Strike out: an overview
A practice note providing an overview of the court's power to strike out a statement of case, or part of one, in civil litigation. This practice note examines the grounds for a strike out application under Civil Procedure Rule (CPR) 3.4 and the court's inherent jurisdiction. It details the specific grounds for strike out, including where a statement of case discloses no reasonable grounds for bringing or defending a claim, is an abuse of the court's process, or fails to comply with a rule or court order. The guidance explores the court's discretionary approach, emphasising that strike out is a powerful tool used sparingly as an order of last resort. This practice note also reviews the consequences of a successful order, the distinction from summary judgment applications under CPR 24, and considers specific forms of abuse such as delay, "warehousing" claims, and the Jameel jurisdiction.
Already a Practical Law customer? Sign in
Get access to this document with Practical Law
Why Practical Law?
Gain a built-in attorney network
Practical Law’s resources are written and maintained by over 650 dedicated, full-time attorney-editors globally. They’re highly qualified, having practiced at the world’s leading law firms, corporate law departments, and government agencies, so they understand the challenges you face. They dedicate themselves to creating resources to help you navigate the new legal realities, legislative changes, and practice areas impacting your clients or organisation.
See how to leverage the expertise of Practical Law’s attorney-editors to help you practice more efficiently.
Learn more about Practical Law
Expert guidance
650+ full-time, experienced attorney-editors keep you up to date globally
Total resources
118,000+ total resources across 17 practice areas ensure comprehensive coverage
Timely updates
150,000+ hours spent in 2025 maintaining and updating resources