By an application notice the First Defendant, Syleta Monica Susan Samuel, applies for an order that a probate claim brought by her sister, Merlina Jacqueline Samuel, be struck out as an abuse of process pursuant to CPR r 3.4(2)(b). Shortly stated, the basis for the application is that Merlina was a party to a probate … Continue reading Samuel v Samuel and Others: ChD 17 Dec 2018
It is necessary to concentrate on the intrinsic justice of a particular case in the light of the overriding objective. ‘For the reasons which I have just given, I think that the question is whether the claim has no real prospect of succeeding at trial and that it has to be answered having regard to … Continue reading Purdy v Cambran: 17 Dec 1999
Dr M had successfully challenged her dismissal and recovered damages for unfair dismissal and race discrimination. In the interim, Her employer HA had reported the dismissal to the respondent who continued their proceedings despite the decision in her favour. The GMC now said that the availability of judicial review excluded her right to commence proceedings … Continue reading Michalak v General Medical Council and Others: SC 1 Nov 2017
Judges: Mr Justice Beatson Citations: [2009] EWHC 1333 (Comm) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 24.6 25.7 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 26 November 2022; Ref: scu.347024
The case had concluded. Offers of settlement had been made and the operative one included an offer on the interest payable. The court came to decide how the interest part of the offer was to be considered when assessing whether the judgment bettered the offer. It was noted that an offer on costs was to … Continue reading Ali Reza-Delta Transport Co Ltd v United Arab Shipping Co Sag: CA 17 Jun 2003
Defendant’s application for summary judgment pursuant to CPR 24.2 and/or strike out of the claim pursuant to CPR 3.4(a) on the basis that there are no reasonable grounds for bringing the claim and /or (b) that it is an abuse of process. The claim is pleaded as one for restitution /damages in the sum of … Continue reading Ogedegbe v Simplyhealth People Ltd: KBD 17 Nov 2022
(Grand Chamber) The applicant, a prisoner serving a long sentence for Mafia-type criminal offences, was subjected to a special regime by ministerial decrees. The restrictions included not only very limited family visits but also a long period (seemingly about three years) in a special form of high-security unit which involved separation from prisoners in other … Continue reading Enea v Italy: ECHR 17 Sep 2009
The second defendant insurers appealed against a refusal by the court to allow it to withdraw an admission of liability in respect of a road traffic accident. The insurer said that the fact that it now saw the accident as fraudulent was an exceptional circumstance such as to allow the change. Held: The appeal failed. … Continue reading Dar v Vonsak and Another: QBD 17 Dec 2012
The judge had reserved his judgment, but had since received further voluminous representations from a party. Held: None of the matters raised suggested a proper reason for exercising the jurisdiction given by In re Barrell. The claimant was subject to a civil restraint order, and these applications had been made without consent. Nor had she … Continue reading Sheikh and Another v Dogan and Others: ChD 17 Nov 2009
The claimant challenged an order requiring him to give security for costs before proceeding. The judge had felt he was unreasonable in the way he was pursuing his claim. He appealed saying the order was made outside the scope of Part 25. Held: The rules now allowed orders akin to orders for security for costs … Continue reading Olakunle O Olatawura v Alexander O Abiloye: CA 17 Jul 2002
The applicant had been sentenced to nine months imprisonment for having broken his undertaking to the Court. He appealed against that sentence. The other party also sought to appeal other parts of the order. Held: An appeal limited to the sentencing part of a committal for contempt did not require leave to appeal, being as … Continue reading London Borough of Barnet v Hurst: CA 17 Jul 2002
At first instance the appellant had dishonestly assisted another party to defraud the respondent, and ordered payment of substantial damages. The defendant, non-resident, sought to appeal, and the respondent asked the court to order payment into court of the amount of the award, saying that the appellant did not otherwise have the assets within the … Continue reading Goldtrail Travel Ltd v Onur Air Tasimacilik As: SC 2 Aug 2017
Application for relief from sanctions made pursuant to CPR 3.9(1) Judges: Henry Carr QC Citations: [2014] EWHC 1878 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 3.9(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 24 August 2022; Ref: scu.526609
The respondent bank had obtained a charging order nisi against the applicant’s property. The applicant then obtained an order under s252 of the act requiring any further action against his estate to be stayed. The bank nevertheless obtained an order absolute. The claimant was not represented at that hearing. Several years later he sought to … Continue reading Clarke v Coutts and Co: CA 17 Jun 2002
