Disputes: Fast Track Claims and Multi-Track Claims

If you have a dispute with a business or an individual, your case will be allocated to one of four tracks:

Please be aware however, that pursuing a claim through the court should be seen as a 'last resort' action when all other methods of attempting to resolve the dispute have been exhausted.

• Small Claims Track:  Dealt with in the Small Claims Track if the value of the claim is £10,000 or less.  For cases filed from 22 May 2024, taking part in a mediation session will be integrated and is a required step in the proceedings with a view to seeking to resolve a money dispute with a value under £10,000. For those parties who have issued a new civil court claim either on paper or through the traditional online systems, the parties will therefore be required to attend mediation.  The service will remain free of charge.  If the matter cannot be settled through mediation, the case will be placed before a judge.
• Fast Track:  For claims with a value between £10,001 and £25,000.  When allocating a claim to the Fast Track, the court will take into consideration the timetable and evidence needed.  Cases allocated to the Fast Track will usually only require limited disclosure, a period of no more than around 30 weeks in which to prepare for trial, only written evidence, if it is needed at all and the matter can be disposed of at trial one day or under.
• Intermediate Track:  In force as of the 1 October 2023, the new Intermediate Track is for claims which are less complex than those issued in the Multi-track but more complex than in the Fast Track with a damages value of between £25,000 and £100,000.  The Intermediate Track deals with a wide range of property disputes including claims for monetary relief such as boundary disputes, commercial rent arrears and dilapidation claims.  This track is unsuitable however, for possession claims, unlawful eviction (residential property) or disrepair claims, unless as far as residential property claims are concerned, they arise out of a boundary dispute.

  Once a claim has been issued and allocated to this track, witness statements will be limited by the number of pages and experts are limited to two per party.  The claim will be pursued either by one claimant against one or two defendants or by two claimants against one defendant. The case will be disposed of within a three day trial period.

  When a claim is allocated to the Intermediate Track, it will be allocated to one of four bands depending upon its complexity.  

  •    Band 1:  for debt or simple claims where there is only one issue in dispute and the matter will likely be disposed of in one or less days;
  •    Band 2:  for matters with more than one issue in dispute but which are not complex in nature;
  •    Band 3:  is for matters with more than one issue in dispute but which are more complex than those in Band 2;
  •    Band 4:  covers the more complex claims which have serious issues of fact or law to be determined and which are likely to take three days to hear.

  As far as costs recovery is concerned, a party may recover fixed costs.  Costs are fixed according to the track and the stage of the matter and the amount recoverable will depend upon the stage of the claim and complexity band it has been assigned to.

• Multi-Track:  This track covers claims with a value in excess of £25,000.00 to an unlimited sum.  Claims with a value in excess of £200,000 currently attract a court issue fee of £10,000.  Some claims even if they would otherwise meet the Intermediate Track criteria must be allocated to the Multi-track.  These include:

•    Claims for damages resulting from harm, abuse or neglect or pursued by children or vulnerable adults;
•    Claims arising from Mesothelioma or asbestos lung disease;
•    Claims that involve clinical negligence, unless both causation and breach of duty have been admitted and the claim would fall into the Intermediate Track;

Essentially the Multi-track deals with the very complex claims which involve higher values, and intricate issues which require more detailed assessment.

Claims can often escalate and become difficult fairly quickly and it is therefore vital that legal advice is sought as early as possible.  

Our experienced Dispute Resolution Team can provide advice on whether you have a claim, whether it is worth pursuing and the potential likelihood of success.  Guidance and support from a legally qualified professional at an early stage can be invaluable. There will be no hidden costs and we are upfront and transparent with our fees.  

If you would like to talk through the current situation or book a remote meeting, please contact the team.