County Court being difficult - trial next week - ideas please!

[Bowlofcherries]

I am a defendant litigant in person fighting a large national window company.

The Count Court in its infinite wisdom has declined to make directions regarding the trial bundles pursuant to CPR 1.4 and ignored my letters requesting case management.

As a result, the Claimant has lodged its own bundles, excluding my documents. No doubt, they will be read by the Judge well before I can get my foot in the door...

Obviously, in an ideal world, I'd simply lodge my own bundle, but the harsh reality of the situation is that, if you're not legally-represented, your mail goes to the bottom of the pile.

In fact, when I email the court, they respond to the solicitor on the other side. It's a disgrace, really.

Any ideas as to how I get the judge to read my bundle before the Trial?

The latest letter states that, if I want directions for trial, I must make a formal application costing £255 on N244. The trial is less than a week away, for pity's sake!

I feel I should be asking if CPR 1.4 has been revoked in Croydon!

When this nightmare is over, I'll be sorely tempted to sue HMCTS for ignoring my correspondence and failing to manage the case throughout, as a result of which, the Claimant's solicitor has got away with murder, running up costs at my expense.

Any input would be most welcome, as I feeling that everything is stacked against me.

[CLL1]

Re: County Court being difficult - trial next week - ideas please!

Get your own bundle filed ASAP.

[Bowlofcherries]

Re: County Court being difficult - trial next week - ideas please!

Thanks for the advice CLL1. I will lodge a bundle. However, the problem I'm facing is that the Court staff are so reluctant to pass my letters and documents to the district judges. When I lodge my bundle, I can just imagine them saying that the Judge has directed that, if you want him to read it, you'll have to make an application on N244 and pay the appropriate fee.

I'm not exaggerating. I recently made an application for the adjournment of an interlocutory application, and, rather than come back to me, they sent the Judge's response to the legally-represented party. And, when the trial was adjourned last October, the Claimant was notified by email, whereas I was told by phone that I still needed to attend, with my witnesses!