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| Europe |
| EU ministers clear way for cross-border lawsuits |
| 2006-06-02 |
| European Union ministers agreed yesterday to set up a Europe-wide small claims system under which citizens and businesses will be able to file fast-track lawsuits for up to 2,000 (£1,375) in other member states. Under the new system, judgments given will be automatically recognised and enforced in other EU countries, cutting red tape and time, ministers said. "Individuals and businesses will benefit ... when reclaiming smaller debts in a cross-border context," they said. Legal rulings in such cases will be mostly carried out by written procedure and aim to do away with oral hearings to speed up litigation. Lawyers are not needed to represent parties in the suits. Citizens will be able to file claims via a standard form and lodge it at their local court or by post or e-mail, with the "description of evidence supporting the claim", the EU said. However, the simplified procedure does not include several key legal areas, such as divorces, bankruptcy, wills and inheritance lawsuits. Other areas also left out include defamation, violation of privacy cases and suits relating to employment law. EU officials said they hoped to have the new system working by 2009. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #2 EU officials said they hoped to have the new system working by 2009. Can I get an over/under on that? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2006-06-02 19:40 |
| #1 I forsee a new weapon in "Lawfare". |
| Posted by: Fordesque 2006-06-02 19:33 |