News
2020 Annual Conference Cancelled
Posted by Darryl Allen KC · March 17, 2020 9:30 PM
Please see below for an email sent to ticketholders for the Annual Conference
In light of the government’s most recent change of guidance yesterday afternoon, St. Catz have cancelled the PIBA annual conference.
We recognise that, though disappointed, many of you will be glad of the certainty this brings. The EC had been in regular communication with the college for the past week or so. Until this morning the college’s line – in accordance with university guidance – was that we would have been liable for the full cost of the conference if we had not gone ahead. We hoped and expected that St Catz would change its mind. Thankfully, it has done so.
We are conscious that many of you use the conference as the mainstay of your CPD programme planning. We hope to persuade as many of the speakers – many of whom had already prepared their talks – to deliver them at some stage later in the year, whether as part of an extended evening seminar programme, of the London and/or northern circuit winter conferences, or otherwise. Further information will follow when we are in a position to plan mass gatherings once again.
Our constitution requires us to hold our AGM fairly soon. We realise that, for many, this is the highlight of the annual conference! We are therefore looking at ways to hold it virtually. Again, further information will follow at some stage in the next week or so.
Those of you who have paid will be refunded over the coming weeks, including those who had already cancelled. Please bear with us in this regard.
Stay safe, keep well, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon. PIBA 2021 will be a gala event!
Swift v Carpenter
Posted by Darryl Allen KC · October 14, 2019 10:11 PM
The appeal is due to be heard in March 2020. PIBA has permission to intervene.
Both parties are obtaining expert evidence from an IFA, property valuation expert, an economist and an actuary. Reports due to be exchanged on 15 November 2019 and parties (including PIBA) have seven days to put questions.
Block Listing
Posted by Darryl Allen KC · October 14, 2019 9:54 PM
The RCJ conducted a further blitz over the summer. Only 21 responses were received to PIBA’s questionnaire. 11 of those responses stated that the hearing was adjourned due to judicial unavailability. PIBA meet with HMCTS London on 4thNovember to discuss the effects of the blitz listing and other London listing issues. Members are strongly encouraged to submit details of their experiences, both good and bad, to any EC member. We are particularly interested in your experiences at the Clerkenwell County Court where HMCTS tell us they have made a concerted effort to improve listing.
Flexible Operating Hours
Posted by Darryl Allen KC · October 13, 2019 10:01 PM
The pilot has commenced in Manchester and Brentford. It is understood that the intention, at least initially, is for it to cover SCT hearings and hearings involving LIPs. PIBA Members should have received links to the following online forms: (a) pre-pilot survey; and (b) details of individual cases in which they have appeared in the FOH lists. We have alreadyreceived 337 responses to the Manchester pre-pilot survey. PIBA will be preparing a report for the FOH assessors. We need evidence of your experiences to help us do that.
Annual Richard Davies Lecture 2019
Posted by Darryl Allen KC · October 12, 2019 9:28 PM
This year’s PIBA Richard Davies Annual Lecture was given by Mr Justice Turner, “Compensating Criminals: The Decline and Fall of the Defence of Illegality in Personal Injury Law”. Sir Mark’s comprehensive and thought provoking paper can be accessed here (you will need to be logged in).