New rules and practices for dealing with Personal Injury actions were introduced into the Sheriff Court in November 2009 by Act of Sederunt (Ordinary Cause Rules Amendment) ( Personal Injury Actions) 2009 (No 285)
Handling of Personal Injury Cases
Proofs in PI cases will be heard either by Sheriffs Mackie and McColl or by one of a small number of Sheriffs with experience in this field.
Personal Injury User Group (PIUG)
A Personal Injury User Group (PIUG) has been established, chaired by Sheriff Mackie.
Membership
Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen.
Peter Anderson, Simpson & Marwick Solicitors
Michael Corrigan, PI Clerk and Secretary to the Users Group
Peter Crooks, Bonnar &Co, Solicitors
Gemma Gow, PI Clerk
Ian Leitch, HBM Sayers, Solicitors
Kim Leslie, Digby Brown, Solicitors
Sheriff Kathrine Mackie (Chair)
Sheriff Isabella McColl
Robert Milligan QC
The Sheriff Clerk Edinburgh / Head of Civil
Catriona Whyte, Scottish Legal Aid Board
Minutes of PIUG Meetings
Contact PIUG
If court users have any matters which they wish to draw to the attention of the Court relating to Personal Injury procedures they should contact the Secretary to the Group – Michael Corrigan - by email: edinburghpersonalinjury@scotcourts.gov.uk
Alternatively such matters may be raised with members of the group who, if appropriate, will arrange for the topic to be discussed at the next meeting.
Rules
Settlement of Actions
Arising from discussions at the PIUG and from the operation of the rules it has been decided that when actions settle, agents (usually the pursuers’ agents), should lodge with the PersonaI Injury Clerk- preferably by e-mail - the Personal Injury Action Settled (PIAS) form which may be printed off and lodged or downloaded, completed and e-mailed to edinburghpersonalinjury@scotcourts.gov.uk.
Guidance Notes relating to the form are attached. Use of the form should reduce the need for unnecessary ‘by order’ hearings when actions have indeed settled and avoid agents having to appear to discharge proofs.
PIAS Form
PIAS Guidance
Contact
For further information please contact the Civil Department on 0131 247 2582 or email edinburghpersonalinjury@scotcourts.gov.uk