Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Rules)
These Rules amend the County Court Rules 1981 so as—
(a)to require the provision of a medical report and of a detailed statement of special damages when an action claiming damages for personal injuries is commenced (rules 2 to 4);
(b)to provide for the making of awards of provisional damages (where the plaintiff’s medical condition may deteriorate in the future) (rules 5 and 6);
(c)to reduce from 12 to 4 months the time within which a summons or an originating application may be served (except an originating application under Order 43, rule 6 where, as now, the application has to be served within 2 months) and to amend the rules on allowing extensions of the time for service (rules 7 to 11);
(d)to provide for directions as to the future conduct of a personal injuries case to take effect automatically (rules 12 to 14);
(e)to extend the power to grant summary judgment where the defendant has no real defence (rules 15 and 16);
(f)to make express provision for the separate trial of separate issues (rule 17);
(g)to enable interrogatories to be administered (on not more than two occasions) without a court order (rule 18);
(h)to strengthen the power of the court to penalise in costs a party who unjustifiably fails to make admissions of facts or documents (rules 19 to 21);
(i)to enable the court to require witness statements to be exchanged (rule 22);
(j)to make a number of miscellaneous amendments to the provisions relating to certificates of judgment, oral examinations, transfer of warrants and judgment summonses (rules 23 to 27); and (k) to amend the venue provisions relating to appeals under section 56 of the Representation of the People Act 1983 (rule 28).