MOCK SQE FLK 1 Flashcards
FLK 1
What cost order would be made by the judge if both C’s and D’s Part 36 offer fails?
A normal costs order will be made if none of the offer’s trigger is satisfied. Unsuccessful party pays successful party’s costs.
Which court is appropriate to issue a claim with a value lower than £100.000 which requires extensive expert evidence?
County court
When can a part 36 offer be shown to the trial judge?
After the case is decided.
If a document is no longer in a party’s control, should it be disclosed?
Yes, but the party disclosing that doc can refuse inspection.
If a value of claim is lower than £25k but anticipated to take 2 days for trial, which track should the claim be allocated to?
Intermediate track due the length of trial.
What is a without prejudice privilege? Give an example.
Privilege for the purpose to attempt genuinely to settle the dispute. Often marked ‘without prejudice’.
ex: Part 36 offer.
When does the limitation period starts to run if a person is disabled for a personal injury claim?
A person under 18 years old is under a disability. The limitation period starts to run when the disability ends. The limitation for PI claims is 3 years starting to run on the date the cause of action is accrued.
What are the limitation periods to issue a claim?
- contract: 6 years from date of cause of action occurs (the date of the breach of contract)
- tort: 6 years from date of acknowledgement (when in a position to know) or cause of action
- Personal Injury: 3 years from latest of date of death/date of knowledge – time starts running from the day after the cause of action accrued
- Fatal Accidents: 3 years from latest of date of death/date of knowledge of dependant
- Neg (other than PI): latest of:
–> 6 years from date of cause of
action
–> 3 years from date of knowledge - Contribution: 2 years from time right to contribution arises.
What are the requirements to satisfy for liability under fraudulent trading
INSOLVENCY VOIDABLE TRANSACTIONS
Any person or director
who is knowingly party to carrying on of any business of the company; AND
with the intent to defraud creditors for any fraudulent purpose.
If both claim form and Statements of case are filed and served. Whose consent is required to add an additional defendant?
Only permission/consent needed is from the COURT
When should a request for further info° must be made?
If defence or any statement of case (PoC, defence etc) prevents the party from understanding clearly the statements.
Eg. defence is not understandable due to extensive abbreviations and technical language.
Which judge should be applied for permission to appeal when County Court Circuit Judge refuses permission to appeal?
High Court Judge
What are the steps to consider under American Cyanamid Guidelines to order an interim injunction?
- Is there a serious question to be tried?
o The applicant must show that the case is not frivolous or vexatious and that there is a genuine issue for the court to decide. If this condition isn’t met, the injunction will be refused. - Would damages be an adequate remedy?
o For the applicant: If damages would compensate the applicant sufficiently for the harm, an injunction may not be necessary.
o For the respondent: If the injunction is later found to have been wrongly granted, the court will consider whether the respondent can be compensated adequately by damages. - Where does the balance of convenience lie?
o If damages are not sufficient for either party, the court evaluates which party would suffer the greater injustice if the injunction is granted or denied.
What should you do if your client refuses to disclose a doc/evidence that is under the duty to disclose?
You should first advise your client to disclose the document.
If client continues to refuse, you should cease to act.
Did an actionable misrepresentation occur if the claimant does not see or hear the attempted misrepresentation?
Depends:
Misrepresentation can be made by conduct, if ONLY they are induced by it.
If the C did not see or hear the attempted misrepresentation, they are not induced by it and therefore, there would be no actionable misrepresentation.
Can an offer be accepted at any time to form a contract?
NO - an offer remains open until it is revoked or lapsed. If the offeror does not specify an expiry date for the offer, the offer will lapse after a reasonable time.
(eg. a sale of ring offer would lapse few months)
How do we establish an ‘agency’ relationship to circumvent the doctrine of privity of contract?
1- The principal named and it is clear that the agent is contracting on behalf of the principal.
2- The agent should be authorised to act as an agent (requisite authority to bind the principal)
3- consideration moved from the principal (ultimately the principal pays for the contract)
When is a contract formed?
