Limitation (Topic 6) Flashcards
Define ‘Limitation’
Period of time for the claimant to act, after that period has ended the claim would be time barred
In the context of limitation what is a cause of action
The essential ingredients of the claim
Ie in negligence = duty/breach/causation
Define Accrual
When all of the ingredients for the cause of action exist, then the cause of action has accrued
- Limitation clock starts ticking
In the context of limitation when is a claim brought?
What is the effect of proceedings being ‘brought’?
When the claim form is left with the the court
Even if the court does not issue the claim on the same day, it is still brought
Limitation clock will be stopped when the proceedings are ‘broguht’
What is latent damage?
Damage that is hidden, unknown until later
What happens upon the expirary of limitation?
No longer be possible to bring a claim because it is too late, date of expirary is the last day upon which it is possible to bring a claim
When can a limitation period be diapplied?
Only in PI Claims
If the limitation period has expired, possible under s.33 Limitation Act for the court to rule that the limitation period does not apply
So PI claim can still be brought
What is the limitation period in a contract or tort claims (excluding negligence)?
=
6 YEARS from the data that the cause of action accrued
What is the limitation period in negligence cases?
6 YEARS from date that the cause of action was accrued
Or
3 YEARS from having knowledge (laten damage provision)
What is the limitation period in PI cases?
3 YEARS from the date that the cause of action accrued
Or 3 YEARS DATE of KNOWLEDGE if later
Contract/General Tort Claim
Cause of action accrues on the 13th January 2020
- When does you start counting the limitation period?
- When is the last day of the limitation period?
- When will the limitation period expire?
- 14th January 2020 (Start date)
- 13th January 2026 (Date of action accrued + 6 years)
- 14th January 2026 (Expiry)
PI Claim
Cause of action accrues on the 13th January 2020
- When does you start counting the limitation period?
- When is the last day of the limitation period?
- When will the limitation period expire?
- 14th January 2020 (Start date)
- 13th January 2023 (Date of action accrued + 3 years)
- 14th January 2023 (Expiry)
When the claimant is a child, when does the limitation period start to run?
When is the last day to bring a claim, if it is a PI claim?
Start running on the child’s 18th birthday
18th birthday = trigger date
21st birthday = last date upon which the claim can be brought
What happens if the limitation period expires on a date when the court is closed?
Claimant will have until close of business on the next working day to bring their claim
Can a claim brought in contract only benefit from the latent damage period?
No, only applies to claims brought in negligence. So a contract claim will always expire six years from the date the cause of action accrued.