Application under CPR r81.14(1) for permission to bring proceedings for committal for interference with the administration of justice. That is covered by Section III of CPR Part 81 (r81.12 to r81.14). The interference relied on is the use of documents disclosed in an action for a collateral purpose, contrary to CPR r31.22 Judges: Birss J … Continue reading Grosvenor Chemicals Ltd and Others v UPL Europe Ltd and Others: ChD 26 Jul 2017
(Jamaica) The parties agreed for the sale of land. The seller sought specific performance by the buyer. The buyer had said there was a problem of title. The appellant had failed to defend the proceedings, and appealed against judgment in default. Held: The very long history of events was not properly laid out before the … Continue reading O’Connor v Piccott and Another: PC 17 Feb 2010
The claimant complained of an irregularly obtained judgment. The defendant had obtained an amendment to a writ of sequestration in the course of a bitterly fought dispute bewteen the defendant and the owner of the claimant. The judge had found the irregularity proved, but declined to set the order aside. The claimant now said that … Continue reading Tombstone Ltd v Raja and Another; Raja v Van Hoogstraten and others (No 9): CA 17 Dec 2008
The claimant sought an order for the defendant to be pursued for contempt of court having filed a statement of truth which was known to be false. Judges: Pumfrey J Citations: [2004] EWHC 1192 (Ch) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 32.14 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Cited – Malgar Ltd v R E Leach … Continue reading Kabushiki Kaisha Sony Computer Entertainment Inc (t/a Sony Computer Entertainment Inc) v Ball and Others: ChD 17 May 2004
The court heard and accepted an argument that there was a lacuna in the CPR provisions relating to the uplift in counsel’s fees in the equivalent rules relating to employer’s liability claims. The rules relating to counsel’s fees unlike those dealing with solicitors, did not provide for a percentage uplift when a case settled on … Continue reading Dahele v Thomas Bates and Sons Ltd: SCCO 17 Apr 2007
The defendant appealed awards against it of disturbance payments to the claimants under their contracts of employment. The claimants had produced documents at the last minute before the trial but it was arguable that since these documents were those of the defendants, they should heve been disclosed anyway. Held: The evidence, however badly introduced had … Continue reading Hayes and others v Transco Plc: CA 17 Sep 2003
The defendant appealed an order adding two new claimants. Held: Cases decided under the old RSC were not apposite for matters covered by the new Civil Procedure Rules. The court was not bound by the Sardinia Sulcis rules: ‘The Sardinia Sulcis should be allowed to sink back to the ocean bottom. It would muddy the … Continue reading Morgan Est (Scotland) Ltd v Hanson Concrete Products Ltd: CA 17 Feb 2005
The defendant wished to make a claim against another party outside the jurisdiction and was granted permission to serve documents which were headed ‘defence and counterclaim’. The proposed defendant argued that such a document could be served in this way. Held: The defendant should apply to the court for leave to add the party outside … Continue reading Shahar v Tsitsekkos and others: ChD 17 Nov 2004
The appellant sought permission to appeal out of time against a costs order. The claimant said he had submitted a notice of appeal, but the court had no trace of it, and the cheque had not been encashed. Held: Looking at the merits of the appeal, the argument now sought to be used had been … Continue reading Jobson v Record and Another: CA 17 Aug 2005
Where the court concludes that it may be effectively impossible to enforce an order for payment of costs, then this situation would provide ‘an objective justification for the court exercising its discretion to make an order for payment of the full amount of the costs likely to be ordered against a claimant if unsuccessful in … Continue reading Texuna International Ltd v Cairn Energy Plc: ComC 17 May 2004
The court was able to make costs orders which differentiated between different stages and elements of a case. This might well result, as here, in a situation of a succesful claimant being ordered to pay 80% of the defendant’s costs, because of costs incurred pursuing issues on which it lost. Judges: Tomlinson J Citations: [2003] … Continue reading Kastor Navigation Co Ltd and Another v AGF M A T and others: ComC 17 Mar 2003
The claimant sought damages alleging defamation. The judge ordered certain elements of the case to be heard first, and others, if necessary later. Although the case had been begun under the old rules, the new civil procedure regime gave the judge much wider powers of management, and defamation cases were notoriously expensive and lengthy and … Continue reading GKR Karate (UK) Limited v Porch, Yorkshire Post Newspaper, Holmes: QBD 17 Jan 2000
