Responding to the aCDR hearing

• Parties are to send an email to the Court to provide an update on the progress of the case, and to state requests or directions they seek from the Court. 
• The email must be sent by the counsel mentioning the case for the other parties This counsel will usually be the plaintiff’s/claimant’s counsel, but with agreement, may also be the defendant’s counsel or counsel for any other party. 
• The email must be sent to the Court not less than two working days before the date of the aCDR hearing (aCDR date).
• Upon receiving the email, the Court will consider the matter and provide the appropriate directions on the aCDR date via email.

• The email must be sent to the Court not less than two working days before the aCDR date by the Counsel to the aCDR email account stated in the court notice.
• Only one email is to be sent to the Court on behalf of all parties for each aCDR hearing.  However, for the appointment of a Single Joint Expert (SJE), parties can send separate emails.
• The Counsel must copy the email to all other counsel and parties. 
• The subject heading of the email must include the case number and the aCDR date in the correct format: <suit number> <aCDR date>.
• A new email must be sent for each aCDR date, with the subject heading reflecting the new aCDR date in the correct format.
• The email must identify the capacity of the counsel. For example: Mr XYZ (for Plaintiff/Claimant), mentioning for Defendant/all other parties.
• The email should briefly and clearly state the progress of the case, the application and/or directions sought, and their reasons.
• The email must state whether the application is by consent, and if one or more parties object to the application, parties to state the reasons for the objection.
• Long email chains should be avoided, unless parties are responding to queries or requests for further submissions or evidence from the Court.

• The Court will reply to parties’ emails on the aCDR date from the aCDR email account stated in the court notice.
• The Court will reply to give the appropriate directions and fixing a further aCDR date as necessary. This may include giving the necessary directions for parties to prepare for the next aCDR hearing and giving case management directions to ensure the timely progress, helping the parties reach an early resolution of the dispute.
• Where the Court has a query, or requires further submissions or evidence, the Court may give directions in the reply email and adjourn the aCDR hearing for these to be addressed.

Parties must reply in the same email chain, not less than two working days before the aCDR date. After the Court replies, the Counsel must inform parties who are without lawyers or without email access of the Court’s directions and the next aCDR date. Counsel and parties copied in the email chain are considered informed of the Court’s directions.

If you wish to re-fix or vacate the aCDR date, please file a “Request for Re-fixing/Vacation of Hearing dates" through the eLitigation system not less than two working days before the aCDR date. For refixing of an aCDR hearing, consent of all parties is required. If you wish to request for an adjournment of an existing aCDR date, the request is to be sent to the Judge through the designated aCDR email account. The email must state: 

• the length of adjournment sought.
• the reasons for the adjournment; and
• the progress of the case.

Where parties have reached a settlement, they can record a settlement agreement or a consent judgment.  

• The email from the Counsel must:
  • State whether parties are entering into a settlement agreement, a consent interlocutory judgment/consent judgment on liability or a consent final judgment; and
  • Attach a duly completed Form 9I/Form 7  to the email.
• Where parties are seeking an indication on costs, the email must state the costs quantum proposed by each party, and the basis thereof together with supporting documents, if any.
• On the aCDR date, the Court will reply by email to parties:
  • To state that the settlement agreement or consent judgment has been recorded as per the terms in the Form 9I/Form 7  and if the terms of the settlement agreement or consent judgment are in order;
  • To give an indication on costs if sought by parties; and
  • To make any other necessary directions.
• Where parties are seeking directions, the email must state so.
• The aCDR process is concluded upon the recording of settlement agreement or consent judgment by the Court.  

• The Counsel may send the email to the Court to request for directions for the plaintiff/claimant  to set down the action for trial.
• For motor accident claims, the email must state whether it is a property damage claim, a personal injury claim or a mixed claim.
• At any aCDR hearing, where parties are unable to achieve a resolution of the matter:
  • For proceedings commenced before 1 April 2022, the Court may direct the plaintiff to set down the action for trial;
  • For proceedings commenced on or after 1 April 2022, the Court may make any other necessary directions to bring the proceedings to trial.
• The aCDR process is concluded after the Court makes any of the directions to set down the action for trial.