Trial / Enforcement / Appeals Flashcards

Question

If case is settled along the way..

Answer 1

A consent order is required, which will also be approved by court, as court will need to be notified of any settlement and that claim has ended

Answer 2

Either immediately following trial, or it will be reserved so given on a later date. In the latter case, the judge can invite the parties’ legal representatives to give their views on how the judgment should be handed down. They will circulate judgment in draft in advance of forally handing it down (before 4pm on second working day before) so parties can prepare costs submissions and provide the judge with details of obvious errors It is not a public document at this stage

Answer 3

They should be very good. Unusual for transcripts ot be made of witness evidence and legal argument

Answer 4

Some cases may be held by split trial. This means that hte court decides to firstly hold a trial to decide who is to blame and then at some time later assess level of damages. Latter hearing is called a disposal hearing. The court will usually allow a split trial in cases where the evidence on liability is different to the evidence on quantum

Answer 5

Setting the order out in the formal document ot be sealed by the court

Answer 6

Court, unless party is ordered to draw it up or they agree to draw it u[, or it is a consent order. Party drawing it up should file it no later than 7 days after becoming responsible for doing so. File copies ofr service for themselves and other parties If they fail to do so within 7 days, then other party made draw it up instead

Answer 7

Court will check and agree contents where appropriate

Answer 8

The date it is given or made.

Answer 9

Interests run from date on which judgement is given The rate of interest is set at 8% per annum.

Answer 10

14 days from date of order, plus interest running in that time post judgment. Court has discretion to allow a stay of execution of judgment or order on grounds of matters which have occurred since date of judgment or order on application by party against whom order was made.

Answer 11

Provide temporary protection from judgment. Allows individual debtor to approach a debt advice provider to ask for 60 days of breathing space on the basis that they are unlikely to be able to repay their debts. During this period, the judgment creditor must stop all enforcement action to recover the step - interest, fees, penalties, chagrers The court must stop any action to eforce it stops too

Answer 12

Judgment for damages for death or PI

Answer 13

A breathing space of potentially longer duration, and governed by slightly different rules, may be available

Answer 14

- Before, as it progresses, adn post judgment - Post judgement - Judgment creditor can apply ot court for order to obtain information

Answer 15

Requiring them to attend court to provide info about their means or any matter which is needed to enforce a judgment or order The application may be made without notice to the judgement debtor. It must contain a penal notice, stating that if they do not comply their assets may be seized. Order to attend court must be served not less than 14 days before the hearing.

Answer 16

• Writs / warrants of control (see Taking Control of Goods below); • Third party debt orders; • Charging orders; and • Attachment of earnings orders You may have to transfer court oto get enforcement order necessary e.g. transferring from the County Court to the High Court for enforcement is to use a High Court Enforcement Officer to enforce the judgment by taking control of and eg selling the debtor’s goods.

Answer 17

- Company search - Official copies - Relevant registers (land charges, individual insolvency, attachment of earnings order, register of judgements, orders, and fines) - Enquiry agent: private investigators

Answer 18

Land Charges Registry - to work out equity in a property Individual Insolvency Register - list of people who have been made bankrupt or who have Debt Relief Orders or IVAs in place Attachment of EArnings orders - people who have these against them Register of Judgments, Orders, and Fines - all County and High Court judgements recorded. They have the judgments and outstanding debts...

Answer 19

Legally aided opponent - will not recover costs and may not recover damages Dissipation of assets - may need freezing injunction Insured?

Answer 20

- Check if there is a regime the UK is signatory to which allows enforcement of judgment abroad - If not, governed by common law of country - seek advice of foreign lawyer - If enforcing foreign judgment in England, need to obtain judgment from English or Welsh court, generally by treating judgment as a debt and issuing proceedings for non-payment of that debt and then applying for summary judgment. This can only be done if there is no appeal in foreign court.

Answer 21

- Identify which jurisdiction you are dealing with - Judgment creditor must apply for certified copy of the judgement: Application may be made without notice, supported by evidence, claim form, statements of case, and evidence served on defendant. The evidence must: • Identify the grounds on which the judgment was obtained • State whether the defendant objected to the jurisdiction • Show that the judgment has been served • State appeal details eg the date on which the time for appealing expired • State whether interest is recoverable on the judgment.

Answer 22

Taking control of goods An enforcement officer can seize a judgment debtor's goods and sell them The goods must be owned by judgment debtor with no third party claims

Answer 23

The most important exemptions are: • tools of the judgment debtor’s trade which are exempt, but only to an aggregate value of £1,350; and • basic domestic items, such as clothing, bedding, furniture and essential household items.

Answer 24

As soon as judgment has been obtained and judgment debtor has failed to pay

Answer 25

High Court - writ of control County Court - warrant of control It is addressed to the EO and entitles them to seize and sell. It includes: - necessary details and amount of debt to be recovered - fixed amount for costs of TCG including costs fee EO can take thier own charges out of proceeds.

