BVC Civil Procedure

Initiating a Civil Claim Part 2

Pre-Action Protocols

• Protocols introduced by the CPR• Main ones are PI and Professional

Negligence• The “spirit” applies to all cases• Designed to ensure that proper

investigations are carried out and settlement options are explored

• Sanctions for non-compliance

Issuing the Claim

• Part 7 (also Parts 8 and 49)

• Claim Form - contains claim number/issue date/statement of value

• Can issue in High Court or County Court

• £15,000/£50,000 limits

• PD7.2.4 - financial value, complexity, importance

• Can be transferred - 30.3

What to serve

• Claim form and information pack

• Particulars of claim (if not with the claim form, within 14 days after) CPR 7.4(1)

• Statements of case (defence, counterclaim, reply, Part 20 claim

• Statement of truth

When to serve

• 4 calendar months from issue (Particulars must be served within this time as well-CPR7.4(2)

• (Walkley v Precision Forgings [1979] 1 WLR 606)

• www.moneyclaim.gov.uk (PD 7E.4)

• Can apply for an extension

Methods of service(CPR 6.2)

• First class post (2nd day after posting)

• Personal (immediately)

• leaving at address (day after left)

• DX (2nd day after depositing)

• Fax(same day unless after 4pm=next business day)

• Other electronic means (2nd day after sent)

• Nottingham Building Society v Peter Bennett and Co. [1997] The Times 26th February 1997)

• Anderton v Clwyd CC [2002] EWCA Civ 933

• “an alternative method” (CPR 6.8)

Service (cont)• Address for service=residence or place of business

(see table in CPR 6.5) - if acting by a solicitor can’t use personal service. Nangelan v Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust [2002] 1 WLR 1043).

• Must agree service by fax or email (6PD3) - if fax number is on solicitor’s letterhead it connotes acceptance

• Special rules re. service outside of jurisdiction (see CPR 6.17-6.31)

• Cranfield v Bridgegrove Ltd [2003] EWCA Civ 656 • Mersey Docks Property Holdings v Kilgour[2004]

EWHC 1638.

Court’s power to dispense with service

• CPR 6.9 • Godwin v Swindon BC [2002] 1 WLR 997• can be applied for where a party has

miscalculated (Anderton• exceptional cases only after 3/7/02 - Wilkey

& DAS Systems Ltd v BBC & Moyles [2003] 1 WLR 1

• minor errors also:Cranfield v Bridgegrove Ltd [2003] 1 WLR 2441, Home Office v Dorgan [2002] 1 WLR 3174

Filing

• CPR 2.3 (1)

• Van Aken v Camden LBC [2003] 1 WLR 684

• PD 5B.

• www.courtservice.gov.uk for courts’ emails.