Procedure
Company must disclose documents held by subsidiaries
A company must disclose documents held by its subsidiaries and which it controls, the High Court has ruled, in a case handled under the disclosure pilot.
Leading set launches remote costs ADR service
Leading costs set 4 New Square has launched a virtual costs ADR service, providing neutral evaluations, binding expert determinations and/or assessments on a fixed-fee basis.
New PD allows parties to agree longer extension of time
The Civil Procedure Rule Committee has issued a practice direction allowing parties to agree longer extensions of time to comply with procedural time limits due to the coronavirus.
APIL and FOIL issue guidance on Covid-19 co-operation
Personal injury firms should temporarily agree to accept service by email and freeze limitation periods, according to Covid-19 guidance issued to claimant and defendant lawyers today.
Majority of courts to close from Monday
Fewer than half of courts and tribunals will remain open for face-to-face hearings as part of efforts to maintain a “core justice system focused on the most essential cases”.
Virtual case begins as court rejects trial on papers
The High Court has adjourned an upcoming trial, saying that the coronavirus guidance did not allow it to take place on the papers, but a $500m Commercial Court trial begins this morning via Zoom.
Open justice direction published for remote hearings
A new practice direction clarifying when civil courts may derogate from the principle of open justice to conduct hearings remotely in private has been published today.
PI industry protocol aims to prevent Covid-19 game-playing
A protocol aimed at cutting out opportunistic tactics by either claimants or defendants in PI cases during the Covid-19 pandemic has been unveiled by leading claimant firm Thompsons and the ABI.
Parties told to cut unnecessary content from witness statements
A High Court judge who sat on the witness evidence working group has ordered witness statements in a case before him to be revised to remove inappropriate content.
Self-isolating litigant in person appears via barrister’s mobile
A barrister has spoken of how a self-isolating defendant in a fast-track personal injury claim appeared before the court via WhatsApp video.
Blog
Top tips for remote meetings and hearings
These are challenging but interesting times. We wanted to share a little of what we have learned in terms of how to get the most from remote meetings and hearings.
