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This Practice Note outlines the law concerning criminal recklessness. The subjective test for recklessness Certain statutory and common law offences allow the prosecution to prove mens rea through ‘recklessness’. Put simply, recklessness is where the accused takes an unjustified risk that results in unlawful harm or damage. The House of Lords in R v G reaffirmed the subjective approach to recklessness. Before R v G, two distinct tests were used, depending on the offence charged: Subjective recklessness from R v Cunningham: the prosecution had to establish that the accused personally foresaw the risk. Objective recklessness from R v Caldwell: the prosecution only needed to show that the risk would have been obvious to a reasonable person, without proving the accused themselves foresaw it. In R v G, the House of Lords concluded that the objective test could operate unfairly where a defendant did not foresee the
This Practice Note examines the remedy of rescission, explaining when and in what manner a contract can be unwound (at common law, in equity and under statute) and thereby terminated and brought to an end. It covers the consequences and effects of rescission, the principal grounds for setting aside an agreement (misrepresentation, mistake, undue influence, duress, non‑disclosure, fiduciary misdealing and bribery) and the main obstacles to claiming rescission—affirmation, the intervention of third‑party rights and the impossibility of restitution. For further guidance on rescission in the context of misrepresentation, see Practice Note: Misrepresentation—rescission as a remedy. There are many ways in which a contract may reach its end; see: Terminating contracts—how and when a contract ends—overview for a brief and accessible summary, with links to the related further practical guidance, including Practice Note: Termination and expiry of contracts. For a table
What is a res judicata? A res judicata is a determination by a court or tribunal with jurisdiction over the cause of action and the parties, which finally disposes of the issues decided so they cannot be litigated again by those bound, save on appeal. Final judgments entered by default or by consent fall within this concept, whereas rulings on purely procedural points and any decision lacking finality do not. The doctrine’s aim is to bring litigation to an end and shield parties from being harassed by the same dispute twice. in personam—binds the parties and their privies in rem—binds all persons, privy or otherwise (ie a judgment binding the whole world) A party may rely on res judicata: as an estoppel to defeat an opponent’s claim or defence; and/or as the basis of their own claim or
The offence of causing grievous bodily harm with intent Wounding or causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent can be tried solely in the Crown Court on indictment. Elements of the offence Under the Offences against the Person Act 1861 (OATPA 1861), the prosecution must establish that the defendant unlawfully and maliciously: wounded with the intention of causing GBH, or caused GBH with that intention, or wounded intending to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of any person, or caused GBH intending to resist or prevent the lawful arrest or detention of any person ‘Unlawfully’ and ‘maliciously’ Unlawfully The wounding or causing of GBH must be unlawful. Such conduct may be lawful if used: in self-defence in defence of another in defence of property for the prevention of crime where the victim gave express or implied consent For further information on these defences, see below:
Most recent Practice notes
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived, is no longer updated, and is provided solely for background information. Additionally, certain links might not take you to provisions as they stood on the date this Practice Note’s guidance was issued. For more detail on earlier and/or later changes to the CPR, refer to: CPR updates—overview and Procedure Rule Committee minutes—overview......
ARCHIVED : This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This Practice Note records the minutes of the CPR Committee ( CPRC) meeting on 12 October 2018. Matters considered included the Admiralty Court’s revised procedures for limitation claims, prospects for the Online Civil Money Claims programme, the length of the Video Hearings pilot, amendments to Part 21, feedback from the consultation on Part 39 ( Open Justice), the implications of a ‘no deal’ Brexit for the CPR, together with business and further matters......
ARCHIVED: This archived Practice Note is no longer updated and serves as general background material. In addition, certain links may no longer take you to the provisions as they stood on the date the guidance in this Practice Note was issued. For details of earlier and/or later amendments to the CPR, please consult: CPR updates—overview and Procedure Rule Committee minutes—overview. This Practice Note provides a concise synopsis of the CPR revisions that took effect on Thursday 31 July 2014. The 74th CPR update introduces a new Practice Direction 2C addressing the commencement of proceedings in the County Court. The practice direction applies to proceedings in the County Court. It explains to practitioners where claims and applications ought to be begun and whether they can be submitted, or moved, if commenced in the incorrect court. The......
This Practice Note This Practice Note examines how track allocation in civil proceedings affects costs. It explains the costs position before allocation and the costs recoverable when a claim is brought to an end before allocation. It also deals with costs where there has been a part admission or a counterclaim, and the costs consequences following any re-allocation. The Note outlines the position for cases proceeding under the transitional provisions (pre-1 October 2023) and under the current rules (on or after 1 October 2023). For information on track allocation generally, see: Allocating and transferring proceedings—overview. It sets out the position before 1 October 2023 by reference to the old rules that apply to civil cases issued before 1 October 2023. ( Note that the old rules also apply to personal injury cases where the cause of action accrued before 1 October 2023, and to...
