online disputes

Question 1

describe online dispiutes

Answer 1

• money claimm online set up 2002
• debt recovery up to £100,000 - rent arrears, unpaid goods etc
• most cases undefended and claimants apply for online judgement
• defence can use online service to acknowledge service and lodge defence
• most cases is undefended and claimants apply for online judgement
• defence can use the online service to acknowledge service and lodge a defence
• if case undefended - reverts to normal old fashioned paper litigation
• service available 7 days a week, 24hrs a day - popular with creditors

Question 2

three stages of online disputes

Answer 2

1. automated interactive process to identify issues and provide documentary evidence
2. conciliation and case management by case officers
3. judge resolution on screen

Question 3

problems with judge resolution on screen

Answer 3

• these are civil servants not judges making decisions
• phone and face to face meetings,
• case officers taking over a judge role,
• not part of independent judiciary,
• not all people have access to the technology
  solve access to justice issues or create more of a barrier?