Is Litigation the Answer?

Litigation is always meant to be the last resort, and the court will not look favourably on you if lodge proceedings against someone as a means of ‘flexing your legal muscles.’ There are two main elements to consider. Firstly, will taking someone to court actually achieve anything?

Litigation is not meant to be a means of ‘punishing’ someone, but rather an action that you take in order to put something right. This means you should have suffered some kind of ‘loss’ rather than using litigation as merely a punishment. Secondly, have you been left with no option but to lodge proceedings?

The CPR

The Civil Procedure Rules provide ‘pre-action protocols’ which provide guidance for individuals who are considering litigation against another party. There are specific protocols for different types of legal action. If there is no specific pre-action procedure for your type of claim, you are still expected to follow the general guidance. The following questionnaire encompasses the basic elements that you are expected to have followed prior to lodging proceedings. If in doubt, always ask a legal professional for advice.

When To Take The Matter To Court

The following is a useful checklist to help you determine whether it is the right time to lodge proceedings.

1. Is the person you intend to sue aware of the dispute you have with them? If they are aware of the dispute, have they tried to resolve it?

2. Have you tried to resolve the situation in other ways i.e. by telephoning, writing letters, emails, or negotiating in person?

3. Have they made any concessions, offered to try to sort out the situation or suggested a compromise?

4. Have you sent at least one letter? As soon as you have enough information available to do so, you should send a letter to the person with whom you have a dispute. This letter should:i) outline the nature of the dispute ii) provide copies of appropriate supporting evidence where applicable (e.g. in the case of an unpaid invoice, a copy of that invoice)iii) ask for either an acknowledgment of your letter, or payment in full (or whatever is applicable)

5. Have you given them a last chance? In other words, have you sent them a final letter, making a clear request as to what you want, and providing a timescale within which they have to respond ‘otherwise you will have no option to lodge proceedings in the county court.’ Be warned about issuing empty threats: if you do not intend to lodge proceedings once you have threatened to do so, any subsequent actions risk losing their ‘punch.’

6. If the person contacts you by telephone or in person when they receive this letter, try to negotiate a definite period of time within which the problem should be rectified. One technique is to ask them to suggest a resolution, and to repeat it to them to confirm it. If they send a letter back to you, suggesting a resolution, make sure you acknowledge it and either accept or reject the proposals in it.

Once the period of time you specified in your ‘last chance’ letter has expired, lodge proceedings in the small claims court. Bear in mind that you will have to pay court fees to lodge proceedings, so you have to factor in this cost before you decide whether it will be worth it.