Interim applications Flashcards
When can an interim application be made?
Any part of proceedings, including before issuing claim (E.g. extension of time, amendment to SOC, provide further info, specific disclosure, permission to rely on expert evidence)
Made by any party
I.e. applications for court orders in period between commencement of proceedings and trial
Are rules for all interim applications the same?
No, there are…
1. Default rules for interim applications
2. Modified/supplemented rules for particular types
When should an interim application be made? Should anything happen beforehand?
- Should make as soon as apparent it is necessary/desirable to
- Should take reasonable approach in trying to agree matters first to avoid applying to court/make matters less contentious
Some applications could be dealt with same time as case management conference or at pre-trial review
What is meant by ‘bunching’ interim applications?
If a hearing has been fixed (for whatever reason), parties must issue any necessary applications to ensure outstanding matters are dealt with at single hearing wherever possible
Will the respondent always be the D?
No - may be the C
Same with applicant
When making the application notice, what form is filled in and what must it state?
Form N244 - stating…
- Who is making application
- What order applicant wants
- Why the applicant is asking for that order
- What information applicant relies upon
Court fee payable to issue
Where will the application be made if the court has not yet been decided on?
I.e. in pre-action applications
Where it is likely to be dealt with
Should evidence be given in an application even if not required?
Yes - to satisfy court that order be granted
What are the 3 ways evidence can be given as part of an application notice? What else should the application file?
- In application notice itself
- By referring to existing SOC
- Witness statement (or affidavit if required)
Application should also file draft order setting out terms it seeks
If all goes to plan, what does the applicant take/send to court and what will the court issue?
- Applicant takes/sends application notice, evidence and draft order
- Court issues application and provides notice indicating date/time application will be heard by court
After the application has been issued by the court, what does the applicant serve on other party and when must this be?
- Serves application notice, court note indicating date/time hearing, evidence and draft order on respondent
- Must be served as soon as pracitcable and not less than 3 days before application to be heard
NB this is the general rule
What can the respondent file in response and when must this be?
- Can file evidence in form of witness statement (/affidavit)
- Must be filed/served ASAP (and in accordance with timings stated by court on application notice)
ASAP = as possible, not practicable
If the applicant wants to respond with further evidence when must this be done by?
ASAP!!!
What should also be exchanged before the hearing and how soon before the hearing?
Statement of costs application should be filed and exchanged not less than 24 hours before the hearing
Can a hearing for an interim application take place by telephone?
Yes esp if hearing expected to last no more than one hour
When can matters be dealt with in absence of a hearing?
If:
- Parties have agreed terms of order
- Parties agree there should be no hearing
- Court does not consider hearing appropriate
If parties have agreed terms of order, what must they send in?
A consent order signed on behalf of each party
What happens once a court has made a decision?
Order drawn up, sealed and served
Summary of an interim application procedure?
General; unmodified (ON NOTICE)
- Issue - application notice, supporting evidence, draft order, fee
- Service as soon as practicable but not less than 3 days before hearing - app notice, supp evi, draft order, notice of hearing date
- Further evidence ASAP by both parties
- Statement of costs exchanged not less than 24 hours before hearing
3 DAYS, ASAP, ASAP
In what circumstances will an application ‘without notice’ be permitted?
I.e. without serving application notice on respondent
- Exceptional urgency (e.g. remedy required immediately)
- OO is best furthered by doing so
- All parties consent
- Court gives permission
- Court order, rule or PD permits
- Party does not have sufficient time to serve application notice if a date for hearing has been fixed and party wishes to make application at that hearing (should still inform other party and court the nature and reason of application)
What procedural safeguards are in place for without notice hearings?
To mitigate unfairness of making application without notice
- Application must explain why no notice given
- Applicant must draw court’s attention to arguments, evidence in support of absent respondent’s position even if adverse to theirs (full and frank disclosure)
- Applicant must serve respondent ASAP after hearing whether or not court granted relief sought (app notice, supp evi, order)
- Court order must contain statement of respondent’s right to make application to set aside/vary order
If the respondent chooses to, when must they make an application to set aside?
Within 7 days of order being served on other party
What is a summary judgement and what is the effect if it is granted?
Summary judgement = type of interim application
- Enables court to dispose of claims/issues without need for a full trial
- If granted = issue is no longer considered at trial
Furthers OO; allows court to deal with weak cases/issues proportionately and expeditiously
How is a summary judgement different from a strike out or default judgement?
- Summary judgement = where party has no real prospect of succeeding on claim or defence
- Default judgement = procedural; potential consequence of D failing to respond to a claim (merits not considered)
- Strike out = whole/part of SOC which discloses no reasonable grounds for bringing/defending claim or is an abuse or process/will obstruct just disposal of proceedings
What are the 2 grounds for summary judgement?
- C/D has no real prospect of succeeding on/defending; and
- There is no other compelling reason why case/issue should be disposed of a trial
What is meant by ‘no real prospect’? How high is the threshold?
- No real prospect = position is fanciful, imaginary or false
- Low threshold; respondent only need show that there is some chance case will succeed even if improbable
What ‘compelling reasons’ might there be for the case/issue to be disposed of at trial?
- D needs more time to investigate
- Expert evidence required
- Multi-party litigation
- Scrutiny of key docs needed
- D has right to trial by jury (e.g. fraud)
What evidence is (usually) required for a summary judgement application and what must it address?
A witness statement - should address:
- The 2 grounds
- Concisely any point of law/provision in document on which applicant relies; and
- That application is made because applicant believes on the evidence that respondent has no real prospect of success and knows of no other compelling reason why claim/issue should be disposed of at trial
When can a C or D apply for a summary judgement?
- C = after D has filed ack of service or defence
- D = anytime after proceedings have commenced
Can a C apply for summary judgement before D has filed ack/defence?
Yes - with court’s permission
Can a court fix hearing for summary judgement of own intiative?
Yes
What is the effect of C failing to comply with relevant pre-action protocol on their application for summary judgement?
Application will not be considered before defence filed/time for doing so has expired
Ideally, to avoid incurring unnecessary costs, when should an applicant apply for summary judgement?
Before or at same time as filing directions questionnaire
What will the court do if an application for summary judgement is made on the directions questionnaire?
Delay allocating the matter to a track until after summary judgement hearing
What is the effect of a summary judgement on proceedings as a whole? What is the effect of this on D in the case of D themselves or C applying for summary judgement?
Creates a pause in the proceedings whilst application being decided
- If C applies = time for D to file a defence extended (until after SJ hearing)
- If D applies = do not have to file ack of service/defence until after SJ hearing
How does the normal process for interim applications change in the case of summary judgement applications?
Normal process = 3 days ASAP ASAP (+ all relevant docs)
- Application notice, supp evi, draft order and notice of hearing date must be served 14 days before hearing (not 3 days/as soon as practicable)
- Respondent must serve further evidence at least 7 days before hearing (not ASAP)
- Applicant must serve reply to further evidence at least 3 days before hearing
Exchanging statements of costs remains the same (not less than 24 hrs)