APIL contends the government failed properly to consult on the new rules, due to come in on 1 October. It argues the rules lack clarity about when fixed costs might apply—the rules say clinical negligence claims valued between £25,000 and £100,000 should move to the intermediate track ‘if both breach of duty and causation have been admitted’, but do not specify at what stage those admissions must be made. If made late, a solicitor will not recoup enough to make the work viable, deterring them from taking on cases within this value bracket.
APIL’s challenge also covers provisions relating to vulnerable people, the exclusion of inquests, the restoration of companies to the Companies Register from the regime, and whether the rules infringe freedom of contract.
