The Civil Procedure Rules 1998

Representative proceedings

Rule 5—(1) Where numerous persons have the same interest in any proceedings, not being such proceedings as are mentioned in rule 6, the proceedings may be begun and, unless the court otherwise orders, continued, by or against any one or more of them as representing all or all except one or more of them.

(2) At any stage of proceedings under this rule the court may—

(a) on the application of a claimant who is suing in a representative capacity, appoint him to represent all, or all except one or more, of the persons on whose behalf he sues;

(b) on the application of the claimant or of a defendant who is sued in a representative capacity, appoint any one or more of the defendants or other persons on whose behalf the defendants are sued to represent all, or all except one or more, of those persons.

Where in the exercise of the power conferred by sub-paragraph (b) the court appoints a person not named as a defendant, it shall make an order under CPR rule 19.1 adding that person as a defendant.

(3) An application under paragraph (2)—

(a) if made under sub-paragraph (a), may be made without notice being served on any other party;

(b) if made under sub-paragraph (b), shall be made on notice—

(i) where the applicant is the claimant, to the person sought to be appointed, or

(ii) where the applicant is a defendant, to the claimant and to any person, other than the applicant, sought to be appointed;

and in each case the notice shall state the facts on which the applicant relies and the names and addresses or, where appropriate a collective description, of the persons to be represented.

(4) Where an order is made granting an application under paragraph (2)(b), the court shall send a notice of the order to the person to whom notice of the application was given and shall notify other persons affected by the order in such manner as the court may direct.

(5) A judgment or order given or made in proceedings under this rule shall be binding on all persons on whose behalf the claimant sues or, as the case may be, the defendant is sued but shall not be enforced against any person not a party to the proceedings except with the permission of the court.

(6) An application for permission under paragraph (5) shall be made on notice to the person against whom it is sought to enforce the judgment or order and, notwithstanding that the judgment or order is binding on him, he may dispute liability to have it enforced against him on the ground that by reason of facts and matters particular to his case he is entitled to be exempted from such liability.