Philip Morris v Knights Professional Services Limited & Ors

Philip Morris v Knights Professional Services Limited & Ors

The claimant failed to comply with the extended disclosure order in several material respects, including inadequate disclosure certificate, defective list of documents, failure to produce documents in native format, and late disclosure of relevant documents. These breaches were serious and significant, explanations...

Source-derived case information.

Parties
Claimant: Philip Morris; Defendant: Knights Professional Services Limited; Defendant: Knights Solicitors LLP; Defendant: Knights and Sons; Defendant: Wilson Horne
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
03 November 2026
Procedural Posture
Professional Negligence Claim / Ruling on Applications for Extension of Time and Relief From Sanctions Following Breach of Disclosure Order
Outcome
Claim struck out for failure to comply with disclosure order; relief from sanctions refused.
Legal Topics
Disclosure, Relief From Sanctions, Unless Orders, Case Management, Limitation, Conflict of Interest
Civil Procedure Professional Negligence Disclosure Relief From Sanctions Unless Orders Case Management Limitation Conflict of Interest

Source-derived case record

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Parties

Philip Morris

Claimant

Knights Professional Services Limited

Defendant

Knights Solicitors LLP

Defendant

Knights and Sons

Defendant

Wilson Horne

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Professional Negligence Claim / Ruling on Applications for Extension of Time and Relief From Sanctions Following Breach of Disclosure Order

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the claimant complied with the extended disclosure order
  2. 2 Whether procedural defects in disclosure could be cured under CPR 3.10
  3. 3 Whether relief from sanctions should be granted for breach of the unless order

Ratio Decidendi

The claimant failed to comply with the extended disclosure order in several material respects, including inadequate disclosure certificate, defective list of documents, failure to produce documents in native format, and late disclosure of relevant documents. These breaches were serious and significant, explanations were unsatisfactory, and granting relief would jeopardize the trial timetable and court efficiency. Relief from sanctions was refused and the claim was struck out under the unless order.

Court Disposition

Claim struck out for failure to comply with disclosure order; relief from sanctions refused.

Orders

  • Claim struck out under unless order for breach of disclosure obligations.
  • Claimant to pay Defendants’ costs of the claim, to be assessed if not agreed.