputed to solicitor
Are expensive - must use reputable firm
What can a company search identify?
- General solvency
- Company’s assets
- Whether assets are charged
What registers can be useful when considering enforcement proceedings?
- Land Charges Registry - for restrictions on use of property, work out equity in property and whether order for sale possible
- Individual Insolvency Regsiter - lists people made bankrupt/have Debt Relief Orders etc. which might restrict how assets can be distributed
- Attachment of Earnings Order Index - shows debtors against whom there are attachments of earnings orders in force
- Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines - all County/High Court judgements are entered on this register and can remain registered for 6 years
Will judgements always remain on the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines?
- Satisfied within 1 month = entry may be cancelled at debtor’s request
- Satisfied after 1 month = judgement will remain on register
How is the Register of Judgements, Orders and Fines useful?
Can see if debtor already has unsatisfied judgements registered against them adnd who holds them (may impact decision)
Shows total amount of outstanding debt
What types of opponent should be (not) considered especially?
- Legally-aided opponent = will not recover its costs and maybe not damages
- Insured opponent = may be entitled to be indemnified by insurance company for some/all damages and/or costs to be paid to client (payment more easily forthcoming)