Pleading (England and Wales)
Encyclopedia
Pleading in England and Wales is covered by the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR).
Formal proceedings should be preceded by an initial exchange of correspondence in accordance with the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Protocols. These exchanges are not technically part of the pleading process, and parties are
not encouraged to take points on any discrepancy between pre-action correspondence and the formal statements of case.
Part 16 of the Civil Procedure Rules and its accompanying Practice Direction (CPR PD 16) govern the content of the claim form (equivalent to a Summons
) and statements of case.
The claim form must contain a concise statement of the nature of the claim and specify the remedies which the claimant seeks. It must also contain a statement of value in accordance with CPR 16.3.
The Particulars of Claim (equivalent to a Complaint
) must contain a concise statement of the facts on which the claimant relies, together with details of any interest claimed and whether aggravated damages or provisional damages are claimed.
The Defence (equivalent to an Answer
) must state which allegations of the Particulars of Claim are admitted, which allegations are denied, and which allegations the defendant is unable to admit or deny, but which the claimant is required to prove. A defendant must give reasons for any denial, and must put forward his or her own version of events if different from the claimant's version. The Rules do not speak to affirmative defences (save that CPR PD 16 paragraph 13.1 requires the defendant to give details of the expiry of any limitation period relied on), but a concise statement of any facts relied on in support of any affirmative defence should be included in the Defence.
The claimant may, but need not, respond to the Defence by means of a Reply. Further statements of case following a Reply are possible, but require the court's permission.
The Practice Direction accompanying Part 16 sets out various items which must be included in or served with statements of case in particular circumstances, for example medical reports (paragraphs 4.3 and 12.1) and written contracts (paragraph 7.3).
Statements of case may refer to points of law and include names of witnesses whom it is proposed to call. A party may also attach to or serve with a statement of case any document which is considered necessary to the claim or defence, but which is not required to be attached or served.
The claim form and all statements of case must be verified by a statement of truth, signed by the party or his or her legal representative. A person who makes a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth is liable to be prosecuted for contempt of court.
Counterclaims, claims for contribution or indemnity against another party, and third party claims (collectively referred to as 'additional claims') are governed by CPR Part 20.
A counterclaim should normally be included in the same document ('Defence and Counterclaim') as the defence and should follow on from it. The claimant's defence to the counterclaim should be included in the same document ('Reply and Defence to Counterclaim') as the reply and shouldfollow on from the reply.
A claim for contribution or indemnity against another party is made by serving and filing a notice containing a statement of the nature and grounds of the claim.
A third-party claim is made by issuing and serving a third-party claim form (equivalent to a Summons
), together with particulars of the third party claim.
An additional claim is treated as a normal claim unless Part 20 otherwise provides, so the rules on contents of claim forms, Particulars of Claim, Defences and Replies apply accordingly, although the title of the statement of case should be modified to make clear who is pleading, and which statement of case, if any, is being responded to.
Amendment of statements of case is governed by CPR Part 17, and requests for information about statements of case are governed by CPR Part 18.
Formal proceedings should be preceded by an initial exchange of correspondence in accordance with the Practice Direction on Pre-Action Protocols. These exchanges are not technically part of the pleading process, and parties are
not encouraged to take points on any discrepancy between pre-action correspondence and the formal statements of case.
Part 16 of the Civil Procedure Rules and its accompanying Practice Direction (CPR PD 16) govern the content of the claim form (equivalent to a Summons
Summons
Legally, a summons is a legal document issued by a court or by an administrative agency of government for various purposes.-Judicial summons:...
) and statements of case.
The claim form must contain a concise statement of the nature of the claim and specify the remedies which the claimant seeks. It must also contain a statement of value in accordance with CPR 16.3.
The Particulars of Claim (equivalent to a Complaint
Complaint
In legal terminology, a complaint is a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons that the filing party or parties In legal terminology, a complaint is a formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see: cause of action) that the filing party or parties In...
) must contain a concise statement of the facts on which the claimant relies, together with details of any interest claimed and whether aggravated damages or provisional damages are claimed.
The Defence (equivalent to an Answer
Answer
Generally, an answer is a reply to a question or is a solution, a retaliation, or a response that is relevant to the said question.In law, an answer was originally a solemn assertion in opposition to some one or something, and thus generally any counter-statement or defense, a reply to a question...
) must state which allegations of the Particulars of Claim are admitted, which allegations are denied, and which allegations the defendant is unable to admit or deny, but which the claimant is required to prove. A defendant must give reasons for any denial, and must put forward his or her own version of events if different from the claimant's version. The Rules do not speak to affirmative defences (save that CPR PD 16 paragraph 13.1 requires the defendant to give details of the expiry of any limitation period relied on), but a concise statement of any facts relied on in support of any affirmative defence should be included in the Defence.
The claimant may, but need not, respond to the Defence by means of a Reply. Further statements of case following a Reply are possible, but require the court's permission.
The Practice Direction accompanying Part 16 sets out various items which must be included in or served with statements of case in particular circumstances, for example medical reports (paragraphs 4.3 and 12.1) and written contracts (paragraph 7.3).
Statements of case may refer to points of law and include names of witnesses whom it is proposed to call. A party may also attach to or serve with a statement of case any document which is considered necessary to the claim or defence, but which is not required to be attached or served.
The claim form and all statements of case must be verified by a statement of truth, signed by the party or his or her legal representative. A person who makes a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth is liable to be prosecuted for contempt of court.
Counterclaims, claims for contribution or indemnity against another party, and third party claims (collectively referred to as 'additional claims') are governed by CPR Part 20.
A counterclaim should normally be included in the same document ('Defence and Counterclaim') as the defence and should follow on from it. The claimant's defence to the counterclaim should be included in the same document ('Reply and Defence to Counterclaim') as the reply and shouldfollow on from the reply.
A claim for contribution or indemnity against another party is made by serving and filing a notice containing a statement of the nature and grounds of the claim.
A third-party claim is made by issuing and serving a third-party claim form (equivalent to a Summons
Summons
Legally, a summons is a legal document issued by a court or by an administrative agency of government for various purposes.-Judicial summons:...
), together with particulars of the third party claim.
An additional claim is treated as a normal claim unless Part 20 otherwise provides, so the rules on contents of claim forms, Particulars of Claim, Defences and Replies apply accordingly, although the title of the statement of case should be modified to make clear who is pleading, and which statement of case, if any, is being responded to.
Amendment of statements of case is governed by CPR Part 17, and requests for information about statements of case are governed by CPR Part 18.