[F1PART 59E+W [F2CIRCUIT COMMERCIAL COURTS]

Textual Amendments

Contents of this Part

Scope of this Part and interpretationRule 59.1
Application of the Civil Procedure RulesRule 59.2
Transfer of proceedingsRule 59.3
Claim form and particulars of claimRule 59.4
Acknowledgment of serviceRule 59.5
Default judgmentRule 59.6
Disputing the court’s jurisdictionRule 59.7
AdmissionsRule 59.8
Defence and ReplyRule 59.9
Statements of caseRule 59.10
Case managementRule 59.11
Judgments and ordersRule 59.12

Scope of this Part and interpretationE+W

59.1—(1) This Part applies to claims in [F3Circuit Commercial Courts].

(2) A claim may only be started in a [F4Circuit Commercial Court] if it—

(a)relates to a commercial or business matter in a broad sense; and

[F5(b)is not required to proceed in another specialist list of the Business and Property Courts.]

(3) In this Part and [F6Practice Direction 59]—

[F7(a)“[F4Circuit Commercial Court]” means a specialist list established within the courts listed in [F8Practice Direction 59];]

(b)“[F9Circuit Commercial claim]” means a claim proceeding in a [F4Circuit Commercial Court]; and

(c)“[F10Circuit Commercial judge]” means a judge authorised to sit in a [F4Circuit Commercial Court].

Textual Amendments

Application of the Civil Procedure RulesE+W

59.2  These Rules and their practice directions apply to [F11Circuit Commercial claims] unless this Part or a practice direction provides otherwise.

Textual Amendments

Transfer of proceedingsE+W

59.3  [F12Rule 30.5 applies] applies with the modifications that—

(a)a [F10Circuit Commercial judge] may transfer a [F9Circuit Commercial claim] to another [F4Circuit Commercial Court]; and

(b)a Commercial Court judge may transfer a claim from the Commercial Court to a [F4Circuit Commercial Court].

(Rule 30.5(3) provides that an application for the transfer of proceedings to or from a specialist list must be made to a judge dealing with claims in that list)

Textual Amendments

Claim form and particulars of claimE+W

59.4—(1) If particulars of claim are not contained in or served with the claim form—

(a)the claim form must state that, if an acknowledgment of service is filed which indicates an intention to defend the claim, particulars of claim will follow;

(b)when the claim form is served, it must be accompanied by the documents specified in rule 7.8(1);

(c)the claimant must serve particulars of claim within 28 days of the filing of an acknowledgment of service which indicates an intention to defend; and

(d)rule 7.4(2) does not apply.

(2) If the claimant is claiming interest, he must—

(a)include a statement to that effect; and

(b)give the details set out in rule 16.4(2),

in both the claim form and the particulars of claim.

(3) Rules [F1312.7(1)(a)] and 14.14(1)(a) apply with the modification that references to the particulars of claim shall be read as if they referred to the claim form.

Textual Amendments

Acknowledgment of serviceE+W

59.5—(1) A defendant must file an acknowledgment of service in every case.

(2) Unless paragraph (3) applies, the period for filing an acknowledgment of service is 14 days after service of the claim form.

(3) Where the claim form is served out of the jurisdiction, or on the agent of a defendant who is overseas, the time periods provided by rules [F146.12(3), 6.35 and 6.37(5)] apply after service of the claim form.

Textual Amendments

Disputing the court’s jurisdictionE+W

59.6—(1) Part 11 applies to [F11Circuit Commercial claims] with the modifications set out in this rule.

(2) An application under rule 11(1) must be made within 28 days after filing an acknowledgment of service.

(3) If the defendant files an acknowledgment of service indicating an intention to dispute the court’s jurisdiction, the claimant need not serve particulars of claim before the hearing of the application.

Textual Amendments

Default judgmentE+W

59.7—(1) Part 12 applies to [F11Circuit Commercial claims], except that rules 12.10 and 12.11 apply as modified by paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule.

(2) If, in a Part 7 claim—

(a)the claim form has been served but no particulars of claim have been served; and

(b)the defendant has failed to file an acknowledgment of service,

the claimant must make an application if he wishes to obtain a default judgment.

(3) The application may be made without notice, but the court may direct it to be served on the defendant.

Textual Amendments

AdmissionsE+W

59.8—(1) Rule 14.5 does not apply to [F11Circuit Commercial claims].

(2) If the defendant admits part of a claim for a specified amount of money, the claimant may apply under rule 14.3 for judgment on the admission.

Textual Amendments

Defence and ReplyE+W

59.9—(1) Part 15 (Defence and Reply) applies to [F11Circuit Commercial claims] with the modification to rule 15.8 that the claimant must—

(a)file any reply to a defence; and

(b)serve it on all other parties,

within 21 days after service of the defence.

(2) [F15Rule 6.35 (in relation to the period] for filing a defence where the claim form is served out of the jurisdiction) applies to [F11Circuit Commercial claims], except that if the particulars of claim are served after the defendant has filed an acknowledgment of service the period for filing a defence is 28 days from service of the particulars of claim.

Textual Amendments

F15Words in rule 59.9(2) substituted (1.10.2008) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2008 (S.I. 2008/2178), rules 1(2), 32(b)

Statements of caseE+W

59.10  The court may at any time before or after issue of the claim form order a [F9Circuit Commercial claim] to proceed without the filing or service of statements of case.

Textual Amendments

Case managementE+W

59.11—(1) All [F11Circuit Commercial claims] are treated as being allocated to the multi-track, and Part 26 does not apply.

(2) The following parts only of Part 29 apply—

(a)rule 29.3(2) (appropriate legal representative to attend case management conferences and pre-trial reviews); and

(b)rule 29.5 (variation of case management timetable) with the exception of rule 29.5(1)(c).

(3) As soon as practicable the court will hold a case management conference which must be fixed in accordance with [F16Practice Direction 59].

(4) At the case management conference or at any hearing at which the parties are represented the court may give such directions for the management of the case as it considers appropriate.

Textual Amendments

Judgments and ordersE+W

59.12—(1) Except for orders made by the court of its own initiative and unless the court otherwise orders every judgment or order will be drawn up by the parties, and rule 40.3 is modified accordingly.

(2) An application for a consent order must include a draft of the proposed order signed on behalf of all the parties to whom it relates.

(3) Rule 40.6 (consent judgments and orders) does not apply.]