Seconds out over statements; B&PC disclosure lite; Landlords at the double; Insolvency PD; Land Registry fees up
WITNESS STATEMENT PUNCH-UP
Factual witness statements in the Business and Property Courts (B&PC) are purgatory. Those aggrieved are giving serious consideration to the protest blockage of all accessways to the RCJ with copies of the Green Book and downloads of PD 57A and its statement of best practice glued to the ground.
Mansion Place Ltd v Fox Industrial Services Ltd [2021] EWHC 2747 (TCC) ought to discourage satellite litigation on compliance disputes. In this case, the three-day shorter trial building dispute was due to kick off on 18 October 2021. Four days earlier Mrs Justice O’Farrell and the rest of the cast were occupied for a one-day battle over compliance cross-applications which ended with some redactions here and some redactions there and an indication that costs should be in the case. Here’s the meat.
‘Give us a break’ Where non-compliance is alleged, the parties should attempt to reach an agreement. If not possible, an application should be made for a determination