Infant Approval Hearings - Avoiding the Pitfalls - Webinar

Introduction

This webinar will guide claimant and defendant practitioners through some of the more common stumbling blocks and practical issues arising in infant approval hearings.

Following a brief look at the procedural framework for infant approval hearings and first principles, this webinar will answer some common questions about preparing for the hearing, before turning to more tricky issues.

This webinar is aimed at both personal injury and clinical negligence lawyers.

What You Will Learn

This webinar will cover the following:

• A quick guide to the April 2023 changes to CPR Part 21
• Approval hearings for voluntary interim payments prior to issue
• First principles and the court’s protective function at infant approval hearings
• Answers to some common questions about hearing preparation including:
• Should I provide a witness statement for the hearing?
• Does the litigation friend have to attend the hearing?
• Do I always need to provide an Opinion from Counsel?
• Do I still need an approval hearing if the protected party has died?
• Pitfalls to avoid - this will touch on:
• Key documents
• Privilege
• Form of the order
• Anonymity orders (new form as of March 2024)
• Counsel’s advice
• Form of Investment of the award
• Deductions from damages and costs
• SCCO Practice Note
• BCX v DTA
• X v H & H Hennes
• MNO v HKC & Anor