Administration of Justice Act 1982

Part I U.K. Section Inserted in [F1 Senior Courts Act 1981]

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 1 Pt. I Heading for the words "Supreme Court Act 1981" wherever they occur there is substituted (1.10.2009) the words "Senior Courts Act 1981" by virtue of Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148(1), Sch. 11 para. 1(2); S.I. 2009/1604, art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 The text of s. 4, 6(1)(2), 14(1)(2)(4), 15(1)(3)(6), 16–19, 28(7), 34, 35, 49–54, 56–59, 61, 63–67, 69(1)(2), 70, 72(1), 75, Sch. 1 Pts. I, III, IV, Sch. 3 Pt. III para. 7, Sch. 4 Pt. I, Sch. 6 paras. 2–9, Sch. 7 Pts. I, II, Sch. 7 Pt. III paras 2, 3, Sch. 8, Sch. 9 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.

Power of High Court to award interest on debts and damages. U.K.

35A (1) Subject to rules of court, in proceedings (when-ever instituted) before the High Court for the recovery of a debt or damages there may be included in any sum for which judgement is given simple interest, at such rate as the court thinks fit or as rules of court may provide, on all or any part of the debt or damages in respect of which judgement, for all or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and—

(a) in the case of any sum paid before judgement, the date of the payment; and

(b) in the case of the sum for which judgement is given, the date of the judgement.

(2) In relation to a judgement given for damages for personal injuries or death which exceed £200 subsection (1) shall have effect—

(a) with the substitution of “shall be included” for “may be included”; and

(b) with the addition of “unless the court is satisfied that there are special reasons to the contrary” after “given” where first occuring.

(3) Subject to rules of court, where—

(a) there are proceedings (whenever instituted) before the High Court for the recovery of a debt; and

(b) the defendant pays the whole debt to the plaintiff (otherwise than in the pursuance of a judgement in the proceedings),

the defendant shall be liable to pay the plaintiff simple interest at such rate as the court thinks fit or as rules of court may provide on all or any part of the debt for all or any part of the period between the date when the cause of action arose and the date of the payment.

(4) Interest in respect of a debt shall not be awarded under this section for a period during which, for whatever reason, interest on the debt already runs.

(5) Without prejudice to the generality of section 84, rules of court may provide for a rate of interest by reference to the rate specified in section 17 of the Judgments Act 1838 as that section has effect from time to time or by reference to a rate for which any other enactment provides.

(6) Interest under this section may be calculated at different rates in respect of different periods.

(7) In this section “plaintiff” means the person seeking the debt or damages and “defendent” means the person from whom the plaintiff seeks the debt or damages and “personal injuries” includes any disease and any impairment of a person’s physical or mental condition.

(8) Nothing in this section affects the damages recoverable for the dishonour of a bill of exchange.