Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Hadfield Healthcare Partnerships Limited & Ors

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v Hadfield Healthcare Partnerships Limited & Ors

The application for a preliminary issues hearing was dismissed because it was made late in the proceedings, would distract from trial preparation, risked delay due to possible appeals, and the issues had already been determined as suitable for trial. The overriding objective and effective case management did not support ordering a preliminary issues hearing.

Parties
Claimant: Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Defendant/part 20 Claimant: Hadfield Healthcare Partnerships Limited; First Part 20 Defendant: Kajima Construction Europe (UK) Limited; Second Part 20 Defendant: Veolia Energy & Utility Services UK PLC
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
01 December 2026
Procedural Posture
Application / Ruling on Application for Preliminary Issues Hearing
Outcome
Application dismissed
Legal Topics
Case Management, Preliminary Issues, Limitation of Actions, Rectification, Contractual Construction
Civil Procedure Contract Law Case Management Preliminary Issues Limitation of Actions Rectification Contractual Construction

Case Brief

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Parties

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Claimant

Hadfield Healthcare Partnerships Limited

Defendant/part 20 Claimant

Kajima Construction Europe (UK) Limited

First Part 20 Defendant

Veolia Energy & Utility Services UK PLC

Second Part 20 Defendant

Procedural Posture

Application / Ruling on Application for Preliminary Issues Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Hadfield's claims against Kajima fall within the definition of 'Dispute' in the First Standstill Agreement
  2. 2 Whether claims against Kajima are time-barred by clause 9.7 of the Construction Contract
  3. 3 Whether the First Standstill Agreement should be rectified if Hadfield's claims do not fall within the definition of 'Dispute'

Ratio Decidendi

The application for a preliminary issues hearing was dismissed because it was made late in the proceedings, would distract from trial preparation, risked delay due to possible appeals, and the issues had already been determined as suitable for trial. The overriding objective and effective case management did not support ordering a preliminary issues hearing.

Court Disposition

Application dismissed

Orders

  • Hadfield to have its costs in the case rather than costs of the application