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Proceeding contribution from Lord Clarke of Nottingham (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 29 March 2011. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Reforming Civil Justice.


Reforming Civil Justice

I hope so. Let me make it clear that I am in favour of people who have suffered injury because of the fault or negligence of somebody else receiving proper compensation. In all those cases, people should have access to the courts and the right to have their case argued in the normal way, but what has happened is that this has become a widely publicised, rather commercial activity, which is having a considerable effect on the way in which many people lead their ordinary day-to-day lives. Let us go back to a sensible system of civil justice which does proper justice to both the claimants and the defendants, and get away from this rather extraordinary way we live at the moment, whereby huge sums can be made, mainly in legal costs rather than in damages, by bringing speculative claims against defendants who cannot afford to defend them.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
526 c182 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Compensation Consumers Courts Administration of justice Civil proceedings Legal profession Fees and charges Legal aid scheme Legal representation Legal costs Personal injury Protection Recovery of costs Reform Small claims Civil Litigation Costs Review Civil law
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk