Summary Judgement

Summary judgement under CPR Part 24 allows either party to obtain judgement without a full trial where the opponent has no real prospect of success and there is no other compelling reason for the case to proceed to trial. It is a procedural mechanism designed to dispose of hopeless claims or defences efficiently.

In practice

Applications for summary judgement require a witness statement and evidence demonstrating that the other party has no real prospect of success. The court applies a low threshold: if the respondent shows a real prospect of success (not merely fanciful), summary judgement will be refused. Partial summary judgement on specific issues is also possible.