Explanation

The overriding objective is that all cases must be dealt with justly and at proportionate cost, so far as is practicable. In addition to this specific goal, the general goal and the overriding objective is to: ensure disputing parties are on an equal footing save expense deal with the case in ways, which are proportionate – to the amount of money involved to the importance of the case to the complexity of the issues to the financial position of each party. ensure that it is dealt with expeditiously and fairly allocate to each case an appropriate share of the court’s resources, while taking into account the need to allocate resources to other cases enforce compliance with rules, practice directions and orders. The main concept of dealing with cases justly is the primary concern of the CPR. Ultimately, the function of the court is to resolve issues between the parties. It does not, however, have the power to dismiss a claim simply on the grounds that the claim has relatively trivial value; which will inevitably be exceeded by the costs. Shutting out a litigant through a technical breach of the rules will not often be consistent with doing justice, because the primary purpose of the civil courts is to decide cases on their merits, not to reject them for procedural default.