Professional Negligence: Statements of Case

We specialise in professional negligence claims and have years of experience in handling, settling and resolving negligence disputes.

Our City of London solicitors and barristers have market-leading experience of providing bespoke legal advice and bringing complex claims to settlement. As a leading law firm regularly featuring in the legal news and mainstream media and with a track record of success, you can be assured your negligence claim will proceed with precision and care from the outset of our instruction.

What is a Professional Negligence Claim Form?

The claimant starts proceedings by issuing a claim form and paying the required fee. If the claim is for a sum of money, the fee is between £35 and £10,000, depending on the value of the claim. If the claim is for any remedy other than the recovery of a sum of money, then a fee of £465 or £175 is payable in the High Court or a county court, respectively.

What goes in a Claim Form?

The claim form contains a concise statement of the nature of the claim and the remedy sought (for example, damages). Where the claimant is making a claim for money, the claim form must also include a statement of value of the amount claimed.

When should I serve the Claim Form?

The claim form must be served on the defendant. The general rule is that service must be within four months after the date of issue, where the claim form is served within the jurisdiction, and within six months of the date of issue, where it is served out of the jurisdiction.

What goes in the Particulars of Claim?

The particulars of claim must set out full details of the claim, including the alleged facts on which the claim is based. The particulars may be included on the claim form. However, in a complex claim they are usually contained in a separate document.

When must I serve the Particulars of Claim?

The particulars of claim must be served on the defendant within 14 days of service of the claim form in most courts (or within 28 days of service of the acknowledgment of service in the Commercial Court). Where a claim form is served at the end of its four or six months expiry period the particulars must be served at the same time. 

What should be in a Defence to a Professional Negligence Claim?

Unless the defendant admits the whole of the claim, he must file a defence. In the defence, the defendant must state which allegations in the particulars of claim he admits, which he denies and which are either admitted or denied but he requires the claimant to prove. Where the defendant denies an allegation, he must state reasons for the denial and put forward his own version of events.

When must a Defence be filed?

The defendant must file a defence either:

  • Within 14 days after service of the particulars of claim, if he has not filed an acknowledgment of service.
  • Within 28 days after service of the particulars of claim, if he has filed an acknowledgment of service.

Can the parties agree to an extension of time to file a Defence?

The parties may agree an extension of time of up to an additional 28 days for filing the defence. If the defendant wants more time, he will need to apply to court for a longer extension. If a defence is not filed, the claimant can apply to the court for judgment in default of defence.

What is in the counterclaim?

The defendant may make a counterclaim against the claimant, or an additional claim against another party to the claim or a third party. For example, he may make a claim for a contribution or indemnity from another party.

A counterclaim against the claimant, or an additional claim for contribution or indemnity against another party may be served with the defence without the court’s permission, or at any other time with the court’s permission.

Should I file a Reply to a Defence?

A claimant is not obliged to file a reply to the defence. If the claimant files a reply that does not deal with a matter raised in the defence, they are not taken to have admitted that matter, but are taken to require that matter to be proved by the defendant.

Do I need to file a Defence to a Counterclaim?

If a counterclaim has been served, a defence to the counterclaim should normally be filed within 14 days of service of the counterclaim.

What goes in the Statement of Truth?

Certain documents (including statements of case and witness statements) must be verified by a statement of truth. A statement of truth is a statement confirming that the person making it believes that the facts stated in the document are true.

A failure to verify a document can have severe repercussions. For example, if a statement of case is not verified, the party will be unable to rely on it as evidence of any of the matters set out in it. It could even be struck out, although this is rare. There are also penalties for signing a statement of truth without an honest belief in the truth of the facts being verified.

Should I instruct a barrister to draft pleadings?

In some cases, it may be appropriate to instruct an independent barrister or counsel before, or shortly after, proceedings have commenced. Working in conjunction with our litigation solicitors, specialist independent counsel can give advice on the merits and assist with the preparation of the statement of case.t

Outside London? We provide nationwide and international representation

If you are based in England and Wales we will represent you.

If you are based internationally and live abroad but the jurisdiction of your case is in England and Wales, we can represent you.

If you contact us through our contact form, by email or by phone, one of our professional negligence team members will contact you by phone to discuss your matter and assess whether we can help you.

Following your instructions, we will arrange a conference with a senior member of our professional negligence team. This meeting will take place either in person or using our telephone conference facilities or via Skype if you prefer. Therefore, no matter where you are based, we can represent you.

Need a second opinion in your professional negligence claim?

Need a second opinion on your litigation? Our solicitors & barristers can help by assessing your case prospects. We have dual-qualified lawyers, so if our view is your case has limited merit or high risk we warn you in our first meeting.

Some firms offer free meetings with unqualified or junior lawyers and only after you’ve spent more do you get advice from a senior partner or barrister possibly that the case shouldn’t be pursued. Some of our professional negligence cases against lawyers are based on this type of possibly negligent approach.

We do things differently from all other law firms in England & Wales. We offer you partner and counsel-led advice in our first meeting, for a heavily discounted fixed fee. That way our best solicitors and barristers can review your litigation case and give you the correct advice at the outset, when it matters the most.

Do you need expert advice on a professional negligence claim?

We specialise in professional negligence claims and have years of experience in handling, settling and resolving negligence disputes.

Our City of London solicitors and barristers have market-leading experience of providing bespoke legal advice and bringing complex claims to settlement. As a leading law firm regularly featuring in the legal news and mainstream media and with a track record of success, you can be assured your negligence claim will proceed with precision and care from the outset of our instruction.

Instruct Specialist Professional Negligence Solicitors

We are a specialist City of London law firm made up of Solicitors & Barristers operating from the only law firm based in the Middle Temple Inns of Court adjacent to the Royal Courts of Justice. Our team have expertise in advising on claims for compensation against professionals that have fallen below the standard expected, which causes clients financial or personal loss. We are experienced in bringing successful claims against negligent solicitors, barristers, financial advisers, surveyors, valuers, architects, tax advisers and IFAs.

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