DCB Legal Hearing August 2025

cutlero

Update: Court case is coming up in a couple of days. I haven't heard from a mediator, which seems strange. I did contact them as per the court instructions to say I'm willing to have the mediation call, and they said they would contact me if the other party agrees. But, I guess they didn't want to? I was hoping for a discontinuation but it seems a bit close to the court date now. 

James_Poisson

cutlero said:

Update: Court case is coming up in a couple of days. I haven't heard from a mediator, which seems strange. I did contact them as per the court instructions to say I'm willing to have the mediation call, and they said they would contact me if the other party agrees. But, I guess they didn't want to? I was hoping for a discontinuation but it seems a bit close to the court date now. 

I thought mediation was now compulsory on both parties?

cutlero

Im not sure. I am going through my local court, and I followed their instructions and they said "Your interest in mediation has been noted. If the other party is also willing to mediate, we will email you an appointment confirmation. If one party does not want to mediate, the case will proceed to a County Court hearing."

Either way, any tips for the actual court proceedings are very welcome. Will I need to bring anything in addition to my WS/defence?

Castle

Have you confirmed with the court that they have paid the Hearing fee?

cutlero

Yes I confirmed today, it has been paid.

Castle said:

Have you confirmed with the court that they have paid the Hearing fee?

ChirpyChicken

mediation has never relevance at this point

Le_Kirk

cutlero said:

Either way, any tips for the actual court proceedings are very welcome. Will I need to bring anything in addition to my WS/defence?

Read and know your defence, witness statement and evidence inside out, make yourself a crib sheet so that, if you are given a chance by the judge to talk, you can make sure you get across ALL your points.  Make sure your crib sheet contains pointers from your WS to the evidence page and paragraph. Be there early in case the cases in front of you move up the queue and also to allow time for security checks etc.  Do not allow yourself to be sidetracked into a room so that a well-dressed lawyerly type can "have a few words".  Do not accept any bits of paper.  Have a spare copy of your witness statement in case the claimant tries the "we did not receive the defendant's WS" trick!  Be polite and do not talk over the judge, address the judge as "Judge" even if a lady judge and finally - good luck.  Don't forget, when you win, to ask for your costs. Hopefully you appended a costs supplement to your WS.
Also see this posted today by a successful defendant, @flowercuppatea  Today at 12:23PM <<<<LINK

cutlero

Le_Kirk said:

cutlero said:

Either way, any tips for the actual court proceedings are very welcome. Will I need to bring anything in addition to my WS/defence?

Read and know your defence, witness statement and evidence inside out, make yourself a crib sheet so that, if you are given a chance by the judge to talk, you can make sure you get across ALL your points.  Make sure your crib sheet contains pointers from your WS to the evidence page and paragraph. Be there early in case the cases in front of you move up the queue and also to allow time for security checks etc.  Do not allow yourself to be sidetracked into a room so that a well-dressed lawyerly type can "have a few words".  Do not accept any bits of paper.  Have a spare copy of your witness statement in case the claimant tries the "we did not receive the defendant's WS" trick!  Be polite and do not talk over the judge, address the judge as "Judge" even if a lady judge and finally - good luck.  Don't forget, when you win, to ask for your costs. Hopefully you appended a costs supplement to your WS.
Also see this posted today by a successful defendant, @flowercuppatea  Today at 12:23PM <<<<LINK

Thank you this is extremely helpful