Civil restraint order

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

In the law of England and Wales, a civil restraint order (CRO) is a court order intended to prevent vexatious litigation. Courts have the means of escalating the sanctions against a litigant who makes applications to the court that are "totally without merit":[1]

There are three types of CRO: limited, extended and general, with different scopes of application:[2]

  • a limited civil restraint order (formerly a Grepe v. Loam order[3]) where two or more applications totally without merit are made in a single proceedings. No further application may be made in the proceedings without the permission of the court.
  • an extended civil restraint order (formerly an Ebert order
    High Court
    or a designated civil judge.
  • a general civil restraint order (formerly a Bhamjee order[5]) for a maximum of two years for all proceedings in the High Court or specified county courts.

Further applications totally without merit can lead to withdrawal of the right of appeal. Harassment of the court and court officials can lead to a penal prohibition notice, prohibiting the litigant from contacting or approaching the court without permission.[6]

HM Courts Service maintains a list of vexatious litigants.[7]

See also

  • Vexatious litigant

References

  1. ^ Civil Procedure Rules, Practice Direction to Pt.3 3CPD.2.1
  2. ^ "Civil restraint orders - Detailed guidance - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  3. ^ Grepe v Loam (1887) 37 Ch.D 168
  4. Court of Appeal
    (England and Wales)
  5. Court of Appeal
    (England and Wales)
  6. .
  7. ^ "List of vexatious litigants (England and Wales)". HM Courts Service. Retrieved 3 February 2012.