Civil Litigation Exam Notes PDF

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2021/22

Civil Litigation Exam Notes – – – – – – – – – –

Initial and Pre-Action Considerations Commencing Proceedings PoC & Defence (including drafting) Case and Cost Management & Allocation Disclosure Evidence Interim Applications Interim Injunctions Enforcement & Appeals Alternative Dispute Resolution

Danielle Terry BPP UNIVERSITY, ACCELERATED LPC

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Initial and Pre-Action Considerations TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL STAGES IN A CIVIL LITIGATION ACTION (DIAGRAM) .............................................. 5 INITIAL AND PRE-ACTION CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................ 6 TAKING INSTRUCTIONS (NEW CLIENT) ................................................................................................. 6 1. GENERAL RULES ON COSTS .................................................................................................................... 6 2. TYPES OF FUNDING AGREEMENT ............................................................................................................. 6 DUTY, BREACH, CAUSATION, AND LOSS ................................................................................................ 7 LIMITATION PERIODS & RUNNING CONCURRENT CASES ........................................................................ 7 COMMENCING PROCEEDINGS...................................................................................................... 8 1. PRACTICE DIRECTION: PRE-ACTION CONDUCT P.503) ....................................................................... 8 2. PD: PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE PRE-ACTION PROTOCOL (P.507) ................................................... 9 OTHER PRE-ACTION CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................................... 10 PRE-ACTION DISCLOSURE (CPR 31.16) ..................................................................................................... 10 PRE-ACTION PART 36 OFFERS (CPR 36).................................................................................................... 10 CHOICE OF COURT: RULES GOVERNING COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS ....................................... 10 SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM............................................................................................................ 11 ISSUING THE CLAIM FORM .......................................................................................................................... 11 SERVING THE CLAIM FORM ........................................................................................................................ 11 ADDRESS FOR CLAIM FORM SERVICE (CPR 6.7-6.11) ................................................................................. 11 WHO SERVES THE CLAIM FORM?................................................................................................................ 11 PARTICULARS OF CLAIM SERVICE ............................................................................................................... 12 ALTERNATIVE SERVICE OF THE CLAIM FORM ............................................................................................... 12 IRREGULAR SERVICE AND DISPENSING WITH SERVICE OF CLAIM FORM ......................................................... 12 SERVICE OF OTHER DOCUMENTS (INCLUDING PARTICULARS OF CLAIM) ........................................................ 12 ADDRESS FOR SERVICE OF OTHER DOCUMENTS ......................................................................................... 12 RESPONSE BY THE DEFENDANT ................................................................................................................. 13 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SERVICE .............................................................................................................. 13 DEFENCE ................................................................................................................................................. 13 IF THE DEFENDANT DOES NOT RESPOND ............................................................................................13 APPLICATION TO EXTEND TIME ................................................................................................................... 13 APPLIATION FOR JUDGMENT IN DEFAULT (CPR 12) ..................................................................................... 13 Procedure for judgment in default: ......................................................................................................................................14

SETTING ASIDE A JUDGMENT IN DEFAULT (CPR 13) .................................................................................... 14 RULES FOR COUNTING TIME............................................................................................................... 14 STATEMENTS OF CASE ...................................................................................................................... 15 MAIN STATEMENTS OF CASE ...................................................................................................................... 15 RULES GOVERNING THE FORM AND CONTENT OF STATEMENTS OF CASE ...................................................... 15

DRAFTING QUESTION: PARTICULARS OF CLAIM .................................................................... 16 DRAFTING QUESTION: DEFENCE ............................................................................................... 18 PCR: WHEN YOU SUSPECT THE DEFENDANT IS NOT TELLING THE TRUTH ..................................................... 19 COUNTERCLAIMS (CPR 20.4) ............................................................................................................ 19 SET OFF ................................................................................................................................................... 19 REPLY AND DEFENCE ................................................................................................................................ 19 PART 20 CLAIMS: THIRD PARTIES ...................................................................................................... 19 AMENDMENTS TO STATEMENTS OF CASE (CPR 17.1) ......................................................................... 19 REQUESTS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION (CPR 18) ............................................................................. 20