The general rule under the Civil Procedure Rules that when a court order was silent as to costs, no party would be liable for the costs of another party did not apply in applications for leave to proceed on a judicial review. An order made on such an application would carry by implication an order … Continue reading Practice Statement (Judicial review: Costs): Admn 17 May 2004
Two foreign nationals with leave to remain in this country committed serious crimes. The Secretary of State ordered their deportation. Held: Where the deportation of a foreigner following a conviction here, would conflict with his human rights, the court had to assess whether the, first, the objective could be achieved by some alternative, less interfering, … Continue reading Samaroo and Sezek v Secretary of State for the Home Department: CA 17 Jul 2001
The applicant had sought to exercise his statutory right of appeal from a decision by his professional body. The judge had considered that leave was necessary under the rules, and granted limited permission. The applicant appealed, saying that his statutory right of appeal could not be limited except by clear and specific provision. The court … Continue reading Colley v Council for Licensed Conveyancers: CA 17 Jul 2001
A judge may reopen a case even after he has delivered his final judgment. A judge invited counsel to amend his pleading to incorporate an improvement, but in the face of his repeated failure to take up the invitation, entered final judgment against him. After advice from leading counsel, counsel requested the judgment be reopened … Continue reading Stewart v Engel, BDO Stoy Hayward: CA 17 May 2000
Pumfrey J considered the test to be applied when a party applied for leave to commence proceedings for contempt of court against another party: ‘It seems to me, in the light of the judgment in Malgar v. Leach, that the discretion to permit applications of this nature to proceed must be exercised with very great … Continue reading Sony Computer Entertainment and Others v. Ball and Others: ChD 17 May 2004
The defendant had applied for an order limiting the number of witnesses sought to be called by the claimant (43). Held: The power to prohibit the calling of witnesses under CPR r 32.2(3) sat towards the more extreme end of the court’s powers and was a power to be considered after less intrusive measures had … Continue reading Maclennan v Morgan Sindall (Infrastructure) Plc: QBD 17 Dec 2013
When an appeal is lodged in a VAT dispute, the discretion as to whether to require the appellant to lodge security for costs in the appeal, was a decision exclusively to be decided by the tribunal itself. A decision as to such security could not be challenged within enforcement proceedings. Citations: Times 17-Aug-2000 Statutes: Finance … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Broomco (1984) Ltd (Formerly Anchor Foods Ltd): CA 17 Aug 2000
The rules on applications for appeals out of time have changed fundamentally. The court can no longer look at these by applying strict rules, but each case had to be looked at from the point of view of how justice could be achieved, allowing for the length of any delay, the merits of the appeal, … Continue reading Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Eastwood Care Homes: CA 17 Feb 2000
Especially given the new emphasis on proportionality, a party who brought contempt proceedings, in the case of an inadvertent breach of an injunction, with a view solely to creating costs for the other party, could expect to face those costs themselves. It was unwise to execute a complex search and seize order on a Saturday … Continue reading Adam Phones Ltd v Goldschmidt and Others: CA 17 Aug 1999
When making a summary assessment of costs, the court should look primarily to the facts of the particular case before it. It would be proper to bear in mind its own experience of comparable cases. Having made that assessment, it was also proper to look at the total claimed to judge whether it was reasonable … Continue reading 1-800 Flowers Inc v Phonenames Ltd: CA 17 May 2001
The court considered the principles of admitting new evidence on appeal after the introduction of the new rules. Moritt LJ: ‘In my view the principles reflecting in the rules in Ladd v Marshall [1954] 1 WLR 1489 remain relevant to any application for permission to rely on further evidence, not as rules, but as matters … Continue reading Banks and Another v Cox and Another: CA 17 Jul 2000
The applicant was a Part 20 defendant in a cross action brought between two other parties. It sought to have its own claim against the original claimant heard as a counterclaim. Held: Article 6 should not be construed so widely as to allow a cross claim by someone other than the original defendant to the … Continue reading Dollfus Mieg et Cie v CWD International Ltd; LBJ Regents Ltd and another v Dolifus Mieg et Cie: QBD 17 Mar 2003
