Who is responsible for filing the trial bundle in pre-trial preparation?

• A. The claimant
• B. The defendant
• C. The court
• D. The witnesses

Answer: (A)

In pre-trial preparation, the trial bundle is the set of documents the court will rely on at the hearing. This bundle is typically filed by the party who starts the claim, through their solicitor, in line with the court’s directions. The claimant takes the lead in coordinating the bundle to ensure all relevant documents—pleadings, statements, evidence, disclosures—are gathered, paginated, and served in time. The court’s role is to give directions and receive the bundle, but it does not file the bundle on behalf of the parties. The defendant will also prepare and file their own materials or contribute to a joint bundle as directed, but the obligation to file the bundle resides with the claimant’s side. This ensures there's a clear, ordered set of documents for the trial from the party initiating the claim.