Labrouche v Frey and others [2012] EWCA Civ 881, [2012] All ER (D) 33 (Jul)
Court of Appeal, Civil Division, Lord Neuberger MR, Lord Justice Moses and Lord Justice Rimer, 3 Jul 2012
A judge is not entitled to refuse to hear oral argument on an application, however dim a view he takes of the application having read the papers.
Simon Taube QC, Marcus Staff and Justin Higgo (instructed by Carter Perry Bailey LLP) for the claimant. Paul Newman QC, Emily Campbell (instructed by Collyer Bristow LLP) and Michael Furness QC and Tiffany Scott (instructed by Boodle Hatfield LLP) for the defendants.
The claimant was a vested beneficiary under a will. The defendants were the trustees. By the proceedings the claimant sought various orders against the defendants. The defendants applied to strike out the proceedings. The application was listed with a three-day time estimate. At the start of the hearing, the judge stated to the defendants’ counsel that he had attempted to read the papers and was firmly of the view that an argument
