Protocolsforpre-hearingconferencesin“seriousinjury”applicationsunders93of theTransportAccidentAct.
Preamble
On20September 2007,her Honour JudgeDavis ofthe CountyCourt attendedthe LIV’sLitigationLawyersSectionTAC Committeemeeting and setouthervisionfor pre-hearingconferencesinTAC “seriousinjury” applications. The Committee setupasub-committee comprising of Geraldine Collins, TimAdamand(now) Julie Hobbstodraw protocolsto facilitate thepre-hearingconferencesand measurethe outcomes.
Introduction
TheseprotocolsapplytoTAC seriousinjuryapplicationslistedfor hearinginthe CountyCourtonor after Monday17March2008.Itis anticipatedthatthe conferencingwillcommence inFebruary2008.
The pre-hearingconference willbe conductedina spirit ofgoodwill.The partieswilluse their bestendeavorstoensure thatthere isa fullandfrank discussionandtheissuesbetweenthe partiesare fullycanvassed.
Pre-Hearing Conference
1.1Where anOriginatingMotionhas beenlistedfor hearingon or after17
March2008, theproceedingwillbe thesubjectof a formalconference duringthe period42to30days prior tothehearingdateallocated bythe courtandafter the finalexchangeof materialsbythe parties.
1.2The purposeof the conferenceistoattempt toresolve theseriousinjury question. The partieswillenterintoa bona fide discussionof allrelevant issues. The conference isconsideredto beconcluded ifthe matter does notresolve atthe conclusionof the scheduledconference, or if thereis mutualagreementthattherebe ongoingdiscussions,atthe conclusionof those discussions.
1.3The plaintiff must bepresentatthe conference.Itisanticipatedthatthere be meaningfuldialogue withthe plaintiff abouthisor her transport accidentrelatedinjuriesandtheeffectsof thoseinjuriesontheplaintiff. The TAC acceptsthatthismaybe a threateningandstressfuleventfor the plaintiff andagreesthatthedialogueshould bepart of anonthreatening and participativediscussion betweentheplaintiff, hisorher legal
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representative andthe TAC.If the plaintiff isa minoror apersonunder a disability,thentheir litigationguardianmayelecttobepart ofthe conferencingprocessor notattheirdiscretion.
1.4The TAC willensurethata representative whohasthe appropriate authoritywillbe presentatthe conference.
1.5 Whenever possible the conference will beconductedattheMcPhee
MediationCentre (level10, 488Bourke StMelbourne, phoneno. 9670
4003).The TAC agreestomeet theexpense ofthe hiringof roomsat the
McPhee MediationCentre for the conferencing.
Other Matters
2.1 If creditisinissue, the TAC’srepresentative willoutline the creditissues atthe conference andthe creditmaterialwill beprovidedtotheplaintiff’s representative atthe conference. The TACwillnotengage infurther surveillanceonce theconferencehasconcludedsubjecttoclause 3.1to
3.4.
2.2 The partiesagree thatanything saidatthe conferenceis“without prejudice” andcannot bediscussedor referredtoinasubsequentcourt hearingor conference.
2.3 The costsof the conference willbe “costsinthe cause” (exceptfor the expenseof thehiringof the roomsatthe McPheeMediationCentre see
1.5above).If the matter isnotresolvedatthe conference andtheplaintiff isultimatelyunsuccessfulinhisor her seriousinjuryapplication,the TAC willnotseekitscostsof andassociatedwiththe pre-hearingconference in
anycostsorder it seeksagainstthe plaintiff.
OriginatingMotion not Reached
3.1 Shoulda matternotresolve pursuanttothese protocols,itisanticipated thetrialof the OriginatingMotionwillproceedaslisted bytheCourt.If the matterisadjourned ornotreachedanewtrial date (the secondtrial date) willbe fixed bythe Court.
3.2 Betweentheoriginalandthe second trialdate, thepartiesare entitledto obtainfurther material. Allsuchmaterialistobe exchangedinaccordance withthe CourtRulesandinaccordance withthese protocolsnolaterthan
42days priortothe secondtrialdate.
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3.3 Subjecttotheleaveof the Court,nofurthermaterialistobe obtainedby thepartiessubsequentto42days prior tothe second trial date.
3.4If a partyservesnovel ornewmaterialthepartiesmayconsenttotime beingabridgedtoenablethe other partytorespondtothe novel or new material.
3.5 Shouldthe partiesagree,a further conference maybe heldinaccordance withthe terms of these protocols.
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