Civil way: 21 July 2017

Determination of a small claim with the claimant in a phone kiosk, the defendant on Brighton beach and the district judge in the bath, hasn’t arrived quite yet. But what we shall lovingly be calling the streamlined Civil Money Claims service will be launching its first pilot on 31 July 2017. Over a period of 20 weeks a selection of Money On Line LiP claimants after no more than a specified £10,000 will be invited to join in and be guided by a series of prompts into formulating their claim form and particulars after a reminder that they can contact the defendant and how the claim might otherwise be settled. This approach will be mirrored for selected LiP defendants who are set on contesting. Participation by both parties will be voluntary. A further nine pilots (call them ‘themes’) will follow on until ultimately the bath is filled.

A second pilot for the issue by legal representatives of on line unspecified money claims is destined to begin later this summer. Alas, the