The Civil Procedure (Amendment) Rules 2004

The hearing

65.18.—(1) At the hearing fixed in accordance with rule 65.16(1) or at any adjournment of that hearing the court may—

(a) decide the demotion claim; or

(b) give case management directions.

(2) Where the demotion claim is genuinely disputed on grounds which appear to be substantial, case management directions given under paragraph (1)(b) will include the allocation of the demotion claim to a track or directions to enable it to be allocated.

(3) Except where—

(a) the demotion claim is allocated to the fast track or the multi-track; or

(b) the court directs otherwise,

any fact that needs to be proved by the evidence of witnesses at a hearing referred to in paragraph (1) may be proved by evidence in writing.

(Rule 32.2(1) sets out the general rule about evidence. Rule 32.2(2) provides that rule 32.2(1) is subject to any provision to the contrary)

(4) All witness statements must be filed and served at least two days before the hearing.

(5) Where the claimant serves the claim form and particulars of claim, he must produce at the hearing a certificate of service of those documents and rule 6.14(2)(a) does not apply.