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Civil contempt proceedings—checklist This Checklist on civil contempt proceedings summarises the different types of civil contempt, the key factors to consider when bringing proceedings for civil contempt, whether permission is required, how to make the application and what to include in it. This Checklist also considers the potential adverse costs consequences of making an unsuccessful application for civil contempt. Considerations Guidance Further guidance and information The different types of civil contempt It is important to understand the different types of civil contempt.Civil contempt proceedings under CPR 81 may be brought for non-compliance with a court order or undertaking or knowingly making a false statement in any affidavit, affirmation or other document verified by a statement of truth or in a disclosure statement. They can also be brought for interference with the due administration of justice or contempt committed in the face of court (ie where the contempt is directly in the court’s presence).It is often the case that a particular allegation straddles more than one type of civil contempt....
Procedural guide—Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (civil remedy) The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (PHA 1997) makes it an offence to pursue a course of conduct that amounts to harassment and creates a civil tort allowing for a claim for damages and ancillary injunctions. The High Court and county court can grant an injunction for personal protection by forbidding harassment. Where clients are unable to avail themselves of the provisions of the Family Law Act 1996 (FLA 1996) because they do not satisfy the criteria or eligibility, or where damages are sought, then their solution may lie under the PHA 1997. Claims under the PHA 1997 are not 'family proceedings' and applications are governed by the Civil Procedure Rules 1998, SI 1998/3132 (CPR). Criteria The relevant legislative provisions are contained in the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. PHA 1997 Harassment is any course of conduct which might be seen by a reasonable person to amount to harassment. The victim of a course of conduct prohibited by PHA 1997, s...
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Social media and user-generated content This Practice Note examines some of the key risks associated with a brand’s usage of social media and user-generated content (UGC). Its particular focus is on the potential infringement of third party rights, such as intellectual property (IP). It provides practical guidance on how parties engaged in such activities can mitigate those risks. Social media Social media is an extremely popular means of communicating online. Based on user participation and interaction, social media takes a variety of forms, including: • online social and business networking (eg Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Instagram) • online blogs (eg Twitter (now X), Blogger.com) • online forums (eg Mumsnet, Reddit) • online shops and auctions (eg eBay, Amazon) • online digital media sharing (eg YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, TikTok) • online reference texts (eg Wikipedia) • online games and applications (eg World of Warcraft) User-generated content Increasingly, businesses are encouraging consumers to contribute material to social media platforms and are incorporating these contributions into consumer-focused advertising and marketing campaigns. Often, this might...
Witness statements in Scottish civil litigation This practice note discusses the use of witness statements for witnesses to fact in the Scottish courts with reference to relevant rules, guidance and case law and provides some practical drafting points. It does not cover expert witnesses, precognition of witnesses, affidavit formalities, intimation and lodging of lists of witnesses, taking of witness evidence at a commission, citation of witnesses for proof, oral examination and cross-examination of witnesses, assessment of witness evidence, vulnerable witnesses or witness expenses. For a style witness statement, see Precedent: Witness statement—Scottish civil proceedings. For guidance on: • issues to consider before bringing a civil claim in a Scottish court and other aspects of starting and progressing a civil claim in Scotland, see: Scottish DR: prescription and limitation—overview, Scottish DR: starting a claim—overview and Scottish DR: case management and evidence—overview respectively, which link through to more detailed guidance • other key areas of Scottish law and procedure, see our Scotland toolkit • the equivalent in England and Wales, see: Planning,...
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Claim against a driver for a collision caused by misleading signals IN THE COUNTY COURT AT [insert] Claim No: Parties 1 A B Claimant and 2 X Y Defendant _____________________________________________________________________________ PARTICULARS OF CLAIM _____________________________________________________________________________ 1 At all material times, the Claimant was the owner and driver of a [insert make and model of vehicle] registration number [insert registration number]. The Defendant was the owner and driver of a [insert make and model of vehicle] registration number [insert registration number]. 2 On [insert date], the Claimant was lawfully waiting at the intersection of [insert street name] and [insert street name, town, county]. The Claimant was stationary and preparing to turn left. As she waited, the Defendant’s vehicle approached from the Claimant’s right. The Defendant’s vehicle slowed and signalled to turn left into the Claimant’s street. In reliance on the Defendant’s signal, the Claimant commenced her left turn. The Defendant failed to turn left and proceeded across the junction, colliding with the Claimant’s vehicle. 3 The accident was caused...
