ABSTRACT
Rule 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 decided; (e) encouraging the parties to use an alternative dispute
resolution procedure if the court considers that appropriate and facilitating the use of such procedure;
(f) helping the parties settle the whole or part of the case; (g) fixing timetables or otherwise controlling the progress
of the case; (h) considering whether the likely benefit of taking a
particular step justify the cost of taking it; (i) dealing with the case without the parties needing to
attend court; (j) making use of technology; and (k) giving directions to ensure that the trial of a case
proceeds quickly and efficiently.’
