Scotland, like much of the world, is bracing for a spike in litigation related to the Coronavirus. Business closures, insurance disputes, non-payment of rent, and other common types of litigation are expected to rise at least three-fold. Once courts are up and running again, the backlog of cases and filings is expected to take 1-3 years to completely clear.
An LFJ Conversation with Michael Kelley, Partner, Parker Poe
Scotland, like much of the world, is bracing for a spike in litigation related to the Coronavirus. Business closures, insurance disputes, non-payment of rent, and other common types of litigation are expected to rise at least three-fold. Once courts are up and running again, the backlog of cases and filings is expected to take 1-3 years to completely clear.
The Scotsman reports that Scottish courts were already struggling to keep up with cases before COVID-19 reared its ugly head. Between 2017-18, Scotland saw a staggering 81,000 cases. With the impending increase in cases, it’s expected that there will be a shortage of courtrooms, judges, available attorneys, and litigation funders.
Unfortunately, opportunities to acquire litigation funding in Scotland are limited. Unlike places like the US, UK, and much of Asia—Scotland has been slow to get onboard with litigation funding. That may change as investors get wise to diversification opportunities and lack of correlation that litigation finance provides as an investment.
By providing funds to plaintiffs for legal fees, expert witnesses, and other essentials during a case, litigation funders provide increased access to justice. By carefully vetting the cases they take on, funders also ensure that courts are not overburdened by frivolous litigation. It’s a win for plaintiffs and for the community at large.