Witness statement in support of application for substituted service of a bankruptcy petition Applicant: [insert initials and surname]: 1st: (exhibits).1–4: [insert date] 20[insert year] Court Reference No: [INSERT COURT REF. NUMBER] [ IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS [OF ENGLAND AND WALES OR IN [INSERT LOCATION]] INSOLVENCY AND COMPANIES LIST (ChD) OR IN THE COUNTY COURT AT [INSERT LOCATION] [BUSINESS AND PROPERTY COURTS LIST] OR IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE CHANCERY DIVISION [INSERT LOCATION] DISTRICT REGISTRY ] IN BANKRUPTCY IN THE MATTER OF [INSERT DEBTOR’S OR BANKRUPT’S NAME] AND IN THE MATTER OF THE INSOLVENCY ACT 1986 [Insert name of the full name of the petitioning creditor]        Applicant And [Insert name of the debtor]        [Respondent OR Respondents] Witness statement of [insert name of the person making the statement], the solicitor for the petitioning creditor in support of an application for an order for substituted service of a bankruptcy petition I, [insert name of the person making the statement], of [insert the witnesses’ details...
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How can I enforce an order for pre-action disclosure and costs? Firstly, it would be prudent to look at the terms of the pre-action disclosure order to see if it mentions anything regarding enforcement. For an example order, see Precedent: Order for pre-action disclosure. Effect of non-compliance Compliance refers to the parties’ need to comply with the court’s rules, practice directions and orders (CPR 1.1(2)(f) and CPR 3.8)—see Practice Note: Case management—compliance. Note: rules and guidance can be set out in any applicable court guide, as well as in the CPR. To access various court guides, see Practice Note: Court guides and other guidance. Failing to comply with civil procedural rules, practice directions and/or court orders can increase the amount of time it takes for a dispute to be resolved and/or the costs of doing so. These delays and costs affect other court users, as well as the parties to the instant proceedings. Conversely, effective and efficient case and costs management can minimise the time...
If a person is committed for contempt of court and is sentenced to prison, will this appear on their criminal record? As was noted in Phonographic Performance Ltd v Ellis (t/a Bla Bla Bar), the power to imprison for contempt of court arises out of the inherent jurisdiction of the Court, but is subject to the provisions of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (CCA 1981). By virtue of CCA 1981, s 14 a sentence of imprisonment may be imposed for contempt of court, but for no more than two years (see also Palmer v Tsai). This is limited to a period of one month for committal ordered by the inferior courts. Further, specific statutory powers may limit the period further. The CCA 1981 does not expressly make contempt of court a criminal offence. Whether the contempt is a criminal offence is a question of whether the form of contempt is a civil or criminal contempt. As was noted in Re: Yaxley-Lennon: ‘It is...
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This week’s edition of Family weekly highlights includes details of the changes to the HMCTS Family Public Law service to improve the Form C110a application journey and a speech delivered by the Master of the Rolls, Sir Geoffrey Vos, at the International Forum on Online Dispute Resolution considering the role of the Digital Justice System in resolving disputes, together with the new Online Procedure Rules (Specified Proceedings) Regulations 2025. The Court of Appeal’s clarification of whether a local authority with a care order for a child can consent to that child's confinement is analysed. Recent judgments, including the application for the appointment and funding of a lay advocate and declaration of non-parentage post-adoption are included.
This week's edition of IP weekly highlights includes: a hand-picked summary of news analysis, updates and new content from the world of IP. These highlights focus on the key rights of copyright and associated rights, database rights, trade marks and passing off, designs, and patents, as well as covering issues relating to confidential information, know-how R&D and IP disputes all mainly from a UK and European perspective.
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