File and Serve meaning

[Gary Bryn]

I am in the process of a small claim with an ex employer. The case has now gone to my local court. I received a letter saying

"IT IS ORDERED THAT

1. The claimant is to file at Court and serve on the defendant within 21 days of receipt of this Order a reply to defence."

It isn't very clear to me what this means, I assume I have to respond to the defendants response to the claim and send it both to the courts and to the defendant? But do I need to send the whole claim (My claim, their response and my response to their response) or just my response to their response?

Thank you in advance,

 

[Michael Gerard]

File means you send your reply to the Court (who will then place the reply on the Court's system), whilst serve means you serve your reply on the Defendant (service has a very particular meaning, and I suggest you refer to the Civil Procedure Rules - Part 6).

 

[Newchodge]

And you only need to send what is asked for - your reply to the defence.