The Fair Employment Tribunal (Rules of Procedure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Consequences of a response not being presented or accepted

Default judgements

7.—(1) In any proceedings if the relevant time limit for presenting a response has passed, a chairman may, in the circumstances listed in paragraph (2), issue a default judgement to determine the claim without a hearing under rule 22 if he considers it appropriate to do so.

(2) Those circumstances are when –

(a) no response in those proceedings has been presented to the Office of the Tribunals within the relevant time limit;

(b) a response has been so presented, but a decision has been made not to accept the response either by the Secretary under rule 6(1) or by a chairman under rule 6(2), and the Office of the Tribunals has not received an application under rule 30 to have that decision reviewed; or

(c) a response has been accepted in those proceedings, but the respondent has stated in the response that he does not intend to resist the claim.

(3) A default judgement may determine liability only or it may determine liability and remedy. If a default judgement determines remedy it shall be such remedy as it appears to the chairman that the claimant is entitled to on the basis of the information before him.

(4) Any default judgement issued by a chairman under this rule shall be recorded in writing and shall be signed by him. The Secretary shall send a copy of that judgement to the parties, to the Agency, and, if the proceedings were referred to the tribunal by a court, to that court. The Secretary shall also inform the parties of their right to have the default judgement reviewed under rule 29. The Secretary shall put a copy of the default judgement on the Register.

(5) The claimant or respondent may apply to have the default judgement reviewed in accordance with rule 29.

(6) If the parties settle the proceedings (either by means of a compromise agreement or through the Agency) before or on the date on which a default judgement in those proceedings is issued, the default judgement shall have no effect.

(7) When paragraph (6) applies, either party may apply under rule 29 to have the default judgement revoked.

Taking no further part in the proceedings

8.  A respondent who has not presented a response to a claim or whose response has not been accepted shall not be entitled to take any part in the proceedings except to –

(a) make an application under rule 29 (review of default judgements);

(b) make an application under rule 31 (preliminary consideration of application for review) in respect of rule 30(3)(a), (b) or (e);

(c) be called as a witness by another person; or

(d) be sent a copy of a document or corrected entry in accordance with rule 7(4), 25(2) or 33,

and in these Rules the word “party” or “respondent” includes a respondent only in relation to his entitlement to take such a part in the proceedings, and in relation to any such part which he takes.