The track system

• tracks


  small claims

  fast track

  multi track
• small claims - court

  county court
• small claims - amount

  up to £10,000 or £1500 in Personal Injury (PI)
• small claims - heard by

  district judge
• small claims - costs


  claimant pays own
• small claims - formality

  Informal
• small claims - lawyers

  discouraged
• small claims - legal rep

  not required
• Fast track - court

  County Court
• Fast track - amount

  £10,000 - £25,000

  over £1500 in PI
• Fast track - heard by

  district/circuit judge
• Fast track - costs

  loser pays all legal fees
• Fast track - timetable


  fixed (30 weeks)
• Fast track - days in court

  1
• Fast track - expert witnesses

  1
• Fast track - legal representation


  can have legal rep
• Multi track - court


  county/high
• Multi track - amount


  Above £25,000 or complex PI
• Multi track - heard by

  circuit judge usually

  district judge can do up to £30,000 with permission
• Multi track - costs (standard)


  equal costs to each
• Multi track - costs (indemnity)


  More lenient and less costs to one side, typically due to lack of conformity on other side
• Multi track - formality


  most formal
• Multi track - timetable

  loose timetable (around 72 weeks)
• Multi track - judge must take a ------- approach

  hands on
• Multi track - examples of judge interference

  interim hearings