Civil Claims in the UK

Royal Courts of Justice

Image Courtesy of Mahosadha Ong (@howwei_mahoooo)

The actor, Hugh Grant, recently settled his privacy claim against the publisher of the Sun newspaper (NGN).

Mr Grant was suing NGN, claiming journalists had used private investigators to tap his phone and burgle his house.

Mr Grant stated he "did not want to accept" the "enormous sum of money" he had been offered to settle - but that a trial was likely to prove "very expensive".

He went on to say "[…]  the rules around civil litigation mean that if I proceed to trial and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer, I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides.”

What is a civil claim?

Civil claims include, for example, where people, business or other organisations are trying to resolve their disputes with each other. A very wide range of issues are covered – from quite small or simple claims worth a few hundred pounds, for example, damaged goods or recovery of a debt, to large multi-billion-pound claims between global companies.

What can I recover in a civil claim?

In most civil claims the remedy is an award for financial ‘damages’ to the successful party.

The court will consider the dispute and the facts of the case. The size of the financial damages award will depend on what loss is proved and the circumstances of the claim.

Mr Grant’s claim was a civil claim where the court would award him financial damages if he was successful, or as was the case, the parties resolved the case outside of court.

Will I be entitled to ‘my day in court’?

As stated, a civil claim is typically for financial damages. The court rules are designed to encourage the parties to seek resolve their disputes outside of court. It is very unlikely therefore that your case will ever reach a trial where the issues will be explored, and a decision given by a judge.

It is important for claimants in civil cases to be aware, that a case may not bring vindication or the opportunity to air your grievance in open court. It is much more likely that the case will either be settled by negotiation outside of court.