This Practice Direction applies to claims for compensation for mesothelioma.

In this Practice Direction –

‘show cause procedure’ means (without prejudice to the court’s general case management powers in Part 3 of the CPR) the procedure set out in paragraph 6;

‘outline submissions showing cause’ means an outline or skeleton argument of the defendant's case within the show cause procedure; and

‘standard interim payment’ means the standard payment in respect of interim damages, and (if appropriate) interim costs and disbursements as determined from time to time by the Head of Civil Justice. The amount of this payment is currently £50,000.

The claim form and every statement of case must be marked with the title ‘Living Mesothelioma Claim’ or ‘Fatal Mesothelioma Claim’ as appropriate.

In order for the court to adopt the show cause procedure in the first case management conference, the claimant must file and serve any witness statements about liability (as are available) –

(1)	either – (a)   at the same time as filing and serving the claim form and (where appropriate) the particulars of claim; or (b)   as soon as possible after filing and serving the claim form and (where appropriate) the particulars of claim; and

(2)	in any event not less than 7 days before the case management conference.

Any witness statement about liability must identify as far as is possible –

(1)	the alleged victim's employment history and history of exposure to asbestos;

(2)	the identity of any employer where exposure to asbestos of the alleged victim is alleged;

(3)	details of any self employment in which the alleged victim may have been exposed; and

(4)	details of all claims made and payments received under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers' Compensation) Act 1979.

The claimant must also attach to the claim form –

(1)	a work history from H M Revenue and Customs (where available); and

(2)	any pre-action letter of claim.

Where the claimant believes that the claim is particularly urgent then on issue of the claim form, the claimant –

(1)	may request in writing that the court file is placed immediately before a judge nominated to manage such cases in order to fix a case management conference; and

(2)	must explain in writing to the court why the claim is urgent.

Where the court decides that the claim is urgent (and notwithstanding that a claim has not yet been served or a defence has not yet been filed) it will –

(1)	fix the date for the case management conference to take place within a short period of time; and

(2)	give directions as to the date by which the claimant must serve the claim form if it has not been served already.

Where paragraph 4 does not apply and –

(1)	a defence is filed by the defendant or one of the defendants (where there is more than one); or

(2)	the claimant has obtained a default judgment,

the court file will be referred to a judge nominated to manage such cases and the judge will give directions for the date of the case management conference.

Claims marked ‘Living Mesothelioma Claim’ will be given priority when fixing a case management conference.

The show cause procedure is a requirement by the court, of its own initiative and usually on a ‘costs in the case’ basis, for the defendant to identify the evidence and legal arguments that give the defendant a real prospect of success on any or all issues of liability. The court will use this procedure for the resolution of mesothelioma claims.

At the first case management conference, unless there is good reason not to do so, the defendant should be prepared to show cause why –

(1)	a judgment on liability should not be entered against the defendant; and

(2)	a standard interim payment on account of damages and (if appropriate) costs and disbursements should not be made by the defendant by a specified date.

At the first case management conference if liability remains in issue the court will normally order that the defendant show cause within a further given period.

The order requiring the defendant to show cause within a further given period will direct –

(1)

that the defendant file and serve on the claimant by a specified date outline submissions showing cause and – (a)   if the outline submissions are not filed and served by a specified date, judgment, for a sum to be determined by the court, will be entered against the defendant without the need for any further order and the defendant will be ordered to make a standard interim payment by a specified date; or (b)   if the outline submissions are filed and served by the specified date, the claim will be listed for a show cause hearing; or

(2)	that the defendant show cause at a hearing on a date fixed by the court.

At the first case management conference the court will –

(1)	fix the date or trial window for the determination of damages and give any other case management directions as appropriate where the defendant admits liability or judgment is entered;

(2)	fix the date or trial window for the determination of damages and give any other case management directions as appropriate where an order to show cause under paragraph 6.3 has been made (if the defendant subsequently shows cause then the determination date or trial window may be utilised for the trial of any issue); or

(3)	in cases in which there is to be a trial on liability, give directions including the date or window for the trial.

Where the defendant fails to show cause on some issues, the court will normally enter judgment on those issues.

Where the defendant fails to show cause on all issues, the court will enter judgment for a sum to be determined and will normally order that a standard interim payment be made.

In Living Mesothelioma Claims the date of the determination of damages or the trial will generally not be more than 16 weeks following service of the claim form.

In Fatal Mesothelioma Claims the hearing date may be more than 16 weeks following service of the claim form.

Any party who for good reason wishes evidence to be taken by deposition may apply to the court at any time for such an order. However, the court will normally expect that such a request is made at a case management conference. The order will include a direction for the recording of such evidence on DVD and for the provision of a transcript. The parties must also be prepared to arrange for the provision of equipment to view the DVD by the court.

(Part 34 contains provisions for evidence to be taken by deposition.)

In Living Mesothelioma Claims the court may decide not to require strict adherence to any relevant pre-action protocol.