| L | Multi-party Disputes |
| L1 |
Early consideration |
| L1.1 |
Cases which involve, or are expected to involve, a large number of
claimants or defendants require close case management from the earliest
point. The same is true where there are, or are likely to be, a large
number of separate cases involving the same or similar issues. Both
classes of case are referred to as "multi-party" disputes.
|
| L1.2 |
| (a) |
The Judge in Charge of the List should be informed as soon as it
becomes apparent that a multi-party dispute exists or is likely to
exist and an early application for directions should be made.
|
| (b) |
In an appropriate case an application for directions may be made
before issue of a claim form. In some cases it may be appropriate
for an application to be made without notice in the first instance.
|
|
| L2 |
Available procedures |
| L2.1 |
In some cases it may be appropriate for the court to make a Group
Litigation Order under Part 19 of the Rules. In other cases it may be
more convenient for the court to exercise its general powers of
management. These include powers
|
| |
| (i) |
to dispense with statements of case;
|
|
| |
| (ii) |
to direct parties to serve outline statements of case;
|
|
| |
| (iii) |
to direct that cases be consolidated or managed and tried together;
|
|
| |
| (iv) |
to direct that certain cases or issues be determined before others
and to stay other proceedings in the meantime;
|
| |
| (v) |
to advance or put back the usual time for pre-trial steps to be taken
(for example the disclosure of documents by one or more parties
or a payment into court).
|
| |