ARCHIVED: This archived Practice Note is no longer maintained and is supplied purely for background reference. Please note that some links may not direct you to the provisions as they existed at the time this guidance was issued. For information on earlier and/or later amendments to the CPR, see: CPR updates—overview Procedure Rule Committee minutes—overview This Practice Note summarises the revisions to Practice Directions in the 98th Making Document dated 1 August 2018. The revisions introduce a new Practice Direction— Practice Direction 51T— The County Court Legal Advisers Pilot Scheme— Final Charging Orders—which enables legal advisers at the County Court Money Claims Centre, in specified circumstances, to make unopposed final charging orders (a charge placed over property or land to secure a judgment debt)......
ARCHIVED This archived Practice Note is not being updated and is supplied for background reference only. In addition, some links may no longer point to the provisions as they existed when the guidance in this Practice Note was issued. For information on earlier and/or later amendments to the CPR, see: CPR updates—overview and Procedure Rule Committee minutes—overview. The 100th Making document also outlines changes taking effect on 1 January 2019; refer to Practice Note: Practice Direction changes— January 2019 [ Archived]. Copies of the Update— Practice Direction Amendments are available as follows: 4 September 2018 — Revocation of 99th Update— Practice Direction Amendments 1 October 2018 — County Court legal advisers The 98th Modifications adjust certain delegated powers of County Court legal advisers under CPR PD 2E This material is retained for context and should not be relied upon as current...
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived, is not kept up to date, and is provided solely for background reference. In addition, certain links might not take you to the provisions as they stood on the guidance’s publication date. For details of earlier and/or later changes to the CPR, please consult the: CPR updates—overview and Procedure Rule Committee minutes—overview......
ARCHIVED: This archived Practice Note is not maintained currently and is supplied solely for background reference. In addition, some links may not take you to the provisions as they stood when the guidance in this Practice Note was published......
This Practice Note examines the jurisdictional service gateway, or ground for service, contained in CPR PD 6B, para 3.1(9) concerning tort claims (gateway 9). It sets out gateway 9 and offers insight into the manner in which it has been interpreted by the courts in practice to date. This Practice Note should be considered alongside Practice Note: Cross‑border service—jurisdictional gateways (principles). Gateway 9 has been treated as applicable to a variety of claims, including patent infringement, defamation, deceit, conspiracy and misuse of personal information. Nevertheless, when reviewing authorities, it is essential to check whether any gateways have been created or amended since the judgment under consideration, as another gateway may now be the proper route. For example, gateways 21–23 have been added to encompass breach of confidence and misuse of information claims. For guidance, see Practice Note: Cross‑border...
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained This archived Practice Note outlines revisions to the service gateways governing permission to serve claims outside the jurisdiction under CPR PD 6B, paragraph 3.1, which commenced on 1 October 2015, as detailed in the 81st Update Practice Direction Making Document. Practitioners dealing with service out of the jurisdiction will appreciate the strict requirement to demonstrate that the claim falls within one of the gateways in CPR PD 6B, para 3.1 whenever the court’s permission is sought. For guidance across all gateways, see Practice Note: Cross-border service—jurisdictional gateways (principles). Experience revealed difficulties with certain gateways and, in some situations, no gateway existed for the category of claim being pursued. To tackle these issues, the Mance Committee—officially, the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Private International Law—put forward a series of...
This Practice Note explains the rules for trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts, signed on or after 6 April 2021, which fall within CPR PD 57AC. Only statements signed on or after that date are within scope. It concerns the Business and Property Courts at trial stage, and related requirements only. Introduction Material in a witness statement that is not a trial witness statement, and affidavits, are outside CPR PD 57AC (see CPR PD 57AC, para 1). For a Checklist to support legal representatives preparing a trial witness statement governed by CPR PD 57AC, see: Checklist for legal representatives—trial witness statements subject to CPR PD 57AC. For help on producing a credible witness statement, see Practice Note: How to write a credible witness statement. Status of CPR PD 57AC CPR PD 57AC makes clear that, where it conflicts with another practice...
This Practice Note sets out and summarises the reported decisions of the courts since CPR PD 57AC took effect in April 2021, which governs the preparation and content of witness statements for use at trials in the Business and Property Courts. Each case includes a brief summary and broader commentary. Themes are drawn from the judgments reported to date. Ambit of CPR PD 57AC The courts comprising the ‘ Business and Property Courts’ are defined in CPR 57A.1(2). CPR PD 57AC is the third practice direction issued under that rule. Under CPR 57A.3, the CPR apply to claims in the Business and Property Courts unless a practice direction provides otherwise. In relation to preparing witness statements for trial in such claims, CPR PD 57AC is such an exception, made under CPR 57A.3. It applies to all witness statements for use at a trial in the...
