County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013

Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Authorised Version i County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 S.R. No. 122/2013 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Rule Page 1 Object 1 2 Authorising provisions 1 3 Commencement 1 4 Principal Rules 1 5 Definitions 1 6 Rule 26.02 substituted 2 26.02 Offers of compromise generally 2 7 Time for making, accepting etc. offer 2 8 Time for payment 3 9 Rule 26.07 substituted and new Rules 26.07.1 and 26.07.2 inserted 3 26.07 Withdrawal of acceptance 3 26.07.1 Failure to comply with accepted offer 4 26.07.2 Multiple defendants 4 10 Costs consequences of failure to accept 5 11 New Rule 26.08.1 inserted 6 26.08.1 Pre-litigation offers 6 12 Multiple defendants 7 13 Rule 26.10 substituted 7 26.10 Contributor parties 7 14 Transitional 8 ═══════════════ ENDNOTES 10 -- 1 of 11 -- Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel Authorised Version 1 STATUTORY RULES 2013 S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court Act 1958 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 A majority of the Judges of the County Court makes the following Rules: 1 Object The object of these Rules is to amend Chapter I of the Rules of the County Court in relation to offers of compromise. 2 Authorising provisions These Rules are made under section 78 of the County Court Act 1958 and all other enabling powers. 3 Commencement These Rules come into operation on 7 October 2013. 4 Principal Rules In these Rules, the County Court Civil Procedure Rules 20081 are called the Principal Rules. 5 Definitions In Rule 26.01 of the Principal Rules insert the following definition— "business day means a day on which the office of the Court is open as specified in Rule 3.08;". -- 2 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 2 6 Rule 26.02 substituted For Rule 26.02 of the Principal Rules substitute— "26.02 Offers of compromise generally (1) A party may, in respect of any claim in a proceeding, serve on another party an offer of compromise on the terms specified in the offer. (2) An offer of compromise in respect of a claim may be on terms that take into account any other claim made in the proceeding between the parties. (3) An offer of compromise must— (a) be in writing and prepared in accordance with Rules 27.02 to 27.04; and (b) contain a statement to the effect that it is served in accordance with this Order. (4) An offer of compromise must state either— (a) that the offer is inclusive of costs; or (b) that costs are to be paid or received, as the case may be, in addition to the offer.". 7 Time for making, accepting etc. offer (1) Rule 26.03(3.1) of the Principal Rules is revoked. (2) For Rule 26.03(7) of the Principal Rules substitute— "(7) Upon the acceptance of an offer of compromise that states that costs are to be paid or received in addition to the offer, then, unless the offer otherwise provides or the Court otherwise orders— r. 6 -- 3 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 3 (a) such costs are to be paid or received in respect of the claim up to and including the day the offer was served; (b) liability for any costs in respect of the claim in relation to any subsequent period shall be in the discretion of the Court; and (c) any party to the accepted offer may apply for the taxation of the costs.". (3) Rule 26.03(8) of the Principal Rules is revoked. 8 Time for payment In Rule 26.03.1 of the Principal Rules— (a) for "sum of money to a plaintiff" substitute "specified sum of money to a party"; (b) for "14 days" substitute "28 days". 9 Rule 26.07 substituted and new Rules 26.07.1 and 26.07.2 inserted For Rule 26.07 of the Principal Rules substitute— "26.07 Withdrawal of acceptance (1) A party who has accepted an offer for the payment to that party of a sum of money may withdraw the acceptance if— (a) the sum of money is not paid— (i) within the time provided by the offer; or (ii) where no time is specified by the offer, within 28 days after acceptance of the offer; and r. 8 -- 4 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 4 (b) the Court, on the application of the party who accepted the offer, gives leave. (2) A party seeking the leave of the Court under paragraph (1)(b) may also seek orders— (a) to restore the parties as nearly as practicable to each party's position in the proceeding at the time of acceptance; and (b) as to the further conduct of the proceeding. 26.07.1 Failure to comply with accepted offer If, after acceptance of an offer of compromise, a party to the accepted offer defaults in complying with that party's obligations under the offer, any non- defaulting party to the accepted offer may apply to the Court for an order— (a) giving effect to the accepted offer; (b) staying or dismissing the proceeding if the plaintiff is in default; (c) striking out the defendant's defence if the defendant is in default; or (d) that a claim, not the subject of the offer, shall proceed. 26.07.2 Multiple defendants (1) Rule 26.07.1 does not apply if— (a) two or more defendants are alleged to be jointly, or jointly and severally, liable to the plaintiff for a debt or damages; and (b) rights of contribution or indemnity appear to exist between the defendants. r. 9 -- 5 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 5 (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), Rule 26.07.1 applies if— (a) in the case of an offer made by the plaintiff, the offer— (i) is made to all defendants; and (ii) is an offer to compromise the claim against all of them; or (b) in the case of an offer made to the plaintiff— (i) the offer is to compromise the claim against all defendants; and (ii) if the offer is made by two or more defendants, those defendants offer to be jointly, or jointly and severally, liable to the plaintiff for the whole amount of the offer.". 