This fact sheet provides information on simplified trials and how to prepare for them. The simplified trial is a new process included in the provincial small claims court pilot project underway at Robson Square small claims court. The pilot is a joint justice reform initiative of the Provincial Court and the provincial government.
A simplified trial is a one-hour streamlined trial before an experienced lawyer who is a justice of the peace, and also is called an adjudicator. Starting November 2007, all claims up to $5,000 filed at Robson Square small claims court, except financial debt claims under Rule 9.2 and personal injury claims, will be set for simplified trials.
Simplified trials will be heard in the evening.
The Robson Square court registry will mail a notice of simplified trial, which will show the date of your trial, and a trial statement form (form 33).
The trial statement is a form which summarizes your case. Before the simplified trial the adjudicator will review the trial statement filed by you and the other parties. At least 14 days before your simplified trial, you must file your trial statement at the court registry. You must serve the other parties with your trial statement at least seven (7) days before the simplified trial.
To complete your trial statement, follow the directions on the form. You can also find the form at: www.gov.bc.ca – type “court services” in the search bar. You must attach a statement of facts in date order (the order in which the events occurred), a calculation of the amount claimed, copies of the relevant documents, and a list of witnesses you intend to call with a brief summary of what each witness will say. Unless the nature of the document renders it impossible, the trial statement, and every document attached, must be reproduced on 8 1/2 inch x 11 inch paper, single-sided and unbound.
If you will need an interpreter for your simplified trial you must make arrangements beforehand for an interpreter to attend. Please contact the Robson Square court registry for more information.
At the beginning of the simplified trial the adjudicator will ask you take an oath or affirm that you will tell the truth. You will be asked to state the facts related to the claim, file any documents on which you rely, and respond to the other party. The adjudicator may ask you questions, ask you to swear to the truth of your trial statement, permit witnesses, allow you or your lawyer to ask questions of the other parties, and allow you or your lawyer to make submissions.
In most cases, the adjudicator will deliver a decision orally, at the end of the trial. If you do not get a decision right away, then the adjudicator has 30 days from the end of the trial to deliver a decision.
If you cannot make the date set for your simplified trial, you can request to have the date changed. You should first ask all the other parties to agree in writing to the change. If they agree, then you can file a consent order, with their written consents, at the Robson Square court registry.
If you are unable to reach an agreement with all the parties, you may file an application to the registrar (form 16). The application must explain the reason you want to change the date and that you asked the other parties for their consent. The application must be filed with the court registry at least seven (7) days prior to the simplified trial date. If the application is granted by the registrar, a new date will be set for your simplified trial.
If you do not attend the simplified trial and you are the claimant, your claim may be dismissed. If you are the defendant, a payment order may be made against you.
Yes. Starting in the fall 2008 and into early 2009, a research firm will conduct a telephone survey of some of the parties who have gone through small claims court. No identifying information will be used in the survey report.
Although participation in the survey is optional, the evaluation will be very important in determining whether the changes to the small claims process will be used or modified in other parts of the province. It will be helpful, therefore, if you can take the time to provide feedback if contacted through the survey.
