Friday 23 August 2019

All the Judgments


A page dedicated to bringing you all the judgments made by Mr Justice Fraser in the Bates and others v Post Office group litigation and those from the Court of Appeal made by Lord Justice Coulson in chronological order.


A pretty thorough bollocking issued to both parties.

Write up (with link to judgment)


The Post Office attempts to selectively tailor the evidence the court is to consider by asking the judge to strike out witness statements it doesn't like. Judge refuses.

Write up (with link to judgment)


180,000 word judgment handed down on 15 March 2019 in the light of the first (Common Issues) trial. Massive win for claimants. Post Office spanked.

Write up: "He did it" (with link to judgment)
Actual judgment.
Judgment cheat sheet. (with link to judgment)


Oh the drama. Judge gives reasons as to why he is rejecting the Post Office's recusal application.

Write up (with link to judgment)
Actual judgment.

Permission refused: Recusal judgment appeal application fails

In which the Court of Appeal refuses the application to appeal the recusal judgment. 

Write-up: "Fraser J is going nowhere"
Actual order

Reasons for refusing the Post Office's attempt to appeal Judgment No 3

Sir Peter Fraser patiently explains why he will not be allowing the above.

Write up (with link to reasons): "There will be at least three more trials"
Actual reasons.

Court of Appeal: Common Issues appeal application pt 1 (fail)

The Court of Appeal rejects the initial application to appeal the Common Issues judgment. 

Write-up - "Court of Appeal invites Post Office lawyers to have another go"


In which the judge reveals both parties have managed to spend more than £25m between them on this litigation so far.

No write up.
Actual judgment.

Court of Appeal: Common Issues appeal application pt 2 (fail)

The Post Office's second application to appeal the Common Issues judgment at the Court of Appeal fails as Lord Justice Coulson notes the Post Office seems to want to treat its Subpostmasters like a "mid-Victorian factory owner."

Write-up (with link to judgment): "Subpostmasters' stunning victory confirmed by Court of Appeal"
Actual judgement.

The settlement agreement

Five days before the Horizon judgment was handed down, the parties settled. The Post Office apologised and handed over £57.75m to the claimants.

Write up: "It's all over"
Settlement agreement joint statement

Judgment No 6: Horizon Issues

The second trial judgment. Another monster. This time weighing in at 178,000 words. The main body is therefore slightly smaller than judgment number three, but it came with a 60,000 word technical appendix making it by some distance, the biggest judgment in this litigation. As above, massive win for the claimants, Post Office spanked.

Write up: "They did it."
Actual judgment.

And that's your lot.

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