10 Costs consequences of failure to accept (1) For Rule 26.08(2)(b) of the Principal Rules substitute— "(b) in the case of any other claim of the plaintiff, to an order against the defendant for the plaintiff's costs in respect of the claim before 11.00 a.m. on the second business day after the offer was served, taxed on a party and party basis and for the plaintiff's costs thereafter taxed on an indemnity basis.". (2) For Rule 26.08(3)(a) of the Principal Rules substitute— "(a) the plaintiff shall be entitled to an order against the defendant for the plaintiff's costs in respect of the claim before 11.00 a.m. on the second business day after the offer was served, taxed on a party and party basis; and". r. 10 -- 6 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 6 (3) For Rule 26.08(4) of the Principal Rules substitute— "(4) Where an offer of compromise is made by a defendant and the plaintiff unreasonably fails to accept the offer and the claim to which the offer relates is dismissed or judgment on the claim is entered in favour of the defendant, then unless the Court otherwise orders— (a) the defendant shall be entitled to an order against the plaintiff for the defendant's costs in respect of the claim until 11.00 a.m. on the second business day after the offer was made, taxed on a party and party basis; and (b) the defendant shall be entitled to an order against the plaintiff in respect of the defendant's costs after the time referred to in paragraph (a) taxed on an indemnity basis.". 11 New Rule 26.08.1 inserted After Rule 26.08 of the Principal Rules insert— "26.08.1 Pre-litigation offers (1) If— (a) a party, before a proceeding has commenced, has made an offer in writing to another party (whether or not expressed to be without prejudice) to compromise any claim made in the proceeding on the terms specified in the offer; (b) the offer was open to be accepted for a reasonable time, but was not accepted; and r. 11 -- 7 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 7 (c) the offeror obtains an order or judgment in respect of the claim no less favourable to the offeror than the terms of the offer— the Court shall take those matters into account in determining what order for costs to make in respect of the costs of the proceeding. (2) In exercising its discretion as to costs in accordance with paragraph (1), the Court may order that the offeree pay all or part of the offeror's costs of the proceeding taxed on a basis other than a party and party basis, from— (a) the day the offer was made; (b) the commencement of the proceeding; or (c) any other time that the Court thinks fit.". 12 Multiple defendants Rule 26.09 of the Principal Rules is revoked. 13 Rule 26.10 substituted For Rule 26.10 of the Principal Rules substitute— "26.10 Contributor parties (1) If two or more parties (the contributor parties) may be held liable to contribute towards an amount of debt or damages that may be recovered from the contributor parties, any of those contributor parties may, without prejudice to that contributor party's defence, make an offer to another contributor party, to contribute, to a specified extent, to the amount of the debt or damages. r. 12 -- 8 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 8 (2) If an offer is made by a contributor party (the first contributor party) and not accepted by another contributor party, and the first contributor party obtains a judgment against the other contributor party more favourable than the terms of the offer, then, unless the Court otherwise orders, the first contributor party is entitled to an order that the contributor party who did not accept the offer pay the costs incurred by the first contributor party— (a) before 11.00 a.m. on the second business day after the offer was served—on a party and party basis; and (b) after the time referred to in paragraph (a)—on an indemnity basis.". 14 Transitional At the end of Rule 26.11 of the Principal Rules insert— "(2) This Order as in force immediately before the commencement of the County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 continues to apply to any offer of compromise served under Part 2 of this Order before that commencement.". Dated: 20 September 2013 M. ROZENES, Chief Judge J. A. SMALLWOOD C. D. DOUGLAS S. M. COHEN G. R. ANDERSON M. E. SEXTON J. R. BOWMAN F. E. HOGAN J. A. NICHOLSON I. E. LAWSON G. G. HICKS E. M. GAYNOR r. 14 -- 9 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 9 P. J. COISH P. M. TAFT J. A. CAMPTON F. SACCARDO W. A. WILMOTH M. A. GAMBLE S. S. DAVIS H. T. MASON F. P. HAMPEL G. P. MULLALY J. G. MORRISH K. E. KINGS D. A. PARSONS J. L. PARRISH S. E. PULLEN R. J. H. MAIDMENT A. J. HOWARD B. A. COTTERELL L. A. HANNAN M. F. MACNAMARA M. D. MURPHY W. E. STUART M. E. KENNEDY D. G. BROOKES C. M. O'NEILL J. A. JORDAN K. L. BOURKE P. J. COSGRAVE P. M. E. WISCHUSEN G. T. CANNON F. R. GUCCIARDO ═══════════════ r. 14 -- 10 of 11 -- S.R. No. 122/2013 County Court (Chapter I Amendment No. 8) Rules 2013 Authorised by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel 10 ENDNOTES 1 Rule 4: S.R. No. 148/2008. Reprint No. 1 as at 7 November 2012. Reprinted to S.R. No. 104/2012. Subsequently amended by S.R. Nos 85/2012, 166/2012, 167/2012, 36/2013 and 69/2013. Endnotes -- 11 of 11 --