An altered process for preparing trial witness statements From April 2021, those conducting claims in the Business and Property Courts must follow CPR PD 57AC when drafting trial witness statements. Arising from the judge‑led Witness Evidence Working Group’s report, the practice direction brought in a revised approach to preparing such statements. Its principal purpose was to curb statements being crafted by lawyers in language chosen to optimise how a client’s case is presented, rather than reflecting the witness’s own words. The judicial view was that, if statements more closely conveyed a witness’s personal recollection of events they observed, the court would receive more dependable evidence at trial. A further objective was to trim excessive length. Statements too often strayed from setting out a witness’s evidence and drifted into background narrative about the claim, ultimately slipping into inappropriate advocacy placed in a witness’s mouth....
ARCHIVED : This Practice Note sets out details of the summary assessment bill of costs pilot scheme run from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2022. It is provided solely for archival reference. It should not be treated as current guidance, or relied upon now. The Note outlines the context and the substance of the two-year, voluntary pilot in summary assessment proceedings (the summary assessment statement of costs pilot scheme, or the statement of costs for summary assessment) brought in by CPR PD 51X, which operated between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2022. It addresses the background to the summary assessment statement of costs pilot under CPR PD 51X, with links to the electronic bill of costs that is compulsory for detailed assessment proceedings. It further identifies the duration of the pilot, confirming its application to every claim where costs were...
ARCHIVED : This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This Note outlines the video hearings pilot that ran from 30 November 2018 to 30 November 2019, established by Practice Direction 51V. It allowed applications to set aside default judgments under CPR 12 to be dealt with by a video hearing. It applied only where the County Court had entered a default judgment for a specified sum of money. Use was optional; it proceeded only if all parties consented and had the necessary IT equipment. HMCTS released a newsletter giving details of the pilot. The 101st Practice Direction Update set out the pilot in its schedule. What is the purpose of the pilot scheme? The aim was to test a procedure for hearing applications to set aside default judgments entered under CPR 12 via an internet-enabled video link, to be referred to as a video hearing (...
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is archived and is no longer maintained. It addresses the amendments to Part 52 that took effect in October 2016, and outlines the transitional arrangements operating thereafter and applicable beyond that point. It also signposts material which deals with the provisions in force before October 2012......
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note has been archived and is for historical purposes only. CPR provisions The rules for the summary assessment of costs are contained in CPR 44. These provisions were revised on 1 April 2013. The revisions were as follows: meaning — formerly in rule 43.3, now set out in CPR 44.1. It describes the process by which the judge who heard the case or application determines the costs general provisions — previously within CPR PD 44, paras 13.1 to 13.13 and para 14; these are now located in CPR PD 44, paras 9.1 to 9.10......
ARCHIVED : This Practice Note has been archived and is not maintained. This Practice Note maps the path to the April 2015 reform of Part 36. It is drawn from material created by Lexis Nexis® for January 2015 seminars on the new Part 36, delivered jointly alongside Ed Pepperall QC (chair of the CPRC sub-committee on Part 36) of St Philip’s Chambers. Note: links to CPR 36 in this Practice Note point to the version in force on 6 April 2015. Where we refer to the pre‑6 April 2015 provisions, we describe them as ‘ Old Rule 36’. For access to the pre‑6 April rules and practice directions, please click below for further details: Why so many changes to Part 36? Since its arrival within the Civil Procedure Rules in 1998, CPR 36 has seen a series of revisions in April 2007, April 2013 and, once more, April...
ARCHIVED: This Practice Note is no longer updated or maintained. It is kept for historical reference, outlining the changes to CPR 36 effective from 6 April 2007, to differentiate that law from the position before 6 April 2007. Later amendments to CPR 36 are not included in this note, but are covered within our general practice notes on service... Key changes to Part 36 In 2005, a number of decisions suggested that defendants who were ‘good for the money’ did not need to pay funds into court. In consequence, Part 36 of the CPR was rewritten, with the revised provisions going further than the DCA’s consultation proposals. The rules provide: it is no longer required for a defendant wishing to make a Part 36 offer to pay money into court......
This Practice Note This Practice Note sets out what an offeree should reflect upon when deciding whether to accept a Part 36 offer, including the implications of accepting before or after the lapse of the relevant period. It also covers payment on account of costs, Part 36 acceptance in split trial cases, and Part 36 acceptance where there are multiple defendants. Note that this Practice Note addresses the Part 36 costs consequences for civil matters outside the fixed costs regime. Nonetheless, many of the same principles apply in fixed costs cases when a party considers whether to accept a Part 36 offer. For details on the particular Part 36 costs consequences in fixed costs cases, see Practice Notes: Part 36 offers—fixed costs (position prior to 1 October 2023) and Part 36 offers—fixed costs (position on or after 1 October 2023). To reach an...
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When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...
This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...
Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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