New County Court lists commence in the Commercial Division from 1 March 2022.
The County Court (Chapter I Miscellaneous Amendments) Rules 2021 provide for the Expedited Cases List to become the Complex Cases List from that date. The amending rules provide that the Complex Cases List shall consist of any proceeding that is appropriate for more intensive case management. Transitional provisions in the amending rules provide that proceedings in the Expedited Cases List immediately before 1 March 2022 are, on that day, taken to be entered in the Complex Cases List.
There is also a newly established Arbitration List, for all matters under the Commercial Arbitration Act 2011.
The commentaries in the By Lawyers County Court – Act for the Plaintiff and County Court – Act for the Defendant publications have been updated to include these new County Court lists.
This is the final tranche of changes under these rules amendments. Other changes that have already commenced relate to the preparation and filing of affidavits and exhibits in the County Court, and mediation by the registrar. See our previous News & Updates posts in that regard.