An Australian court refused to postpone a six-week trial, and ordered the parties to work out the details of how the trial can proceed electronically. The parties have to decide on an electronic platform, how documents are to be exchanged, and how experts will confer prior to the trial. In light of COVID-19, the defendant … Continue reading
The fastest trial dockets in the US are in Virginia where it takes a median time of only 15.1 months from summons to trial (including, remarkably, class actions and patent cases). The slowest is in New York where the median period is 39.6 months. The fast jurisdictions call their trial dockets “Rocket Dockets”. The Virginia … Continue reading
The monetary limits of jurisdiction of regional and district divisions of the magistrate’s courts has been increased. From 27 March 2014: district magistrate’s courts may hear actions for civil claims up to a value of R200 000 and impose a criminal fine of up to R120 000; and regional magistrate’s courts may hear actions for civil claims … Continue reading