Act of Sederunt (Simple Procedure) 2016

PART 21: GlossaryS

21.1What is this Part about?
(1)This Part contains a guide for litigants, lay representatives and courtroom supporters to the meaning of certain legal words and expressions used in these rules.
Word or expressionMeaning
Additional respondentA person who is not named as a respondent by the claimant in the Claim Form but who enters the case later.
Admitting a claimWhere the respondent accepts the claim made by the claimant, including the things which the claimant wants from the respondent.
AppealAsking the Sheriff Appeal Court to reverse or vary the decision of a sheriff on a point of law.
ApplicationA way for a party to ask the court to do something by sending it and other parties a written application in a special form.
Arrestment on the dependenceAn order freezing the respondent's funds or good held by a third party (typically money held in a bank account), in advance of the sheriff making a decision in a case.
Case management discussionAn informal discussion of how a case is progressing, involving the sheriff and the parties.
Cite a witnessDemand that a witness attend a hearing by an officer of court formally serving a Witness Citation Notice.
ClaimThe things which the claimant wants from the respondent.
ClaimantThe person making a claim.
Courtroom supporterA person who may accompany a party in court to provide moral support.
DecisionThe final order which the sheriff makes about the merits of a case, setting out who has been successful.
DiscussionA discussion of a particular issue (such as an application), involving the sheriff and the parties, which may take place in court.
Dismissing a claimAn order by the sheriff ending the case without deciding which party has been successful.
ExpensesThe contribution the court can order one party to make towards how much it costs another party to conduct a case.
Formal serviceThe formal process of sending a copy of a court document to a party or other person.
HearingAn appearance by both parties in court at which witnesses and evidence can be considered and the sheriff will make a decision.
Last date for a responseThe date by which the Respondent must [F1respond to the claim by sending a Response Form to the court and to the claimant, or respond to the claim by sending a Time to Pay Application to the court].
Last date for serviceThe date by which the Claim Form must be formally served on the respondent.
Lay representativeA representative who is not a lawyer.
Legal representativeA representative who is a lawyer.
LodgeTo deposit documents and other evidence to the sheriff clerk before a hearing, for their use at that hearing.
OrderA direction given by the sheriff to the parties telling them what they must do or what will happen next in a case.
PartyA person involved on one side of a simple procedure case – either a claimant or a respondent.
PauseTemporarily suspend the progress of a case.
Portal on the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service websiteThe portal for conducting a simple procedure case at http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/.
Principles of simple procedureThe 5 principles listed in rule 1.2.
Provisional orderAn order which protects or secures a claimant's position before a hearing, such as freezing a sum of money in the respondent's bank account.
RecallAn order cancelling a decision made by the sheriff.
RepresentativeA person who assists a party and speaks on their behalf in court, who may be either a legal representative or a lay representative.
RespondentThe person a claim is made against.
ResponseThe respondent's reasons why the claim should not be successful.
RestartResuming the progress of a paused case.
SendSending something in a way provided for in Part 6 of the rules.
SheriffThe judge who will decide a simple procedure case.
Sheriff clerkA court official who provides administrative support to the sheriff.
Sheriff officerA court officer who may formally serve court documents.
Simple procedure caseA claim which is registered by the sheriff clerk.
TimetableThe dates by which the first two steps that the parties must take in a simple procedure case are to be completed – the last date for service and the last date for a response.
Time to payAn order giving the respondent time to pay the claimant in instalments or in a deferred lump sum.
Trading nameA name under which a person, partnership or company carries out its business.