Automatic suspension and cross undertakings in damages - is the time right?

Can the Court impose a requirement for a cross undertaking in damages before it has heard an application to lift an automatic suspension? That was the question the Court in Northern Ireland had to consider in Lowry Brothers Ltd and Wilson v Northern Ireland Water Ltd [2012]

The case concerned separate actions brought by each of two unsuccessful bidders both bidding for appointment to Northern Ireland Water's capital delivery framework for water and sewerage works. Their claims were brought under the Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006.

As proceedings were started before any appointments had been made to the framework the automatic suspension preventing the utility from entering into the contract was triggered. The utility applied to the Court for an order lifting the automatic suspension and a date for the hearing set. A preliminary hearing was also arranged to take place approximately 6 weeks in advance of the application hearing date.

During the preliminary hearing the utility raised the question of whether the claimants should be required to provide a cross undertaking in damages. The utility argued that the delay in entering into the framework would impact significantly on the delivery of infrastructure improvements and would also have major cost implications (including additional procurement costs). It also argued in the event its application to lift the suspension succeeded it would be uncompensated for the loss suffered in the intervening period (i.e. the period whilst the suspension was in force) and that the claimant should therefore be at risk during this period.

Despite the utility's arguments and even in the absence of any evidence submitted by the claimants the Court was not prepared to impose a cross undertaking in damages on the claimants at the preliminary hearing stage. In fact it considered that it was not even open to the Court to do this. In reaching its decision the Court's analysis of the relevant provisions in the Regulations (and in particular Regulations 45H(1) and 45H(3)) was that an undertaking in damages could only be imposed within the framework of an order of the Court. The preliminary hearing stage was not a time when [the Court was deciding] whether to make an order for the purposes of Regulations 45H (as this fell to be decided at the later hearing when the utility's application to lift the automatic suspension would be considered). Further the imposition of an undertaking was a discretionary power and the Court in exercising such discretion was obliged to take into account all material factors and be as fully informed as possible. Although the process for the utility's application to lift the automatic suspension had begun it was too early to consider imposing an undertaking in damages or any other condition on the claimants. The Court did not have sufficient evidence to make an informed decision and engage in a proper exercise of judicial discretion.

We will have to wait and see whether the English Courts echo the approach taken by the Court in Northern Ireland when considering the timing of requests for cross undertakings in damages or if they have more sympathy for the utility or contracting authority's position. It certainly emphasises the need to move quickly in making an application to lift an automatic suspension and to seek an early hearing date.

A further question which will no doubt be the subject of future litigation is whether if a Court rejects an application to lift an automatic suspension on condition that a cross undertaking in damages be given can it require a cross undertaking to be retrospective and so cover the period from when the automatic suspension was first triggered? This would certainly help to rectify the risk to the utility or contracting authority of suffering uncompensated losses if the Court orders the suspension be maintained. However it would not assist where an order to lift the suspension is made (because the losses arising whilst the suspension was in force will remain).

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