Application by the claimant for an interim payment pursuant to Part 25 of the Civil Procedure Rules in respect of its claim for damages against the defendant. The defendant opposes the application on the ground that the court can’t be satisfied that if the matter went to trial, Triuva would obtain judgment for a substantial … Continue reading Triuva Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft v Galliford Try Construction Ltd: TCC 23 Feb 2017
A defendant made a payment into court in respect of some but not all of the issues in the case. The payment in was accepted, and the claimant continued to litigate the balance of his claim. He sought his costs in respect of the matters settled by the payment in. He was not entitled to … Continue reading Clark Goldring and Page Ltd v ANC Ltd: ChD 17 May 2001
Registered osteopath given conditional discharge for possession of offensive weapon in public place Judges: Lord Justice Underhill, (Vice-President of the Court of Appeal (Civil Division)), Lord Justice Stuart-Smith, And, Lord Justice Nugee Citations: [2021] EWCA Civ 1940, [2021] WLR(D) 636, [2022] 1 WLR 1626 Links: Bailii, WLRD, Judiciary Statutes: General Osteopathic Council (Professional Conduct Committee) … Continue reading Wray v General Osteopathic Council: CA 17 Dec 2021
The court considered the procedure on transfer of a matter to the High Court for enforcement of an order for possession of land. Citations: [2017] EWHC 2110 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 83.13 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Civil Procedure Rules, Land Updated: 05 April 2022; Ref: scu.592024
Appeal by two public authorities against a refusal to strike out the claimant’s claim as an abuse of process. The principal point of law which arises for decision is whether (following O’Reilly v Mackman [1983] 2 AC 237) the claimant was entitled to proceed under Part 7 of the Civil Procedure Rules rather than by … Continue reading Richards v Worcestershire County Council and Another: CA 12 Dec 2017
The claimant having received a better settlement of his claim than had been offered by the defendant, he now sought an order under CPR and as to the level of interest payable. Judges: Pepperall QC DHCJ Citations: [2017] EWHC 3051 (QB), [2017] WLR(D) 784 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 1998 36.17(4) Jurisdiction: England … Continue reading Mohammed v The Home Office: QBD 24 Nov 2017
This appeal concerns CPR 44.16, which deals (as its heading indicates) with ‘Exceptions to one-way costs shifting where permission required’ Judges: Lewison, Beatson, Newey LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 1696 Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 44.16(1) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Costs, Civil Procedure Rules Updated: 01 April 2022; Ref: scu.598464
Challenge to changes in costs rules affecting public law actions as to the environment. Judges: Dove J Citations: [2017] EWHC 2309 (Admin) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules Jurisdiction: England and Wales Costs, Environment Updated: 30 March 2022; Ref: scu.594660
The claimant appealed against the refusal of adjournment of the trial of his action on the basis of his medical ability to attend. Judges: Lloyd Jones, King, LJJ Citations: [2017] EWCA Civ 934 Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 39.3(3) Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice, Civil Procedure Rules Updated: 27 March 2022; Ref: scu.588990
The Court was asked whether a Limited Liability Partnership (‘LLP’) of solicitors, which is a party to litigation and acts as its own legal representative in the proceedings, is a litigant in person within CPR 46 and so can only recover the level of costs allowed to litigants in person under CPR 46.5(2) and PD46 … Continue reading Halborg v EMW Law Llp: CA 23 Jun 2017
The Court was asked whether an admission was to be treated as binding on a party Judges: Purle QC HHJ Citations: [2017] EWHC 1336 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 1998 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 27 March 2022; Ref: scu.588181
‘The issue in this appeal is whether a defendant joined to proceedings by way of amendment outside the limitation period, and sued in the alternative to the existing defendant, has been added to the claim as a new party or has been substituted for the existing defendant, for the purposes of the Civil Procedure Rules … Continue reading Godfrey Morgan Solicitors (A Firm) v Armes: CA 2 May 2017
Appeal raising a point of considerable importance arising out of the interplay between the costs budgeting regime under Part 3 of the Civil Procedure Rules and the detailed costs assessment regime under Part 47 of the CPR. The Costs Judge when granting permission said this: ‘The issue is the subject of significant debate in the … Continue reading Merrix v Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust: QBD 24 Feb 2017
The claimant sought disclosure of documents held by a third party, a solicitor who had the documents after acting in another matter. The documents related to the setlement terms of an action relating to a trust which also the current matter also concerned. Held: Disclosure was ordered subject to provisions for maintaining certain elements of … Continue reading Twin Benefits Ltd v Barker and Another: ChD 13 Feb 2017
