Day 019 - 27 Jul 94 - Page 51
1 It is their obligation to plead the specific nature of
their case. If they choose not to do so -- your Lordship
2 will remember this is a late amendment -- then they have
only themselves to blame. I do not see why we should bear
3 the burden at this late stage of the case of contesting
allegations which are not made on the pleadings.
4
MS. STEEL: Apart from anything else, I think we can carry on
5 with cross-examination unless the Plaintiffs can find
their admission.
6
MR. RAMPTON: I can tell your Lordship that it was served on
7 6th January 1994 ---
8 MR. JUSTICE BELL: If there is going to be an issue about it, I
had better have a look at it. If it is going to take time
9 and you are not -----
10 MR. RAMPTON: -- by a letter addressed to Ms. Steel at
****************, ************** which, I believe, to be
11 her address.
12 MR. JUSTICE BELL: What does it say? What does the admission
say?
13
MR. RAMPTON: I have not the actual admission with me; it is
14 not in the correspondence bundle.
15 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Put this over and if I am shown the
admission, I will give a ruling on it. What were the
16 natures of your general questions you want to ask?
17 MR. MORRIS: The point about, even the admission has been made
(which, of course, it would be very helpful if an
18 admission is made) but the point is that the general
pleadings cover -----
19
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Forget about the pleadings for a moment.
20 What were the general questions that you wanted to put to
Mr. Gregory? What particular -----
21
MR. MORRIS: I was going to compare the conditions, in broad
22 terms, for laying hens with the broilers, and I was hoping
to do it fairly quickly.
23
MR. JUSTICE BELL: What I suggest -----
24
MR. MORRIS: There was also the slaughter of the chickens when
25 they had finished their laying life, the slaughter
conditions of those chickens which comes under the general
26 heading of "chicken slaughter". Obviously that is coming
up in a minute.
27
MR. JUSTICE BELL: What I propose, unless you wish to argue
28 further, Mr. Rampton, because I obviously take the point
about not taking up significant periods of times on
29 matters which are not in issue ---
30 MR. RAMPTON: That is all I am worried about.
