TB - statements of case Flashcards
what docs are needed to commence a claim against a defendant?
a claim form, and if being prepared separately, a particulars of claim are required to commence a claim
When a defendant receives a claim, they’re limited to two responses only - they can either admit it or defend it completely.
True or False?
false - defendant responds to each allegation made in one of three ways
1) admit allegation
2) defend allegation
3) enter a non-admission against the allegation
Can a defendant party also make a separate claim against the claimant?
yes - if the defendant has a separate claim against the claimant, they can enter a counterclaim at the same time as filing their defence to the principal claim
what steps can a defendant take if the claimant’s particulars of claim need to be clarified?
a defendant is entitled to make a request for further info about the points in the particulars of claim that require clarification - they would submit that request in writing to the claimant, allowing them a reasonable time limit to respond
What’s the purpose of a defence?
to allow the defendant to indicate to the court what their position is in relation to each of the allegations that have been made against them
what is a statement of case?
a document that’s used to set out a party’s case in civil litigation
statements of case can take various forms depending on …
the circumstances and whether the party is a claimant or defendant
what are examples of statements of case?
- claim form
- particulars of claim
- defence
- reply to defence
- part 20 claim
- defence to part 20 claim
NOTE
SQE1 requires you to know purpose of above docs, as well as their structure and content
what is the claim form
one of two primary docs that’s used to commence a civil claim
what happens once the claim form is issued?
this commences the claim against the defendant
what’s the second document used to commence a civil claim?
particulars of claim
does the claim form include a space for the particulars of claim to be included?
yes - claim form (N1) includes a space for POC to be included, but, commonly it’s drafted as a separate document and attached to the claim form
what’s the purpose of the claim form?
it’s the doc used to start proceedings and contains info relevant to the proceedings
which info does the claim form request the claimant to complete?
- claimant name and address
- defendant name and address
- brief details of claim
- claim value
- preferred county court hearing centre for the hearings
- defendants address for service
- particulars of claim
- statement of truth
- claimant or their legal representatives address for correspondence
Claimant name and address
insert details of the correct claimant
if the claimant is a company or a partnership, must ensure they’re identified as the claimant party
Defendant name and address
ensure this is accurate
inserting the incorrect identity of the defendant will potentially lead to the claim being struck out, or at best, you having to make an application to amend the statements of case
Brief details of claim
this box must contain:
- a concise statement of the nature of the claim (preferably single)
- the remedy the claimant is seeking
Claim Value
specified claims - the amount that’s being claimed without including interest
unspecified claims - the claimant must enter ‘ i expect to recover..’ followed by one of the following value brackets:
- not more than £10,000
- more than £10,000 but not more than £25,000
- more than £25,000
can there be circumstances where the claimant can’t estimate how much they’re expecting to recover - what must they write in this instance?
yes - they must write ‘i cannot say how much i expect to recover’
preferred county court hearing centre for the hearings
the most convenient county court for a face-to-face hearing must be inserted here so that the court can transfer the claim after it has been issued, if it thinks appropriate
Defendants address for service
if the court is serving the claim form, the title, full name, address and postcode of the defendants address for service must be inserted here
statement of truth
this confirms that the party signing the doc believes that the facts stated in it are true
in the case of the N1 claim form, it’s signed by either the claimant, their legal rep or their litigation friend
claimant or their legal reps address for correspondene
the address the claimant would like the court to use to write to them
EXAM WARNING
if asked about defendants appropriate address for service, remember the CPR prescribe the location of this depending on the status of the defendant
what is particulars of claim
document setting out the case of the claimant and specifying the facts relied on
the purpose of the POC is set out in CPR 16.4(1)
this states the POC should provide…
- a concise statement of the facts on which the claimant is relying
- details of any interest that the claimant is claiming
- a statement and accompanying grounds if the claimant is seeking either exemplary or aggravated damages
- any other matters required for the type of claim as set out in the relevant practice direction
What are exemplary damages?
aka punitive damages
- designed to punish the defendant if allegations regarding their poor conduct contained in the POC are proven
- aim of exemplary damages being awarded is to deter defendant and others from behaving same way in future
What are aggravated damages?
additional damages claimed because the defendants behaviour has caused the claimant mental distress, injury to feelings or anguish
structure and content of POC in contract
- parties to claim and their status
- factual chronology
- contract and its terms
- how the contract was allegedly breached
- consequences of breach
- damages claimed
- interest claimed
- statement of truth
POC in contract
parties to the claim and their status
opening para of POC sets out who the parties are and what their status is for the purposes of the claim
example - at all material times, the claimant was a company specialising in the design, manufacture and supply of bolts. at all material times, the defendant was a customer of the claimant’
POC in contract
factual chronology
court expects a concise chronology that covers all of the material facts which relate to the legal basis of the claim
POC in contract
contract and its terms
court will expect to see details of how the contract was made, what discussions took place beforehand, what terms were agreed and what evidence exists
if the contract is written, the CPR require a copy of the contract to be attached to the POC
if the contract is oral, the POC should set out the contractual words used and state by whom, to whom, when and where they were spoken
POC in contract
how the contract was allegedly breached
the next step is to outline the terms of the contract that have allegedly been breached and how the defendant has breached them