Matters to be considered by court
60E Matters to be considered by court
In exercising the powers conferred on it by section 60C or 60D, a court is to have regard to all the circumstances of the case, and (without affecting the generality of the foregoing), the court is, to the extent that they are relevant to the circumstances of the case, to have regard to the following—
the length of and reasons for the delay,
the extent to which, having regard to the delay, there is or may be prejudice to the defendant by reason that evidence that would have been available if the proceedings had been commenced within the limitation period is no longer available,
the time at which the injury became known to the plaintiff,
the time at which the nature and extent of the injury became known to the plaintiff,
the time at which the plaintiff became aware of a connection between the injury and the defendant’s act or omission,
any conduct of the defendant which induced the plaintiff to delay bringing the action,
the steps (if any) taken by the plaintiff to obtain medical, legal or other expert advice and the nature of any such advice the plaintiff may have received,
the extent of the plaintiff’s injury or loss.
In the application of this section to an application for an order under section 60C in respect of a cause of action that has survived on the death of a person for the benefit of the person’s estate under section 2 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1944, references in subsection (1) to the plaintiff include references to the deceased and the applicant, or any of them, as appropriate in the circumstances.
In the application of this section to an application for an order under section 60D (2) (a)—
references in subsection (1) to the plaintiff include references to the deceased, the personal representative of the deceased, and the beneficiaries, or any of them, as appropriate in the circumstances, and
regard may also be had to delay occurring after the death of the deceased,
whether or not a limitation period has expired in relation to the cause of action that the applicant claims to have, and whether or not the applicant is also making an application under section 60D (2) (b).
In the application of this section to an application for an order under section 60D (2) (b), references in subsection (1) to the plaintiff include references to the personal representative of the deceased, and the beneficiaries, or any of them, as appropriate in the circumstances.
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