Key: Case; Legislation; Statute Book Page Ref

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Initial and Pre-Action Considerations ALLOCATION, CASE & COSTS MANAGEMENT STAGES (DIAGRAM) ....................................................... 21 ALLOCATION AND THE CMC ....................................................................................................... 22 THE NOTICE OF PROPOSED ALLOCATION (NPA)................................................................................ 22 (A) SPECIFY MATTERS TO BE COMPLIED WITH ........................................................................................... 22 (B) THE DIRECTIONS QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................................ 22 NOTICE OF ALLOCATION ............................................................................................................................ 22 (C) PROPOSED DIRECTIONS + DISCLOSURE REPORT .................................................................................. 23 (D)(I) COST BUDGET – PRECEDENT H ........................................................................................................ 23 (D)(II) BUDGET DISCUSSION REPORT – PRECEDENT R ................................................................................ 23 CMC ................................................................................................................................................ 23 THE COURT’S COST MANAGEMENT POWERS ....................................................................................... 24 COST MANAGEMENT ORDERS .................................................................................................................... 24 COST CAPPING ORDERS ............................................................................................................................ 24 THE COURT’S CASE MANAGEMENT POWERS ....................................................................................... 24 STRIKE OUT .............................................................................................................................................. 24 SANCTIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 25 UNLESS ORDERS ...................................................................................................................................... 25 FAILURE TO COMPLY ................................................................................................................................. 25 RELIEF FROM SANCTIONS & DENTON TEST ................................................................................................. 25 The court will apply the 3-stage test from Denton ..............................................................................................................25 EXAM QUESTION APPROACH: SANCTIONS/RELIEF ..............................................................................26

EXAM QUESTION APPROACH: EVALUATING DIRECTIONS ..................................................................... 26 DISCLOSURE ................................................................................................................................. 27 STEP 1: DEFINE DISCLOSURE ............................................................................................................ 27 STEP 2: DEFINE INSPECTION ............................................................................................................ 27 STEP 3: “DOCUMENTS” AND “CONTROL” .......................................................................................... 27 (I) STATE THAT THE DOCUMENTS FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITIONS OF “DOCUMENTS”........................................ 27 (II) STATE THAT THE DOCUMENTS FALL WITHIN THE DEFINITIONS OF ‘CONTROL’............................................ 27 STEP 4: DOES IT FALL WITHIN ‘STANDARD DISCLOSURE’ (MODEL D)? ................................................. 27 DISCLOSURE ORDERS – DISCLOSURE PILOT SCHEME (‘DPS’) .................................................................... 27 STEP 5: CAN WE WITHOLD IT FOR ANY REASON? ............................................................................... 28 LITIGATION PRIVILEGE : .............................................................................................................................. 28 LEGAL ADVICE PRIVILEGE: ......................................................................................................................... 28 ‘WITHOUT PREJUDICE’ PRIVILEGE .............................................................................................................. 29 WAIVING PRIVILEGE .................................................................................................................................. 29 REDACTION .............................................................................................................................................. 29 GENERAL POINTS ON DISCLOSURE: ................................................................................................... 29 STEP 6: PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT ISSUES ......................................................................................... 30 STEP 7: WHICH LIST? ....................................................................................................................... 30 PROCEDURE FOR DISCLOSURE .......................................................................................................... 30 EVIDENCE ...................................................................................................................................... 31 ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE .............................................................................................................. 31 OPINION EVIDENCE ................................................................................................................................... 31 HEARSAY ................................................................................................................................................. 31 WITNESS STATEMENTS ..................................................................................................................... 32 DRAFTING WITNESS STATEMENTS: FORM (PD 32 (CPR 32.8)): .................................................................. 32 EXCHANGE ............................................................................................................................................... 33 PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT – WITNESS EVIDENCE ......................................................................................... 33

