In a case where a Claimant innocently fails to pay the correct court fee close to the end of a limitation period the question may arise whether that action was “brought” within the limitation period. Much will turn on which of the following two periods the problem arises in:
A) The period between:
(i) when the Claimant submits the claim form and puts forward the insufficient fee and
(ii) the Court issuing proceedings.
Here the failure to tender the correct fee will prevent any finding that the action has been “brought” for the purposes of the Limitation Act 1980 unless the Court actually issues the proceedings notwithstanding the fee being inappropriate; and
B) The period after the Court issues the proceedings.
Here the mere fact that the fee proffered by the Claimant and accepted by the Court:
(i) is less than should have been tendered and accepted for the claim identified in the Claim Form or
(ii) becomes so because of a subsequent increase in the quantum of the actual claim(s) advanced in the proceedings prior to the end of limitation period
does not prevent the action from being “brought” for the purposes of the Limitation Act 1980 when it is issued by the Court.
In Dixon & Anor v Radley House Partnership (A Firm) & Ors [2016] the High Court Judge said “where (a) abusive conduct is not present and (b) the court sets the wheels of justice in motion by issuing proceedings but (c) the Claimant has not paid and the Court has not required the correct fee, I reject the submission that an action is not brought for the purposes of the Limitation Act 1980 at the moment of issue.”
This blog has been posted out of general interest. It does not replace the need to get bespoke legal advice in individual cases.
Original article: Court issued claim within limitation period despite wrongness of fee.