The claimant anti-asbestos campaigners complained that the defendant investigators had infringed their various rights of privacy. They now sought discovery to support the claim. Held: the contents of the witness statements do show that it is more than speculative that these Claimants could, if their recollection was prompted by seeing documents, formulate a claim with … Continue reading Bains and Others v Moore and Others: QBD 15 Feb 2017
The parties disputed the uplift applicable where a road traffic personal injury claim was settled on the day before the full trial, and whether ‘ the learned Recorder erred in holding that the claim concluded at trial because the Claimant’s claim because settlement of the claim was reached on the day fixed for the trial. … Continue reading Amin and Another v Mullings and Another: QBD 17 Feb 2011
The parties were competing companies. The claimant sought to usePre-action disclosure procedures after proceedings had already been issued. Held: ‘the Claimants have made out a clear and strong case for the exercise of the Court’s discretion to order pre-action disclosure in their favour, and I so order.’ Moloney QC HHJ [2016] EWHC 297 (QB) Bailii … Continue reading Anglia Research Services Ltd and Another v Finders Genealogists Ltd and Another: QBD 17 Feb 2016
Short issue as to the requirements for valid ‘service’ of a completion notice so as to bring a newly completed building within liability for non-domestic rates. The notice had been served by email where no statutory authority existed for this. Held: The LA’s appeal succeeded. ‘Against the background of the detailed scheme established by or … Continue reading UKI (Kingsway) Ltd v Westminster City Council: SC 17 Dec 2018
The union appellant challenged the validity of the imposition of fees on those seeking to lay complaints in the Employment Tribunal system. Held: The appeal succeeded. The fees were discriminatory and restricted access to justice. The consequence of the order had been very substantially to reduce the number of cases coming before the tribunal, and: … Continue reading Unison, Regina (on The Application of) v Lord Chancellor: SC 26 Jul 2017
The authority requested a liability order for rates arrears over several years. On appeal, it was held that there was nothing in the regulations to a liability order to be restricted to one year. That a demand had to be served for each year did not require separate proceedings. Convenience and the minimising of costs … Continue reading London Borough of Tower Hamlets v Merrick and Thames Magistrates’ Court: Admn 17 Oct 2001
The court asked whether it should make an order that the claimant be identified by letters of the alphabet, and that there be other derogations from open justice (an anonymity order), in a claim for personal injuries by a child or protected party which comes before the court for the approval of a settlement pursuant … Continue reading JXMX (A Child) v Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust: QBD 17 Dec 2013
Unreasonable Behaviour must reach criteria W appealed against the judge’s refusal to grant a decree of divorce. He found that the marriage had broken down irretrievably, but did not find that H had behaved iin such a way that she could not reasonably be expected to live with H. Held: W’s appeal failed. ‘What the … Continue reading Owens v Owens: CA 24 Mar 2017
Investigation of claimant was properly disclosed The claimant requested the removal of material naming him from the defendant’s website. Criminal investigations into a company with which he was associated were begun, but then concluded. In the interim, the article was published. The hearing had been in private and the claimant anonymised. Held: The weight to … Continue reading ZXC v Bloomberg Lp: QBD 23 Feb 2017
kier_cityTCC2008 The claimant sought to make final an interim third party debt order. The defendants sought a stay of the enforcement. Coulson J [2008] EWHC 2454 (TCC) Bailii Civil Procedure Rules 72 Citing: Cited – Roberts Petroleum Ltd v Bernard Kenny Ltd HL 2-Jan-1983 The plaintiff supplied petrol to the defendant but had not been … Continue reading Kier Regional Ltd (T/A Wallis) v City and General (Holborn) Ltd and others: TCC 17 Oct 2008
The claimants, airline pilots, and the company disputed the application of the 1998 Regulations to their employment. They sought pay for their annual leave made up of three elements: a proportionate part of the fixed annual sum paid for their services, a supplementary payment which varied according to the time spent flying, and thirdly an … Continue reading British Airways Plc v Williams and Others: SC 17 Oct 2012
