Courts will schedule a hearing as a special setting to ensure they have time to hear the matter. A regular docket has multiple cases at one time. Yes, as a party in the case you should have been notified.
Full Answer
What happens at an infant settlement approval hearing?
In cases where children have significant injuries resulting in lifelong care needs, payment of the compensation settlement is often made by a lump sum and annual payments for care and case management costs for the rest of the child’s life. The barrister sets out how compensation in the lump sum has been worked out, and how the annual payments will meet the child’s ongoing lifetime needs.
What is an approval hearing?
In cases involving children the court needs to approve any settlement at a short hearing before the case can be concluded. This hearing is often referred to as an infant approval hearing.
How long is the hearing?
Usually, the hearing takes no more than an hour.
Will the judge talk to me at the hearing?
Our client families often want to know whether the judge will talk to them directly at the hearing or ask them questions. We attend the hearing with our clients, and the barrister, to represent the child. The barrister introduces the case to the judge and talks through the issues in the case and the settlement terms, and answers any questions the judge may have.
2 attorney answers
A special set hearing means that your hearing is the only hearing set before the court on that date and time. Hearings are sometimes set on a general docket, where a number of cases are set on the same date and time, meaning that the court may not have time to hear all the cases set and some will have to be continued.
Holly A Schymik
Courts will schedule a hearing as a special setting to ensure they have time to hear the matter. A regular docket has multiple cases at one time. Yes, as a party in the case you should have been notified.
