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30 April 2009 / Richard Scorer
Issue: 7367 / Categories: Features , Personal injury
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Jurisdiction matters

Part one: Richard Scorer reviews the reverse impact of Rome II

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For personal injury lawyers, accidents occurring in a foreign jurisdiction can present a host of complex and difficult issues.

Should the claim for damages be brought in the jurisdiction where the accident occurred, or in the English courts? If the latter, what law should the English court apply—the law of England, or the law of the jurisdiction where the accident occurred? How is the answer to that question affected by whether the issue to be determined by the English court relates to liability for the accident, or to quantum of damages? These issues are now more than ever under the spotlight as a result of Regulation 864/2007/EC on “the law applicable to non-contractual obligations” —a measure more commonly referred to as “Rome II”.

Time for change (again)

Rome II lays down a new body of choice of law rules for tort cases. It effectively replaces the existing law laid down in the Private International Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 (PIL(MP)A 1995). This has itself been the subject of

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Jurit LLP—Caroline Williams

Private wealth and tax team welcomes cross-border specialist as consultant

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

Freeths—Michelle Kirkland Elias

International hospitality and leisure specialist joins corporate team as partner

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Flint Bishop—Deborah Niven

Firm appoints head of intellectual property to drive northern growth

NEWS
Talk of a reserved ‘Welsh seat’ on the Supreme Court is misplaced. In NLJ this week, Professor Graham Zellick KC explains that the Constitutional Reform Act treats ‘England and Wales’ as one jurisdiction, with no statutory Welsh slot
The government’s plan to curb jury trials has sparked ‘jury furore’. Writing in NLJ this week, David Locke, partner at Hill Dickinson, says the rationale is ‘grossly inadequate’
A year after the $1.5bn Bybit heist, crypto fraud is booming—but so is recovery. Writing in NLJ this week, Neil Holloway, founder and CEO of M2 Recovery, warns that scams hit at least $14bn in 2025, fuelled by ‘pig butchering’ cons and AI deepfakes
After Woodcock confirmed no general duty to warn, debate turns to the criminal law. Writing in NLJ this week, Charles Davey of The Barrister Group urges revival of misprision or a modern equivalent
Family courts are tightening control of expert evidence. Writing in NLJ this week, Dr Chris Pamplin says there is ‘no automatic right’ to call experts; attendance must be ‘necessary in the interests of justice’ under FPR Pt 25
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