Second court established for the National Personal Injury Court

A second court has been established for the National Personal Injury Court (NPIC) based at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

Following significant year-on-year increases in the number of cases registered, the substantial volume of motions, opposed motions and proof business proceeding each week, the new court 19 will complement an existing specialist courtroom in the Chambers Street building.

Court 19 is expected to be operational this month, ahead of NPIC marking its 10th anniversary in September of this year. 

The court deals with over 6,500 new actions registered every year and around 70 per cent of all personal injury cases raised in Scotland are now managed through this court. NPIC has jurisdiction in personal injury cases exceeding £5,000 and exclusive jurisdiction for all cases up to £100,000. NPIC also handles cases over £100,000, in addition to personal injury cases raised in the Court of Session.

A key feature of the court is the quick and efficient disposal of motions by electronic means, allowing for email intimation, submission of motions and issuing of interlocutors. It also provides clerks of court with a quasi-judicial function to consider and grant motions of a common and straightforward nature.

Sheriff Robert Fife, the Administrative Sheriff for NPIC, said: “The National Personal Injury Court was established for personal injury practitioners across Scotland to provide a specialist court for personal injury claims which could be dealt with in the Sheriff Court. The new court 19, as a second dedicated personal injury court, is testament to the continued growth and success of the court in delivering an efficient and effective service to all users.

“The second court will allow us to run two live proof courts each week as well as continue with the two procedural courts currently programmed. There are two Personal Injury Sheriffs allocated every week to hear proofs.

“There are currently seven specialist sheriffs appointed to hear cases with an additional personal injury sheriff shortly to be appointed by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland. We have a dedicated team of Deputes and administrative staff who work well together to ensure the efficient disposal of the large business volumes in this court. I would like to pay tribute to the hard work of everyone involved in the running of the court.”