Government to ban referral fees
Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has announced that the government is to ban referral fees
Entries by Toby Moreton
JR challenge to legal aid cuts in medical negligence claims
The charity Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is seeking to judicially review the government’s proposals to axe legal aid for victims of medical negligence. Read here and complete the online petition.
Dramatic climbdown from Grayling as portal extension is delayed
In a dramatic climbdown, the Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling has agreed that extension of the RTA portal to higher-value motor and employer’s and public claims will now not happen in April 2013.
Small claims limit for RTA claims set to increase?
The government has today finally unveiled its long-awaited consultation paper on increasing the small claims limit for road traffic personal injury cases from £1,000 to £5,000.
e-Petition Against Government’s Proposal On Fixed Recoverable Costs In Personal Injury Matters
An e-petition against the government’s proposals regarding fixed recoverable costs in personal injury claims has been created here. It closes on 28 November 2013.
Civil Litigation Costs Reforms
Further details of how the Jackson reforms are to be implemented have been released by the government.
Simmons and Castle
The Court of Appeal has revisted its earlier July 2012 judgment in which they controversially announced that with effect from 1st April 2013 general damages in tort cases would increase by 10% from current levels. Following an application by the Association of British Insurers in August to intervene the court was invited to reconsider whether the 10% increase should only apply to cases where the claimant’s funding arrangements for his or her legal costs had been agreed after 1st April 2013.
New Offices
We are delighted to announce our move to new larger offices as of today. The move is part of our ongoing expansion and will allow us to continue providing the service our clients have come to expect for many years to come.
Costs Management
The Hon Mr Justice Ramsey has delivered the 16th Implementation Lecture in relation to Sir Rupert Jackson’s reform package, concerning Costs Management. He unveiled additions to CPR3 (3.11 to 3.18), a new Practice Direction 3E and amendments to Section 6 of the Costs Practice Direction. The changes are intended to give effect to the Sir Rupert’s proposals for costs management based on four essential elements, namely:
New Test for Proportionality
Lord Neuberger has unveiled the new test to be applied in relation to costs which are challenged as being disproprtionate. The new test – to be contained in CPR 44.4(5) – will come into force in April 2013 and will read as follows: