HUBER AND ANOTHER V X-YACHTS (GB) LTD AND ANOTHER

[2020] EWHC 3082 (TCC), Queen’s Bench Division, Technology and Construction Court, Mr Justice Kerr, 17 November 2020

Procedure – Directions for remote hearing – Overseas attendance at remote court hearings – Remote access for persons located outside the jurisdiction of the court – Senior Courts Act 1981, section 71

In litigation concerning defects in the yacht Silver X, the judge had issued an order for a remote hearing. Claims in the litigation concerned on what terms the claimants had contracted to buy the yacht; whether ownership had transferred and if so on what terms; whether the yacht was defective; whether the claimants were entitled to reject her; whether they had validly done so; whether they were entitled to damages and if so in what amount. One of the parties had requested that further persons, based outside England and Wales, be permitted to access the hearings. The question arose whether this would contravene section 71 of the Senior Courts Act 1981.