You want to know about Adjudication? Statutory Adjudication via the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

You want to know about Adjudication?

Statutory Adjudication via the Construction Act :  Housing Grants Construction and Regeneration Act 1996  Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009  Intent – Cashflow ; cheap and quick

ADJ ADJUDICA UDICATION TION of

• f d

dispu ispute tes s ar arising ising un unde der r a “Con Const struc uction tion Con Contr trac act” :  What is a “Construction Contract?”  Typ ypes es of

• f D

Dispu ispute te:

Payme ayment nt Time Time Def Defec ects/ ts/ sp spec ecifi ifica cation tion co comp mpli lian ance ce Br Brea each of h of Co Contr ntrac act

Rules of the game :  Adjudication Rules – set out in the Contract  The Scheme for Construction Contracts Regulations 1998 / 2011  Nomination / appointment of Adjudicator

The procedure:  Dispute exists  Notice of Adjudication  Appointment of Adjudicator  Referral within 7 days  Response / Reply / Rejoinder  Meeting or questions?  Decision within 28 days of Referral  Extension of time for Decision?

Costs of the Adjudication :  Adjudicator’s Fees  Party Costs  Bridgeway v Tolent [2000]  Yuanda v WW Gear [2010] Interest :  Contractual interest for late payment  Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act

• 1. Decision is temporarily binding
• 2. What if they don’t pay? – enforcement
• f the Decision in Court
• 3. Reasons for non-enforcement –

 Lack of Jurisdiction  Breach of Natural Justice  Insolvency of payee

TRICKS OF THE TRADE :

• 1. Get the right Adjudicator
• 2. Define and break-down the dispute
• 3. Help the Adjudicator to decide in your

favour

• 4. Pick your strongest issues and consider

tackling the dispute slice by slice EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE, EVIDENCE

• 5. Witness Statements and Expert Reports
• 6. Calderbank Offers to settle

TRAPS FOR THE UNWARY :

• 1. Get the process right !
• 2. Define your dispute
• 3. Avoid irrelevance / going off track
• 4. Opinions don’t count
• 5. Non-disputed points can be taken as

agreed !

• 6. Is your dispute too big?
• 7. Keep your costs proportionate
• 8. You only have one bite at the cherry !

Recent Judgments :  Aspect v Higgins [Court of Appeal 2013] – Limitation period re. payment of an Adjudicator’s Decision  Twintec v Volkerfitzpatrick [2014] – Injunction to stop an Adjudication due to incorrect appointment procedure

Richard Hildrick BSc(Hons) MSc MRICS MCIOB FCIArb Email: richard@rjhconsulting.co.uk Tel No: 01347 811155

Questions…?