When the offer is accepted by the offeree mirroring the terms of the offer.
When is the contract made when offeree accepts via email (or any instantaneous means)?
When the acceptance email is received.
NOT when it’s made.
When a revocation of an offer cannot be made for a contract?
When the contract has been accepted.
If a practical benefit is provided by the completion of a project on time but to do so the party made a demand for an additional sum threatening the innocent party that in case of non-payment of the extra money they would not complete their obligation under contract. Is the contractor asking for additional money entitled to that extra sum?
NO if made under duress.
IF the demand for extra money to correct miscalculation will not be viewed as a demand in good faith for the purposes of duress.
The party paying must protest this and must be under pressure of some sort (eg. must finish the project for clients at that specific time).
What is the remedy for a fraudulent misrepresentation?
Rescission of the contract.
Fraudulent misrepresentation occurs when the party knowingly covers up or hides or conceals a fact/info.
What happens if there is an unilateral mistake between the contracting parties?
Contract is void. (if a reasonable person would think that there was no agreement)
difference between unilateral mistake and common mistake
if one of the parties knew and other didn’t albeit there is no fraudulent intention, it would amount to unilateral mistake.
If both parties are mistaken. It would be a common mistake.
A caterer engages a cake shop to supply 100 cakes at a total cost of £100. Due to a fault with their oven, the cake shop only makes 60 cakes. The caterer collects the 60 cakes.
Is the cake shop entitled to any payment?
YES. The cake shop partially performed the contract and voluntary acceptance has
occurred by the caterer.
Because there is voluntary acceptance of partial performance.
Can silence amount to misrepresentation?
NO
The defendant started by accident a fire due to falling asleep. The flat upstairs has burned. He was found liable. He escaped from the fire.
GR = there is no duty to the omission
Exception applies because D did not take reasonable steps to mitigate.
The local authority assigned a psychologist. The physiologist misdiagnosed the child’s ADHD with dyslexia. Is local authority liable in tort?
Yes. Duty of care owed by the public authority BCS assumed responsibility for a child’s educational services and therefore owed a duty to provide education appropriate to the child’s needs.
What is the applicable standard of care expected from a learner driver?
Act, not the actor. The standard applied is ‘competent driver’.
What is the standard expected from the junior doctor operating a medical operation?
Junior doctor must mee the standard expected for the professional task that they are performing, regardless of experience.
A junior solicitor drafting wills would be evaluated with the standard of competent private solicitor drafting wills.
A householder carries out trivial repair work on her property, including the door handle on her front door. The handle has not been fixed properly. When the householder’s friend comes over, he pulls the handle and falls and injures himself. What is the standard of care expected of the householder?
The standard applying to the householder would be: a competent amateur carpenter.
Householder is not a professional.
Junior doctor misdiagnosed a patient which led to the patient suffering a permanent disability. Whilst diagnosing he sought advice from his supervisor doctor and the A&E doctor.
Is he liable for medical negligence?
Junior doctor would not necessarily be in breach if they sought appropriate advice from a senior colleague.
Professional standard of care
Standard of ordinary reasonable man exercising and professing to have that special skill.
It is sufficient if he exercises the ordinary skill of an ordinary competent man exercising that particular art.
Standard of applicable duty for children
Children are judged against the standard of a reasonable child of their age carrying out the same act.
standard of care for people suffering from illness and disability.
Standard is adjusted where D suffers from an illness they were reasonably unaware of.
The blind friend comes over and falls off from the window which was open and broke his leg. Is the homeowner liable?
Yes. He shouldn’t have left the window open.
This is BCS the D must tailor their conduct in light of the characteristics of people they know might be affected by their actions.
This is due to ‘likelihood of harm’.
If the risk of injury was small even minimal, but the consequences if the risk was realised were severe. D did not take the precautions, and C suffered severe consequences. Is the D liable?
YES. Due to the ‘magnitude of harm’ factor. D breached his duty.
What does medical professional need/must ensure patients are aware of?
They must ensure that patients are aware of:
- material risks in recommended treatments; and
- reasonable alternatives or variant treatments
For the patient to give ‘informed consent”.
