case summary

A case summary when used in a civil case is a short and succinct summary of the background facts of the case and the key issues in dispute between the parties. It is intended to be a reference document for Court to read prior to hearings of applications by a litigant and for the trial.

The case summary should drafted in a non-contentious or neutral way (ie objectively) to promote agreement between the parties as to its terms.

In civil cases, a case summary is meant to:

1. not normally be no longer than 500 words;
2. set out a brief chronology of the claim, issues of fact which ae agreed, in dispute and the evidence needed to decide them; and
3. be prepared by the claimant in the first instance and agreed with the defendant.

Agreement of a case summary will prevent the court having to read two case summaries.

Case summaries are prepared on the standard court form for the proceedings and simply entitled case summary.