Civil way: 22 March 2013

JACKCHAT

The avalanche of Jackson legislation continues unabated. The Civil Procedure (Amendment No 2) Rules 2013 (SI 2013/515) amend the amended and facilitate the opt out of costs budgeting for plus £2m Chancery, Construction and Technology and Mercantile Court claims (see Civil way). They also fine-tune transitional measures by providing that costs incurred in respect of work done before 1 April 2013 will not be subject to the new standard basis proportionality test (proportionality trumping reasonableness) (see again Civil way).

A tiny 61st update has been issued which introduces a new PD51I covering a second six month mediation service pilot scheme for small claims as from 1 April 2013. The first pilot scheme brought to us by PD51H lapses (see Civil way). Free mediation will be available where both parties are willing to tango in claims up to £10,000 (apart from road traffic accident, personal injury and housing disrepair claims) issued not simply out of the CCMCC but issued out of the Production