Abstract
This paper analyzes the determinants of case disposition times in Belgian first instance courts by exploiting a unique dataset of 174 court cases. Unlike previous studies, our analysis focuses mainly on case-level determinants. Regression results show that the use of expert assessments on average prolongs overall disposition time by 902 days. Furthermore, the number of pleadings, as a proxy of case complexity, also significantly impacts the duration of trials. Additionally, results indicate that case outcomes, such as settlements or plaintiff wins, are significant determinants of case duration. In addition to case-level characteristics, our results indicate that two civil procedure reforms aimed at accelerating adjudication led to a major decrease of case duration in Belgian first instance courts.
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©2015 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Foreword to the special issue on Economic Analysis of Litigation
- Articles
- Rent-Seeking and Litigation: The Hidden Virtues of Limited Fee Shifting
- Judicial Independence, Judges’ Incentives and Efficiency
- Tipping the Scales – Settlement, Appeal and the Relevance of Judicial Ambition
- Third-Party Punishment under Judicial Review: An Economic Experiment on the Effects of a Two-Tier Punishment System
- A Commitment Mechanism to Eliminate Willful Contract Litigation
- Centralization versus Decentralization of Legislative Production and the Effect on Litigation: A Case Study
- An Empirical Analysis of Case Disposition Time in Belgium
- Bottlenecks or Inefficiency? An Assessment of First Instance Italian Courts’ Performance
- Does Patent Quality Drive Damages in Patent Lawsuits? Lessons from the French Judicial System
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Editorial
- Foreword to the special issue on Economic Analysis of Litigation
- Articles
- Rent-Seeking and Litigation: The Hidden Virtues of Limited Fee Shifting
- Judicial Independence, Judges’ Incentives and Efficiency
- Tipping the Scales – Settlement, Appeal and the Relevance of Judicial Ambition
- Third-Party Punishment under Judicial Review: An Economic Experiment on the Effects of a Two-Tier Punishment System
- A Commitment Mechanism to Eliminate Willful Contract Litigation
- Centralization versus Decentralization of Legislative Production and the Effect on Litigation: A Case Study
- An Empirical Analysis of Case Disposition Time in Belgium
- Bottlenecks or Inefficiency? An Assessment of First Instance Italian Courts’ Performance
- Does Patent Quality Drive Damages in Patent Lawsuits? Lessons from the French Judicial System