Difference between revisions of "Small Claims Trial/Pre-Trial Conferences (20:XII)"

At most registries, a pre-trial conference will be scheduled for claims with trials that are scheduled to be  longer  than  one  half-day.    In  many  ways  this  is  similar  to  a  settlement  conference.  There  are basically  no  rules  for  pre-trial  conferences.  The  general  purpose  is  to  ensure  that  the  parties  are prepared for trial, that all orders have been complied with, that all disclosure has been made, and that all witnesses will attend the trial. The judge will try to narrow the number of witnesses to reduce court time.  In  addition,  the  judge  will  review  the  admissibility  of  documentary  evidence,  particularly  that  of written  evidence.  The  judge  will  also  ensure  that  the  matter  falls  within  the  jurisdictional  limits  of  the Small Claims Court and that the claim is not beyond its limitation period. Finally, even at this late date, the judge will encourage  the claimants  and defendants  to  settle  the  matter. The  parties  may receive an order  allowing  another  30  days  after  the  pre-trial conference  to  serve a  formal  settlement  offer  to  the opposing  party.  The  offer  to  settle  must  be  made  according  to  Rule  10.1  and  penalties  may  apply  to parties  who  refuse  the formal offer to  settle. For example, if  the court after  trial grants the claimant a sum that is equal to or less than the defendant’s formal settlement offer, the claimant can be ordered topay the defendant a penalty of up to 20 per cent of the settlement offer. It  is  not  uncommon  for  Judges  at  a  pre-trial  conference  to  decide  the  case  based  on  the  law  without hearing any evidence. Some consider this  to  be an improper use  of  pre-trial conferences. However, as stated above, there are no rules governing pre-trial conferences so you should be aware of this going into a pre-trial conference.