Answer 26

1. Giving notice to the judgment debtor of enforcement 2. Entering premises and securing the goods 3. Sale of the goods

Answer 27

EO will write to judgment debtor at least 7 clear days before taking control of any goods EO has 12 months from notice to take control of goods

Answer 28

May use reasonable force if necessary but not force against persons - Cannot do before 6am or after 9pm - Cannot in any premise where a vulnerable person or child is only person present - After entry, EO must provide notice for judgement debtor giving details of what is happening

Answer 29

The EO to enter into a controlled goods agreement with the judgment debtor. Agreement whereby the judgment debtor is permitted to retain custody (and use) of the goods, despite the EO taking control of them, pending payment of the debt. It is last chance situation.

Answer 30

Unless judgement debtor now makes up debt, the EO can sell the goods. The EO must sell the goods for the best price that can be reasonably obtained, and the sale will usually take place by way of public auction Any surplus funds are paid back to judgement debtor

Answer 31

When a third party owes a debt to a judgment debtor. The court may make an order requiring a third party to pay a judgment creditor some or all of the debt owning.

Answer 32

The procedure requires the third party to search for and disclose information to the court and judgment creditor Interim order made without notice to judgment debtor. This will be served on third party first and prevents third party from making any payment until further order. Then served on judgment debtor and folloe dby notice hearing where judgement debtor will beheard. Court will decide whether to make a final order requiring the third party to pay the debt to the judgment creditor directly or to discharge the interim order

Answer 33

Charging order = form of charge taken over land which secures a judgment debt It will remain in place until property is sold and so debt will be paid using proceeds. Subject to any prior mortgages... Two-stage procedure with interim order and final order Would need subsequent application to order sale after final order if want sale immediately

Answer 34

Only available in the County Court. When judgement debt or amount outstanding is more than £50, then salary will have deductions which are paid into court for payment to judgement creditor.

Answer 35

• The judgment creditor applies by filing an application in a standard form, certifying the amount of the judgment that is outstanding and paying a fee. • The application and a reply form is served on the debtor who should complete and return the reply form to the court. • The court may then make an order (without the attendance of either party) attaching a proportion of the judgment debtor’s earnings. • That order is served on the debtor and the judgment debtor’s employer who is required to make the appropriate deduction from the debtor’s earnings and pay it to court for onward transmission to the judgment creditor.

Answer 36

Could change jobs! If so, court may discharge order and judgment creditor will need to start again to enforce. There may be delay if debtor chooses not to return the reply form. The court staff will then issue an order served personally on the judgment debtor compelling the judgment debtor to respond.

Answer 37

Bankruptcy - individuals if debt is >£5000 Winding up - companies if debt is >£750

Answer 38

The petition is issued and presented to the judgment debtor’s local court, and then served on judgment debtor. COurt fixes tie for hearing. If they do not attend, it will likely be made.

Answer 39

May be served prior to petition being signed. If debt remains unpaid for 21 days after service of the demand, the debtor is at risk of the court presuming that he is unable to pay and is therefore insolvent. It is a simple and low cost step. and can be very effective.

Answer 40

The appeal court will allow an appeal where the decision of the lower court was either: • Wrong • Unjust because of a serious procedural or other irregularity in the proceedings in the lower court The appellant needs to satisfy the appeal court that one of these grounds is met in order for the appeal to be successful

Answer 41

Normally the appeal court will not have access to any new evidence and will not be able to hear and examine the evidence live

Answer 42

The appeal system involves a ‘permission’ stage. There are two options: 1. Apply for permission from lower court when decision was made: - Orally - Saves time and costs - Does not prevent, even if unsuccessful, ... 2. Make application to appeal court later - Done in writing usually with no hearing - More time to prepare

Answer 43

Default is for applications to be considered on the papers alone, unless the judge considers that the matter should be dealt with orally Judges have a duty to direct that a hearing takes place if they are of the opinion that they cannot ‘fairly determine’ the application on the papers. Any oral hearing will be listed within 14 days, unless circumstances are exceptional

Answer 44

If that appeal court refuses the paper application, the appellant may normally request within 7 days that the decision be reconsidered at an oral hearing If refused, then no appeal i possible

Answer 45

General rule - appeal must be made within 21 days of the date of the lower court's decision If a party has a good reason for a longer period, it can apply for an extension of time Judgments and orders take effect from the date they are given or made or such later date as the court may specify

Answer 46

Permission will only be granted where the court considers: • that the appeal would have a real prospect of success (note the similarity to the test for summary judgment); or • that there is some other compelling reason why the appeal should be heard.

Answer 47

Second appeals are, as the name suggests, appeals of the decision made on the first appeal of a lower court’s decision. Court of Appeal will not give permission unless it considers: - appeal would have real prospect of success and raise an important point of principle or practice - some other compelling reason

Answer 48

Appeal can proceed. Appellant's notice doubles as document which initiates the appeal itself. But it does not stay the order of the lower court, and so the offending judgment is still effective. This can lead to unfairness e.g. disproportionate outcome if order is enforced and then reversed. The High Court and Court of Appeal therefore can order a stay when justified, if applied for.

Answer 49

They have all the powers of the lower court. The appeal court has power to: (a) affirm, set aside or vary any order or judgment made or given by the lower court; (b) refer any claim or issue for determination by the lower court; (c) order a new trial or hearing; (d) make orders for the payment of interest; (e) make a costs order. The appeal court may instead, of course, dismiss the appeal.

Trial / Enforcement / Appeals Flashcards

(75 cards)