If not obtained, failure to advise in relation to risks to medical treatment means breach of duty.
Relevant factors to establish breach of duty to consider:
- magnitude of harm
- likelihood of harm
- practicality of precautions
- benefit of conduct
- common practice
- state of the art
Leapfrog process
- This process only applies to appeals from a High Court Judgment, bypassing the Court of appeal. HC judgment will be appealed directly to Supreme Court.
- For appeals that would ordinarily be heard by the Court of Appeal, the destination of a leapfrog appeal is the Supreme Court (UKSC).
How are High Court Judges referred to verbally?
High Court Judges referred to verbally as Mr/Ms/Mrs Justice (surname). In writing referred as (Surname) J in writing. But if they are procedural judges they will be called Masters.
Statutory interpretation - linguistic presumptions
- closed list ‘expressio unius est exclusio alterius’
- ‘the same kind’ or ‘genus’ called ‘ejusdem generis’
- word is known by the company it keeps ‘noscitur a sociis’
Public inquiries
major investigations of significant public interest, convened by gvt dpts, given special statutory powers. Under Inquiries Act 05 - inquiry has powers to compel witness/statutory framework for appointment of a chair and inquiry personal/taking of evidence/production of report etc.
Statutory inquiry could be ordered of there are exceptional features to the incident (death) or there has been a spate of incidents suggesting systemic problems in police handling of such matters (police killing a person).
CIVIL JUDGES (seniority order: low to high)
- Deputy district judges (at the bottom, they are part time judge) “Judge”
- District judge “Judge”
- Recorders (equal to district judge – out of London doing High court work) “Your honour”
- Circuit judge (outside of London, traditionally itinerant around UK travelling to resolve disputes) “Your honour”
- High court masters (deal mostly with smaller hearings) “Judge”
- High court judges “My Lord/ My Lady”
- Court of Appeal judges — master of the rolls (most senior in court of appeal), president of KBD, president of fam° division and Chancellor of the Court of Appeal “My Lord/Lady”
- Supreme Court judges “My Lord/ My Lady”
- President of Supreme court “My Lord/ My Lady”
- Lord Chief Justice “My Lord/ My Lady”
What are reserved legal activities that require authorisation by SRA?
- Rights of audience
- conduct of litigation
- reserved instrument activities
- administration of oaths
What are reserved legal businesses that require authorisation by SRA?
- reserved legal activities
- immigration services (unless authorised by OISC)
- claims management services (unless authorised by FCA)
- regulated financial activities (unless authorised by FCA)
Where do victimisation occur under EQUALITY ACT
1- V done a protected act
2- D believed V has done to will do a protected act
Protected acts
- bring proceedings under EA 2010
- giving evidence under EA 2010
- do anything under EA 2010
- alleging that someone violated EA 2010
When can an employer/law firm escape liability from indirect discrimination under EA 2010?
if PCP (provision, criterion, practice) is proportionate to achieve legitimate aim.
When does victimisation occur under EA 2010?
V done a protected act or D believed that V has done so.
When does harassment occur under EA 2010?
- relates to protected characteristics; or
- conduct of a sexual nature;
- less favourable conduct BCS of rejection or submission to harassment of sexual nature or related to sex or gender reassignment.
Depends on V’s perception:
- violating dignity
- creates intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating environment
specified investments under FSMA
- shares
- bonds
- pension schemes
- regulated mortgage contracts
- gvt securities
- contracts of insurance
specified activities under FSMA
- dealing in investments
- arranging deal * *
- managing investments
- advising on the merits of investment
(advising on the merits requires opinion + recommendation)
excluded activities under FSMA
- necessary part of services
- authorised person exception
- sale of body corporate
Approved prospectus is required when
- for Plc in the UK
- approved by FCA
In case of non-approved prospectus = criminal offence
Approved prospectus is NOT required when
- offer directed for fewer than 150 ppl
- offer sent to qualified investors
When is a regulated activity under FCA is ‘incidental’?