The applicants had been made subject of anti-social behaviour orders. They challenged the basis upon which the orders had been made. Held: The orders had no identifiable consequences which would make the process a criminal one. Civil standards of evidence therefore applied, and hearsay evidence was admissible. Nevertheless, the test as to whether it was … Continue reading Clingham (formerly C (a minor)) v Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; Regina v Crown Court at Manchester Ex parte McCann and Others: HL 17 Oct 2002
The company borrowed money from a bank, who instructed the defendants to act in the loan. On recovering the loan, the borrowers challenged the amounts charged by the solicitors. The court was asked what were the powers for a third party paying a solicitor’s bill to challenge the amount, and how any reduction might be … Continue reading Tim Martin Interiors Ltd v Akin Gump Llp: ChD 17 Nov 2010
There are no degrees of nullity The plaintiffs had owned mining property in Egypt. Their interests were damaged and or sequestrated and they sought compensation from the Respondent Commission. The plaintiffs brought an action for the declaration rejecting their claims was a nullity. The Commission replied that the courts were precluded from considering the question … Continue reading Anisminic Ltd v Foreign Compensation Commission: HL 17 Dec 1968
raggett_lewisEAT2012 EAT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – CostsIn determining the amount of costs to be awarded having decided that the bringing of an unfair dismissal claim was misconceived and that a costs order should be made against the Claimant paying party, applying Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council v Yerrakalva [2012] IRLR 78 to the exercise of their … Continue reading Raggett v John Lewis Plc: EAT 17 Aug 2012
Adverse Comments by Judge Need not be Show of Bias In five cases, leave to appeal was sought on the basis that a party had been refused disqualification of judges on grounds of bias. The court considered the circumstances under which a fear of bias in a court may prove to be well founded: ‘The … Continue reading Locabail (UK) Ltd, Regina v Bayfield Properties Ltd: CA 17 Nov 1999
EC has sole jurisdiction over old cartels Several claimants alleged that the defendant airway had been part of a cartel which had overcharged for freight services. The court now heard arguments about whether it had jurisdition to deal with claims which preceded the measures which had brought into force the EU competition rules. The cartel … Continue reading Emerald Supplies Ltd and Others v British Airways Plc: ChD 4 Oct 2017
The court set out the legal principles applying when making a Periodical Payments Order in an award of damages for serious personal injury. The periodical payments payable to the claimant in respect of his care costs should be calculated by . .
The claimant was the subject of confidential reports prepared by the defendants which were leaked to newspapers causing him damage. He sought leave to amend his claim to add claims for breach of the Data Protection Act and for public misfeasance. Under the Civil Procedure Rules a new claim should be allowed if it is … Continue reading Lord Ashcroft v Attorney General and Department for International Development: QBD 31 May 2002
‘can a defendant plead a comprehensive defence to allegations of breach (which relies on matters not expressly addressed by the particulars of claim), and raise a separate case on causation (which it says would defeat the claimant’s claim in any event), and then seek to rely upon CPR 17.4(2) to deny the claimant the opportunity … Continue reading Mulalley and Co Ltd v Martlet Homes Ltd: CA 24 Jan 2022
The patent application had been presented to the European Patent Office and granted only after 13 years. The claimant now appealed refusal to allow amendment of its claim to allow a claim in its sole name. The defendant argued that it was out of time. Held: The appeal succeeded: ‘ the long-standing rule of practice … Continue reading Rhone-Poulenc Rorer International Holdings Inc and Another v Yeda Research and Development Co Ltd: ChD 16 Feb 2006
The claimants sought to amend their particulars of claim to add a request for declarations with regard to a bill of lading and contract for carriage. Held: The application to amend was made more than six years after the cause of action accrued. It was in its nature a new claim. The additional possibility that … Continue reading P and O Nedloyd BV v Arab Metals Co and Others (‘The UB Tiger’): QBD 22 Jun 2005
The claimant had been made bankrupt, and when she sued the defendant, was challenged as to her standing. She obtained an assignment of the right of action from her trustee in bankruptcy. She then sought to amend her pleadings under the rule. It was held that ‘capacity’ in this context required some alteration from one … Continue reading Haq v Singh and Another: CA 25 May 2001
‘issues as to the application of CPR 17.4 and CPR 19.5 concerned, respectively, with amendments and the substitution of parties following the possible expiry of a relevant limitation period. The first part of the appeal concerns the approach which the court should take in circumstances where a claimant contends that the constraints to its pleaded … Continue reading Cameron Taylor Consulting Ltd and Another v Bdw Trading Ltd: CA 19 Jan 2022
