Scope and interpretation

1.       This Practice Direction is made under rule 51.2. It provides for a pilot scheme under which claims to which the pilot applies are to be referred automatically for mediation provided by the Mediation Service (which has the meaning given in rule 26.6(3)).

2.       The pilot is to run from 22 May 2024 to 21 May 2026 and applies to claims issued on or after 22 May 2024.

3.       The pilot applies to claims to which rule 26.6, as modified by this practice direction, applies. 

Modification of rules during the pilot

4.       During the pilot, the Civil Procedure Rules and practice directions will apply with the modifications set out in paragraphs 6 to 9 of this practice direction.  Rules 26.6, 27.8, 27.14 and 45.13 and the relevant provision of Practice Direction 27A as so modified are set out in the annex to this practice direction.

5.       For claims to which the pilot does not apply, the Civil Procedure Rules and practice directions will continue to apply without modification.

6.       Modification of rule 26.6: Rule 26.6 is modified as follows—

(a) for paragraph (2) substitute—

“(2) This rule—

(a) applies where the only remedy claimed is, or purports to be, a judgment for a specified sum of money;

(b) does not apply to a claim which is started using Online Civil Money Claims; and

(c) does not in any event apply to road traffic accident or personal injury claims.”;

(b) in paragraph (4), for the words “indicate” to “mediation” substitute “have filed their directions questionnaire”;

(c) after paragraph (5) insert—

“(6) If a claim to which this rule applies proceeds to a final hearing, the court must consider at that hearing whether any sanction is appropriate in all the circumstances having regard to whether the parties attended mediation provided by the Mediation Service.”.

7.       Modification of rule 27.8:  In rule 27.8, after paragraph (6) insert—

“(7) The court must consider whether any sanction is appropriate in all the circumstances having regard to whether the parties attended mediation provided by the Mediation Service.”.

8.       Modification of rule 27.14:  In rule 27.14, after paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) When considering how to exercise its discretion to order or decline to order costs falling within paragraph (2) (including whenconsidering under paragraph (2)(g) whether a party has behaved unreasonably), the court may also take into account any failure by a party to attend mediation provided by the Mediation Service under rule 26.6.”.

9.       Modification of Practice Direction 27A:  In Appendix B, for the first standard direction substitute—

“ 1. Each party must deliver to every other party and to the court office copies of all documents on which they intend to rely at the hearing no later than [                        ] [14 days before the hearing]. (These should include the letter making the claim and the reply; and, if a party failed to attend mediation provided by the Mediation Service, that party’s explanation for that failure, and any other party’s comments on the matter, with any supporting documents.)”.

10.      Modification of rule 45.13:  After paragraph (2) insert—

“(2A) The court may also make an order under paragraph (1) or (2) on its own initiative in any case where rule 26.6(6) applies.”.

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ANNEX: RULES AS MODIFIED

PART 26

Referral to the Mediation Service

26.6.—(1) This rule applies to claims started in the County Court which would normally be allocated to the small claims track pursuant to rule 26.9.

(2) This rule—

(a) applies where the only remedy claimed is, or purports to be, a specified sum of money;

(b) does not apply to a claim which is started using Online Civil Money Claims; and

(c) does not in any event apply to road traffic accident or personal injury claims.

(3) In this rule, ‘the Mediation Service’ means the Small Claims Mediation Service operated by His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service.

(4) Where all parties have filed their directions questionnaire, the claim will be referred to the Mediation Service.

(5) If a claim to which this rule applies is settled, the proceedings will automatically be stayed with permission to apply for—

(a) judgment for the unpaid balance of the outstanding sum of the settlement agreement; or

(b) the claim to be restored for hearing of the full amount claimed,

unless the parties have agreed that the claim is to be discontinued or dismissed.

(6) If a claim to which this rule applies proceeds to a final hearing, the court must consider at that hearing whether any sanction is appropriate in all the circumstances having regard to whether the parties attended mediation provided by the Mediation Service.

PART 27

Conduct of the hearing

27.8.—(1) The court may adopt any method of proceeding at a hearing that it considers to be fair.

(2) Hearings will be informal.

(3) The strict rules of evidence do not apply.

(4) The court need not take evidence on oath.

(5) The court may limit cross-examination.

(6) The court must give reasons for its decision.

(7) The court must consider whether any sanction is appropriate in all the circumstances having regard to whether the parties attended mediation provided by the Mediation Service.

Costs on the small claims track

27.14.—(1) This rule applies to any case which has been allocated to the small claims track.

