1.4—(1) The court must further the overriding objective by actively managing cases.
(2) Active case management includes —
(a)encouraging the parties to co-operate with each other in the conduct of the proceedings;
(b)identifying the issues at an early stage;
(c)deciding promptly which issues need full investigation and trial and accordingly disposing summarily of the others;
(d)deciding the order in which issues are to be resolved;
(e)[F1ordering or encouraging the parties to use, and facilitating the use of, alternative dispute resolution];
(f)helping the parties to settle the whole or part of the case;
(g)fixing timetables or otherwise controlling the progress of the case;
(h)considering whether the likely benefits of taking a particular step justify the cost of taking it;
(i)dealing with as many aspects of the case as it can on the same occasion;
(j)dealing with the case without the parties needing to attend at court;
(k)making use of technology; and
(l)giving directions to ensure that the trial of a case proceeds quickly and efficiently.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in rule 1.4(2)(e) substituted (1.10.2024) by The Civil Procedure (Amendment No. 3) Rules 2024 (S.I. 2024/839), rules 1(1), 3(2)
Commencement Information
I1Rule 1.4 in force at 26.4.1999, see Signature