applications for permission to amend Peter Macdonald Eggers QC, (Sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court) [2021] EWHC 2330 (Comm) Bailii Civil Procedure Rules 17.1(2)(b) England and Wales Litigation Practice Updated: 21 December 2021; Ref: scu.667433
When asking whether the time for appeal against an arbitrator’s award should be extended, the court should look at several circumstances, including the length of the delay; whether the party was acting reasonably in all the circumstances in delaying; whether the other party had contributed to the delay; whether other party would suffer irremediable prejudice … Continue reading Aoot Kalmneft v Glencore International Ag and Another: ComC 27 Jul 2001
The claimant had been convicted in 2005 of an offence under the 1984 Act. It later became clear that the Act failed properly to implement a European Directive and was unenforceable. The company now sought leave to appeal out of time. The case was heard along with the case of Budimir. Citations: [2010] EWHC 1604 … Continue reading Interfact Ltd v Liverpool City Council: Admn 29 Jun 2010
The solicitors appealed against the assessment of their costs. The judge had found that they had estimated their costs and applied a 15% margin of error. Held: the judge should have given reasons for his judgment to allow the parties to assess the prospects of an appeal. There had been unusual developments, but the estimates … Continue reading Reynolds v Stone Rowe Brewer (A Firm): QBD 18 Mar 2008
Application by Defendants to set aside a default judgment entered against them pursuant to CPR Part 12.10, by reason of the Defendant’s failure to acknowledge service within time. Judges: The Hon Mr Justice Morison Citations: [2001] EWHC 531 (Comm) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 12.10 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Civil Procedure Rules Updated: 04 … Continue reading Smit International (Deutschland) Gmbh v Josef Mobius Baugesellschaft Gmbh and Co: ComC 7 Jun 2001
Important point as to the strength of the case on the merits to be established in order to obtain leave to serve out of the jurisdiction and its relationship to the strength of the claim to be established to avoid being struck out under CPR 3.4 or 24.2. Judges: Mr Justice Colman Citations: [2001] EWHC … Continue reading De Molestina and Others v Ponton and Others: ComC 16 May 2001
Two barristers had been struck off for disciplinary offences. Their appeals were heard by three High Court judges sitting as Visitors, who dismissed the appeals. The barristers now sought judicial review of that decision. Held: Justices sitting as visitors were not sitting as judges as such, but in a domestic forum, and their decisions were … Continue reading Regina v Visitors to the Inns of Court ex parte Calder: CA 1993
No Judicial Review of Decisions of Private Body Despite the wide range of its powers, the disciplinary committee of the Jockey Club remains a domestic tribunal. Judicial review is not available to a member. The relationship is in contract between the club and its member. Sir Thomas Bingham MR said: ‘No serious racecourse management, owner, … Continue reading Regina v Disciplinary Committee of the Jockey Club, ex parte Aga Khan: CA 4 Dec 1992
The defendant appealed against interim costs orders made in the claim against it for defamation. Held: The general power of cost capping measures available to courts were available also in defamation proceedings. The claimant was being represented under a conditional fee agreement. The court considered that the amount of costs being incurred served to act … Continue reading King v Telegraph Group Ltd: CA 18 May 2004
The claimant had rejected satellite antennae it had bought from the defendants, and sought damages. The defendant said the English court did not have jurisdiction, since the order terms contained an exclusive jurisdiction clause. The claimant sought to appeal the oder refusing jurisdiction. The county court judge had refused permission to appeal to the High … Continue reading 7E Communications Ltd v Vertex Antennentechnik Gmbh: CA 25 Feb 2007
The local authority landlord commenced proceedings for possession, but then transferred the properties to a registered social landlord. The tenants objected that the new landlords could not continue the proceedings. Held: The transfer moved tenants from the secure tenancy regime to the assured tenancy regime, with different notices and procedures. The notices were not significantly … Continue reading Knowsley Housing Trust v Revell; Helena Housing Ltd v Curtis: CA 9 Apr 2003
The claimant had delivered his claim form to the court, but it was not processed until after the limitation period had expired. The defendant appealed a finding that the claimant had brought the cliam within the necessary time. Held: The claim was brought within the necessary time limit. ‘the courts have given claimants the full … Continue reading St. Helens Metropolitan Borough Council v Barnes: CA 25 Oct 2006
