To help 2021 run smoothly  for our members I am presenting a series of webinars in February and March on the theme of “staying safe” in the running of personal injury cases. The webinars look at key areas of practice and procedure, examine where any why things go wrong and then how to avoid problems.  We then look at the steps that can be taken to rectify matters if things have gone wrong.

THE WEBINARS

4th February 2021 – 12.00 – 13.00

This webinar looks at the major problem areas in limitation.

It identifies, and helps litigators avoid, all those difficult areas relating to limitation periods.

• Why and how things go wrong with limitation
• Why limitation periods are not always three years
• How and when you use Section 33
• Avoiding problems with limitation

Details of how to book are available here.

11th February 2021.

12.00 – 13.00

The law reports are full of cases where claimants have failed to serve the claim form properly. This webinar looks very closely at the rules relating to service of the claim form and particulars of claim.

• Why do things go wrong so often in relation to service of the claim form
• “The address for service” – problem areas
• When must you serve on a solicitor?
• Identifying problems with service and heading them off
• What can you do if things go wrong with service.

Booking details are available here. 

17th February 2021 12.00 – 13.00

This webinar takes a close look at the rules relating to drafting statements of case.

• What should be on the claim form?
• What must the particulars of claim contain?
• Problem areas in drafting the particulars
• What must the claimant plead?
• What should the defence contain?
• When do you need to file a reply or a defence to counterclaim?
• Part 18 requests – what can, and what can’t, they contain?
• Amending statements of case
• Statements of case at trial
• Avoiding the pitfalls of pleading

Booking details are here.

25th February 2021 12.00 – 1.00

Judges regularly complain that witness statements are inadequate and do not contain sufficient information, alternatively that they contain much information that is irrelevant and the witness is unable to give.

This webinar looks at:

• The mandatory requirements for witness statements and the consequences of non-compliance
• Protecting the witness from the lawyer
• Protecting the lawyer from the witness
• Witness statements and proportionality
• Where lawyers go badly wrong with witness evidence
• Explaining the significance of the statement of truth.
• A checklist for taking a statement

Booking details are available here. 

4th March 2021 – 12.00 – 13.00.

This webinar looks at rules and practice relating to drafting and proving damages in personal injury case.

Topics include:

• Cases where the schedule has gone wrong
• Judicial criticism of schedules
• Getting the schedule right
• The problem of proving damages when you can’t prove them
• Evidence and damages.

Booking details are available here. 

11th March 2021 – 12.00 – 13.00

This webinar examines those areas where personal injury cases can go wrong and  relief from sanctions may be required.  The key of tthis webinar part relates to avoiding problems, however there is an important section of the matters that must be considered if an effective application for relief from sanctions is to be made.

• The problem areas for personal injury litigation – where things go wrong and why
• Key time periods
• What can you do if things go wrong?
• Making an effective application for relief from sanctions