Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907

PART II S INTERIM PAYMENTS OF DAMAGES

Application and interpretation of this Part S

36.8. (1) This Part applies to an action of damages for personal injuries or the death of a person in consequence of personal injuries.

(2) In this Part—

• “defender” includes a third party against whom the pursuer has a crave for damages;

• “personal injuries” includes any disease or impairment of a physical or mental condition.

Applications for interim payment of damages S

36.9. (1) In an action to which this Part applies, a pursuer may, at any time after defences have been lodged, apply by motion for an order for interim payment of damages to him by the defender or, where there are two or more of them, by any one or more of them.

(2) The pursuer shall intimate a motion under paragraph (1) to every other party on a period of notice of 14 days.

(3) On a motion under paragraph (1), the sheriff may, if satisfied that—

(a) the defender has admitted liability to the pursuer in the action, or

(b) if the action proceeded to proof, the pursuer would succeed in the action on the question of liability without any substantial finding of contributory negligence on his part, or on the part of any person in respect of whose injury or death the claim of the pursuer arises, and would obtain decree for damages against any defender,

ordain that defender to make an interim payment to the pursuer of such amount as the sheriff thinks fit, not exceeding a reasonable proportion of the damages which, in the opinion of the sheriff, are likely to be recovered by the pursuer.

(4) Any such payment may be ordered to be made in one lump sum or otherwise as the sheriff thinks fit.

(5) No order shall be made against a defender under this rule unless it appears to the sheriff that the defender is—

(a) a person who is insured in respect of the claim of the pursuer;

(b) a public authority; or

(c) a person whose means and resources are such as to enable him to make the interim payment.

(6) Notwithstanding the grant or refusal of a motion for an interim payment, a subsequent motion may be made where there has been a change of circumstances.

(7) Subject to Part IV (management of damages payable to persons under legal disability), an interim payment shall be made to the pursuer unless the sheriff otherwise directs.

(8) This rule shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to a counterclaim for damages for personal injuries made by a defender as it applies to an action in which the pursuer may apply for an order for interim payment of damages.

Adjustment on final decree S

36.10. Where a defender has made an interim payment under rule 36.9, the sheriff may, when final decree is pronounced, make such order with respect to the interim payment as he thinks fit to give effect to the final liability of that defender to the pursuer; and in particular may order—

(a) repayment by the pursuer of any sum by which the interim payment exceeds the amount which that defender is liable to pay to the pursuer; or

(b) payment by any other defender or a third party, of any part of the interim payment which the defender who made it is entitled to recover from him by way of contribution or indemnity or in respect of any remedy or relief relating to, or connected with, the claim of the pursuer.