(Rules 46.11 and 46.13 make provision in relation to orders for costs made before a claim has been allocated to the small claims track)

(2) The court may not order a party to pay a sum to another party in respect of that other party’s costs, fees and expenses, including those relating to an appeal, except–

(a) the fixed costs attributable to issuing the claim which–

(i) are payable under Part 45; or

(ii) would be payable under Part 45 if that Part applied to the claim;

(b) in proceedings which included a claim for an injunction or an order for specific performance a sum not exceeding the amount specified in Practice Direction 27A for legal advice and assistance relating to that claim;

(c) any court fees paid by that other party;

(d) expenses which a party or witness has reasonably incurred in travelling to and from a hearing or in staying away from home for the purposes of attending a hearing;

(e) a sum not exceeding the amount specified in Practice Direction 27A for any loss of earnings or loss of leave by a party or witness due to attending a hearing or to staying away from home for the purposes of attending a hearing;

(f) a sum not exceeding the amount specified in Practice Direction 27A for an expert’s fees;

(g) such further costs as the court may assess by the summary procedure and order to be paid by a party who has behaved unreasonably; 

(h) the Stage 1 and, where relevant, the Stage 2 fixed costs in rule 45.18 where–

(i) the claim was within the scope of the Pre-Action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury Claims in Road Traffic Accidents (‘the RTA Protocol’) or the Pre-action Protocol for Low Value Personal Injury (Employers’ Liability and Public Liability) Claims (‘the EL/PL Protocol’);

(ii) the claimant reasonably believed that the claim was valued at more than the small claims track limit in accordance with paragraph 4.1(4) of the relevant Protocol; and

(iii) the defendant admitted liability under the process set out in the relevant Protocol; but

(iv) the defendant did not pay those Stage 1 and, where relevant, Stage 2 fixed costs; and

(i) in an appeal, the cost of any approved transcript reasonably incurred.

(2A) When considering how to exercise its discretion to order or decline to order costs falling within paragraph (2) (including whenconsidering under paragraph (2)(g) whether a party has behaved unreasonably), the court may also take into account any failure by a party to attend mediation provided by the Mediation Service under rule 26.6.

(3) A party’s rejection of an offer in settlement will not of itself constitute unreasonable behaviour under paragraph (2)(g) but the court may take it into consideration when it is applying the unreasonableness test.

(4) The limits on costs imposed by this rule also apply to any fee or reward for acting on behalf of a party to the proceedings charged by a person exercising a right of audience by virtue of an order under section 11 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 (a lay representative).

PRACTICE DIRECTION 27A

Appendix B: STANDARD DIRECTIONS

(For use where the district judge specifies no other directions)

THE COURT DIRECTS:

1. Each party must deliver to every other party and to the court office copies of all documents on which they intend to rely at the hearing no later than [                        ] [14 days before the hearing]. (These should include the letter making the claim and the reply; and, if a party failed to attend mediation provided by the Mediation Service, that party’s explanation for that failure, and any other party’s comments on the matter, with any supporting documents.)

2 The original documents must be brought to the hearing.

3 [Notice of hearing date and time allowed.]

4 The parties are encouraged to contact each other with a view to trying to settle the case or narrow the issues. However the court must be informed immediately if the case is settled by agreement before the hearing date.

5  No party may rely at the hearing on any report from an expert unless express permission has been granted by the court beforehand. Anyone wishing to rely on an expert must write to the court immediately on receipt of this Order and seek permission, giving an explanation why the assistance of an expert is necessary.

NOTE: Failure to comply with the directions may result in the case being adjourned and in the party at fault having to pay costs. The parties are encouraged always to try to settle the case by negotiating with each other. The court must be informed immediately if the case is settled before the hearing.”

PART 45

Unreasonable behaviour

45.13.—(1) Where, in a claim to which Section VI, Section VII or Section VIII of this Part applies, an order for costs is made in favour of a party whom the court considers has behaved unreasonably, the other party may apply for an order that those costs be reduced by an amount equivalent to 50% of the fixed recoverable costs which would otherwise be payable.

(2) Where, in a claim to which Section VI, Section VII or Section VIII of this Part applies, an order for costs is made against a party whom the court considers has behaved unreasonably, the other party may apply for an order that those costs be increased by an amount equivalent to 50% of the fixed recoverable costs which would otherwise be payable.

(2A) The court may also make an order under paragraph (1) or (2) on its own initiative in any case where rule 26.6(6) applies.

(3) In this rule—

(a) unreasonable behaviour is conduct for which there is no reasonable explanation; and

(b) “fixed recoverable costs which would otherwise be payable” does not include—

(i) VAT;

(ii)any additional amounts under rules 36.17 or 36.24; or (iii)any disbursements.