Trial Flashcards
What is the purpose of a pre-trial checklist (AKA listing questionnaire)?
Form N170
- Check case management directions have been complied with (so case ready for trial)
- Give any further directions
- Fix a date for trial (or confirm date already fixed)
How is the deadline for the pre-trial checklist given?
Standard direction given by court in fast and multi-track cases
What does pre-trial checklist require of the parties?
- Confirm/disclose (non-)compliance with directions
- Specify further directions needed
- Confirm whether court has already consented to expert evidence (request if not)
- Details of experts and if they have agreed
- Details of witnesses (availability/special facilities)
- Who will present the case at trial
- Estimate of trial length (preferably agreed)
When will the pre-trial checklist be sent to each party and when will it be due?
- Sent to parties at least 14 days before due date of filing
- Due date will be at least 8 weeks prior to trial date/start of trial period
What should the parties do with their copies of the pre-trial checklists before filing?
Exchange copies to avoid court being given conflicting information
What happens after pre-trial checklist is filed?
Court gives listing directions - further directions needed to get matter listed for trial
Are listing directions given at a hearing?
Might be given at a pre-trial review - where court checks that parties have complied with all previous directions
What must court give in listing directions?
- Fixed date of trial
- Time estimate for trial
- Place of trial
What might court give in listing directions?
- Evidence (i.e. experts)
- Trial timetable
- Preparation of trial bundles
- Other matters
What is the purpose of the trial bundle and what kind of documents should be included?
Ensure all relevant material before court and judge can identify pre-trial reading - should include all documents likely to be referred to
- Claim form/statements of case
- Case summary
- Requests for further information
- All witness statements relied on
- Any hearsay notices
- Any notices of intention to rely on evidence not contained in witness statement or expert’s report, being given orally at trial, or hearsay evidence
- Any medical reports
- Any expert’s reports
Who prepares the trial bundle and when must it be filed?
C prepares and must file trial bundle with court no more than 7 days and no less than 3 days before trial begins
E.g. trial on Wed 15
Earliest = Tues 7
Latest = Thurs 9
E
Who does C supply identical bundles to?
Each party in proceeding, the judge, and witnesses
What happens with information that parties disagree on in bundle?
Summary of points in dispute to be included
What is a reading list? Who signs it?
- An estimate of reading time for judge to get to know the case and estimate of hearing length - should be lodged with trial bundles
- Signed by all advocates
In what cases must a reading list be submitted?
High Court cases in the Chancery and King’s Bench Division
What does the skeleton argument do and for what trials must it be prepared?
Summarises submissions to be made and cites authorities to be relied on - prepared for High Court trials
When must a list of authorities be submitted and when by?
In High Court cases - submitted to court by 5pm the day before the hearing
If the parties settle at pre-trial, who must they let know and when? What happens otherwise?
Listing officer for trial court must be notified immediately (or face cost penalties)
To enable court to allocate time to other cases
What does a notice to admit facts do?
Formally asks the other party to admit particular factual point in issue in the case
If other party accepts - won’t have to call evidence to prove at trial
Will have already served evidence/had dialogue supporting point
What happens for the recipient of a notice to admit fact if they do not admit?
Judge decides at trial whether fact correct, if so then party receiving notice is vulnerable (should have agreed fact earlier and avoided time-wasting)
Cost consequences
When will a notice to admit documents be used?
Where a party serves notice that they wish (the authenticity of) a document to be proved at trial