Key: Case; Legislation; Statute Book Page Ref

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Initial and Pre-Action Considerations EXPERT EVIDENCE ............................................................................................................................ 34 PERMISSION TO USE AN EXPERT ................................................................................................................ 34 DUTY TO THE COURT ................................................................................................................................. 34 LETTERS OF INSTRUCTION ......................................................................................................................... 35 MEETINGS OF EXPERTS ............................................................................................................................ 35 SINGLE JOINT EXPERTS ............................................................................................................................ 36 QUESTIONS TO EXPERTS (CPR 35.6) ........................................................................................................ 36 NEGLIGENT EXPERTS ................................................................................................................................ 36 INTERIM APPLICATIONS .............................................................................................................. 37 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 37 METHODS OF MAKING INTERIM APPLICATIONS .................................................................................... 37 PROCEDURE OF MAKING INTERIM APPLICATIONS ......................................................................................... 37 FILING AND SERVICE OF INTERIM APPLICATIONS .......................................................................................... 37 COST ORDERS .................................................................................................................................. 38 POST HEARING MATTERS................................................................................................................... 38 SECURITY FOR COSTS (CPR 25) ....................................................................................................... 39 GROUNDS (CPR 25.13(2)): ...................................................................................................................... 39 COURT’S DISCRETION ............................................................................................................................... 39 AMOUNT/TYPE OF SECURITY ...................................................................................................................... 39 WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CLAIM IF SECURITY CAN’T BE PAID? ........................................................................ 40 SUMMARY JUDGEMENT (CPR 24)...................................................................................................... 40 GROUNDS (CPR 24.2): ............................................................................................................................. 40 PROCEDURE ............................................................................................................................................. 40 ORDERS ................................................................................................................................................... 40

PART 36 OFFERS AND TRIAL ...................................................................................................... 41 PART 36 OFFERS............................................................................................................................... 41 PROCEDURE: MAKING A PART 36 OFFER ................................................................................................... 41 ACCEPTANCE OF A PART 36 OFFER ........................................................................................................... 41 REJECTION OF CLAIMANT’S PART 36 OFFER – CPR 36.17 ......................................................................... 42 REJECTION OF DEFENDANT’S PART 36 OFFER – CPR 36.17 ...................................................................... 42 Factors in determining whether it is unjust to make the costs orders in CPR 36.17(3)/(4) .................................................42 If both parties have made P36 offers which have been rejected: .......................................................................................42

SETTLEMENT: CONSENT ORDERS .............................................................................................................. 43 PREPARATIONS FOR TRIAL ................................................................................................................ 43 GENERAL POINTS ON TRIAL ............................................................................................................... 44 COSTS .............................................................................................................................................. 44 AMOUNT OF COSTS ................................................................................................................................... 44 WHEN COSTS ARE PAYABLE ...................................................................................................................... 44

TIPS FOR PART 36 QUESTIONS .................................................................................................. 45 ENFORCEMENT AND APPEALS .................................................................................................. 46 MEANS OF DOMESTIC ENFORCEMENT................................................................................................ 46 APPEALS (CPR 52)........................................................................................................................... 46 APPEALS FLOWCHART ............................................................................................................................... 47 INTERIM INJUNCTIONS ................................................................................................................ 48 INTERIM PROHIBITORY INJUNCTIONS.................................................................................................. 48 STAGE ONE: IS THERE A PRE-EXISTING CAUSE OF ACTION? ....................................................................... 48

Key: Case; Legislation; Statute Book Page Ref

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Initial and Pre-Action Considerations STAGE TWO: ARE DAMAGES AN ADEQUATE REMEDY? ................................................................................ 48 STAGE THREE: WILL THE COURT EXERCISE ITS DISCRETION? .................................................................... 48 STAGE FOUR: DO ANY DEFENCES APPLY?.................................................................................................. 49 PROCEDURE (WITH NOTICE AND WITHOUT NOTICE PRO...