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GAZETTE
JULY-AUGUST 1981
Central Office Delays in
High Court Default
Judgments
The Society has been in correspondence with Mr. J. K.
Waldron, Registrar, as to delays in issuing default
Judgments in the Central Office.
The Registrar concedes that the position is, at present,
very unsatisfactory. He accepts that it is taking up to
eight weeks from the lodgment of Judgment sets until the
signing of Judgment, but explains that the present huge
backlog of work in this area is due to the steep rise in the
issue of Summary Summon s es and the fact that staff
members have not kept pace with that increase.
The Registrar has supplied the Society with a table of
figures indicating the growth in the issue of Summary
Summonses since 1 9 7 6, which is set out at foot of this
note.
A survey of staff needs in the Central Office was
carried out some months ago and it is hoped that, arising
out of that survey, an extra court clerk will be assigned to
the Judgments Office in the very near future. With this
assistance, and with occasional overtime, it is hoped that
the backlog will s o on be seen to be reducing.
Period
Summary Summonses
Year ending 31st July
issued
1976
2 , 7 9 2
1977
3 , 3 07
1978
3 , 5 84
1 9 79
3 , 2 29
(Postal Strike)
1 9 80
5 , 5 61
Eight Months period to end
5 , 2 8 7 *
of March 1 9 81
•About 45% increase over the same period in previous year.
Professional Fees for
Road Traffic Acts
A new schedule of solicitors' fees for proceedings arising
out of road accidents has been agreed with the Accident
Claims Standing Committee of the Federation of Insurers
in Ireland to apply for 12 months with effect from 1 July
1981.
1. The following are the minimum proper fees which, in
the opinion of the Society, should be accepted by a
member of the Society where written instructions are
given for:
(a) Attending a Court of Summary Jurisdiction where a
plea of guilty is to be made in proceedings under
Section 51(A) of the Ro ad Traffic Act 1961 (as
incorporated by Section 4 9 of the Road Traffic Act
1968) and under Section 5 2 or 53 of the Road Traffic
Act 1961 (as amended by Sections 5 0 and 51 of the
Road Traffic Act 1968)
£3-2.50
(b) Attending a Court of Summary Jurisdiction to defend
any proceedings under Section 51(A) of the Ro ad
Traffic Act 1961 (as incorporated by Section 4 9 of
the Road Traffic Act 1968) and under Section 52 of
the said Act (as amended)
£ 4 2 . 50
(c) Attending a Court of Summary Jurisdiction to defend
any proceedings under Section 53 of the Act (as
amended)
£ 5 2 . 50
(d) Attending to observe such proceedings
£ 3 2 . 50
(e) Attending at a Coroner's Inquest
£ 3 0 . 00
2. Where a report of the proceedings is required, a
minimum fee for the report should be £ 3 0 . 0 0. A report
should contain the names of witnesses, a summary of the
evidence of each, decision of the Court and an
appreciation of the evidence on the question of civil
liability for damages.
3. Where any of the above matters are conducted in a
town other than the town where the Solicitor has his
principle office, there should be a reasonable addition for
time and travelling expenses.
4. The minimum fee does not apply in cases of
exceptional difficulty or responsibility.
Reasonable additional fees should be paid in such cases.
All proper outlays are payable in addition to the
minimum fee.
MERCURY SCHOOL
ACCOMMODATION ADDRESS
TELEPHONE ANSWERING
TELEX SERVICES
DESK SPACE
SECRETARIAL SERVICES
12-13 EUSTACE STREET, DUBLIN 2
Tel: 719270 (5 lines)
Telex: 30259
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