A fine point can scupper adjudication

摘要

The refusal by the Technology and Construction Court to enforce the adjudicator's decision in CJP v Verry earlier this month shows the legal ambiguity that can exist in such cases. The case revolved around a dispute between brickwork subcontractor CJP and building contractor William Verry. CJP wished to adjudicate an interim payment claim in the order of ￡100,000 and the rules of the subcontract stated that Verry had seven days in which to produce written submissions. Verry sought extra time to make its submissions, asking for 17 days. An agreed time and date for the submission was negotiated but Verry handed the submissions in at 5.30 pm on this date, after the agreed submission deadline of noon.