- small part of the overall work by the firm
- not a separate piece of work
- not invoiced separately
authorised person (AP) exception under FSMA
Client decided on the advice of AP by FCA and solicitor acts on that advice approved by the client.
Damage-based agreements (DBAs) are capped at:
FUNDING
- PI claims: 25%
- employment: 35%
- in all other cases 50%
Excludes damages for future loss.
Calculated on the damages received.
Conditional Fee Agreements (CFA)
SUCCESS FEE
Normal fee + success fee
Calculated on the fee.
Up to 100% on top of normal solicitor fees.
What is the rule regarding the acceptance of terms when parties exchange standard terms and one party expressly accepts the other’s terms?
The party who unequivocally accepts the terms of the other (by signing or otherwise manifesting acceptance) is bound by those terms, provided the acceptance forms a contract.
When a party makes an offer that includes standard terms, and the other party unequivocally accepts the offer referencing those terms (e.g., by signing a document or tear-off slip), the contract is concluded on the terms specified in the offer. The “last shot” rule applies, meaning the final terms accepted govern the contract.
What is the rule regarding the priority of floating charges when one is unregistered and the other is registered?
An unregistered floating charge is void against an administrator, liquidator, or other creditors. A registered floating charge takes priority over an unregistered one, even if the unregistered charge was created earlier.
What is the rule for substituting a deceased party with its estate’s personal representatives in legal proceedings?
Court can order substitution of the new party IF the relevant period was current at the time proceedings were started/issued.
What is the rule regarding the formation of a contract when consideration is promised but not yet paid?
There is a valid contract if there is an offer, acceptance, and sufficient consideration, even if the consideration has not yet been paid.
The consideration can be lower value than the actual value of the item. Court will not interfere.
Failure to respond to proceedings on time would lead to (…)
‘default judgment’ judgment in the claimant’s favour without the court considering the merits of a case.
Conditions for default judgment
- At the date date of entering judgment, the time has expired to file an acknowledgment or defence
- claim has been admitted or satisfied by the D (if no defence, silently admitting)
- no application for summary judgment or strike out has been made by the D
Grounds to set aside a default judgment are:
- that D has real prospect of successfully defending the claim or
- it appears to the court that there is some other good reason why judgment should be set aside or the defendant should be able to defend (eg. payment already made)
–> applicantion must not be delayed.
What are the elements of a PoC
- ‘a concise statement of the facts on which the claimant relies’
- either be attached to claim form or separately up to 14 days after the service
- Duty, breach, causation and loss (recoverable loss and interest)
- PI claims: C’s DOB, details of injuries, schedule of past, future expenses and losses
- land claims: identify land and whether residential /commercial
- Attach written agreement OR give details on oral agreement
- claim for interest
- statement of truth
- attach any specific doc relating to the claim
What is the last statement of case in a claim?
What does it entail?
REPLY - that permission of the court is needed to file any statement of case after the reply
What are options if a statement of case is unclear?
- apply to strike it out
- apply for summary judgment
- ask for clarification – court can order for the party for clarification. Its response is also a statement of case with statement of truth.
- use procedure in CPR18 – request further information (need to know basis)
Consequences of set off
- D (set off) + C (main claim) both successful –> extinguish the set off part and other in the main will be paid
- C is unsuccessful (main claim) + D successful (set off) –> against the C only in the sum of set off
- C successful + D set off unsuccessful –> set of not triggered, D liable for the full some
When should defence to counterclaim be served?
within 14 days after service of the counterclaim
When must D reply after PoC and claim form deemed served?
within 14 days after service of PoC
Which form to acknowledge service of CF + PoC
Form N9
- extends the deadline to serve defence to 28 days after the deemed date of service (‘DDS’) of the PoC
How many days can parties agree to extension after acknowledgement of service?
AoS requires defence be served within 28 days of DDS.
Further 28 days extension can be agreed between parties.
When is permission of court required for counterclaims against a person other than the claimant?
ALWAYS
When is permission of court required for classic counterclaims ?
No permission if filed at the same time as the defence.
Required if it’s filed at any other time.