Claims Handling

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Claims Handling

• Kennedys Local Authority Unit
• Richard West - Partner
• Andrew Caplan - Partner
• r.west_at_kennedys-law.com 01277 698736
• a.caplan_at_kennedys-law.com 01277 698755

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Claims Handling

• Richard West
• Personal Injury Pre action Protocol
• Housing Disrepair Pre action Protocol
• Andrew Caplan
• Pre action disclosure
• Statements

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Personal Injury Pre action Protocol (PIPAP)

• Well known and well used
• Recent case law impacts significantly
• Admissions Mallia v LB Islington, Walsh v
  Liverpool City Council
• Costs Abrew v Tesco Stores
• Pre action disclosure

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Pre action Protocols General

• Costs sanctions for a Claimants breach Daejan
  Investments Ltd v Park West Club Ltd
• Unreasonable behaviour cuts both ways - K (A
  Child) v Malpas

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Housing Disrepair Pre Action Protocol (HDPIP)

• Time far more limited
• Saddled with a single joint expert?
• A protocol of last resort!
• Use of a local authoritys complaints process

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Protocols and Claims Handling

• Whichever protocol applies, default by a
  Defendant will not be well regarded by the court
• Time limits sacrosanct for a Defendant
• Some successful sanctions now against Claimants

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Protocols and Claims Experience
PIPAPP
Defendants given little latitude
HDPIP
Claimants given more but not carte blanche
General
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In brief.
Admissions Resiling from Admissions Breach of protocol? Unreasonable behaviour?
Whenever appropriate Do so promptly Costs sanctions Costs sanctions
Dont prejudice Part 20 claim Give detailed reasons Strike out? Increased costs on both sides
Breach, Causation and Contrib ? Tackle prejudice Restrictions on experts
Effect on Claims experience? Effect on Claims experience? Effect on Claims experience? Effect on Claims experience?
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Claims Handling

• What is effective claims Handling?
• How can pre litigation claims handling impact on
  the litigation process?

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Documents

• How wide should the search go?
• The Pre Action Protocol (Highways) states
• Records of inspections for the relevant stretch
  of Highway
• Maintenance records including any contractors
  working in the relevant area
• Records of complaints about the state of the
  Highways
• Other accident on the relevant stretch of Highway

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Owen v- City Of Westminster

• Highways tripping claim
• Disclosure limited to the immediate accident
  vicinity
• Disclosure may now be limited to a selection of
  documents confined to those that a particular
  party may consider appropriate for disclosure

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Disclosure

• Records of complaints about the Highways
• Conclusion
• The role of the disclosure officer

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Pre Action Disclosure Applications

• CPR 36.16
• Disclosure is desirable in order to
• Dispose fairly of the proceedings
• Assist the parties to resolve claims within
  proceedings
• Save costs

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Pre Action Disclosure

• Chritchard v- devon CC (unreported 15.7.03)
• CPR 31.16
• Specify documents to be disclosed
• Specify which are no longer in possession (and
  why)
• Specify why they are entitled to withhold them

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Disclosure tactics

• Focussed disclosure
• Keep copies of pre action disclosure
• Appoint an officer
• Avoid pre action application

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Statements

• The generic statement
• Specific statement

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Claims Handling

• Richard West and Andrew Caplan.
• Kennedys Local Authority Unit.
• r.west_at_kennedyslaw.com 01277 698736
• a.caplan_at_kennedys-law.com 01277 698755