The court dismissed the claimants appeal, but discussed the need now for the parties to file core bundles at least one week before the hearing. Additional agreed bundles of authorities should have the appropriate passages clearly marked and filed within the same time scale. Failures to abide by these requirements will be dealt great disfavour. … Continue reading Harvey Shopfitters Ltd v ADI Ltd: CA 13 Nov 2003
The claimant appealed a decision to admit in evidence a tape recording, taken by an enquiry agent of the defendant who had entered her house unlawfully. Held: The situation asked judges to reconcile the irreconcilable. Courts should be reluctant to create rules which would deny the admission of genuine evidence. Where a party behaved in … Continue reading Jones v University of Warwick: CA 4 Feb 2003
The claim had been settled before action, and costs only proceedings had been instigated. He appealed a decision as to the award of costs in that case. The question was whether the phrase ‘the proceedings which gave rise to the assessment proceedings’ referred to the only actual proceedings, the costs claim, or to the settled … Continue reading Crosbie v Munroe, Motor Insurer’s Bureau: CA 14 Mar 2003
The applicant had been granted leave to present a petition for judicial review, but on certain grounds only. On the hearing, he sought again to present the case including the grounds upon which permission had not been granted. Held: The judge who heard the substantive application could hear an application based additionally upon grounds rejecetd … Continue reading Regina (Smith, Trevor) v Parole Board: CA 30 Jun 2003
The claimants had made a Part 36 offer at first instance, but the matter was appealed. Having won at appeal they sought their costs on an indemnity basis of the appeal also. Held: If a party wished to protect itself by a Part 36 offer, it must be made both at first instance, and again … Continue reading P and O Nedlloyd BV Aktieselskabet Dampskibsselskabet Svendborg v Utaniko Limited/East West Corporation (No 2): CA 19 Feb 2003
Judgment on the Defendant’s Application for a ruling by way of CPR 24.2 that the Claimant had, in fact, instructed a firm of solicitors in respect of a proposed property transaction before his accident in 2015. Judges: Master Thornett Citations: [2022] EWHC 2850 (KB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 24.2 Jurisdiction: England and Wales … Continue reading Holdgate v Bishop: KBD 11 Nov 2022
ECHR Article 6Civil proceedingsArticle 6-1Impartial tribunalIndependent tribunalStructural defects of the system of judicial discipline: violationFair hearingAbsence of limitation period for imposing disciplinary penalty on judges and abuse of electronic vote system in Parliament when adopting decision on judge’s dismissal: violationsTribunal established by lawComposition of chamber examining applicant’s case defined by a judge whose term of … Continue reading Oleksandr Volkov v Ukraine: ECHR 9 Jan 2013
The parties had submitted costs estimates which proved later to be quite inadequate. Held: It was a central principle of the Civil Procedure Rules that costs should be controlled. Solicitors should file costs estimates not only at the allocation questionnaire stage but also at the listing questionnaire. The practice direction was framed in mandatory terms. … Continue reading Leigh v Michelin Tyre Plc: CA 8 Dec 2003
The claimant sought to enforce a judgment debt against a foreign resident company, and for this purpose to examine or have examined a director who lived abroad. The defendant said that the rules gave no such power and they did, the power was outside the rule-maker’s power. Held: Even though the rule-making power is wide … Continue reading Masri v Consolidated Contractors International Co Sal and Others: HL 30 Jul 2009
The defendant appealed against an anti-social behaviour order. He had been a journalist, and began a private newsletter and campaign alleging amongst other things corruption in the police. He complained that his article 10 rights had been infringed. Held: The order was quashed. Pitchford LJ said: ‘that separate issues arise out of these blogs. In … Continue reading Perry v Chief Constable of Humberside Police: Admn 18 Oct 2012
Appeal against refusal of order for pre-action disclosure. Judges: Eady J Citations: [2012] EWHC 2753 (QB) Links: Bailii Statutes: Civil Procedure Rules 31.16 Citing: Cited – In re Guardian News and Media Ltd and Others; HM Treasury v Ahmed and Others SC 27-Jan-2010 Proceedings had been brought to challenge the validity of Orders in Council … Continue reading A and Another v Somerset County Council: QBD 11 Oct 2012
A party had been ordered to pay into court as a condition of an application to set aside a judgment, a substantial sum in respect of past costs, and also as security for costs to be incurred. The defendant appealed. Held: The judge had not differentiated between the two. On an application for security for … Continue reading CIBC Mellon Trust Company and others v Mora Hotel Corp Nv and Another: CA 19 Nov 2002
