Section 70 – Restrictions on granting a new trial
120.Section 70 is drawn from the provisions of section 30 of the Court of Session Act 1988. It provides for various circumstances where, in the case of an application under section 69(1), the court must grant a new trial, may grant a new trial restricted to the question of damages, or may not grant a new trial. Subsection (4) varies from section 30(2) of the Court of Session Act 1988, however, in that in the circumstances set out in section 70(3), the court must refuse to grant a new trial, whereas section 30(2) states that the court may refuse to grant a new trial. Subsection (7) explains that, where the Court is constituted by more than one Appeal Sheriff, an application for a new trial may not be granted unless the majority of those Appeal Sheriffs hearing the case agree that it should.