AXS -v- TXM (anonymity order)

CivilHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: QB-2022-LDS-000044

In the High Court
Leeds District Registry
King’s Bench Division

5 September 2024

Before:

His Honour Judge Mark Gargan
sitting as a judge of the High Court

Between:

AXS

-v-

TXM

Anonymity order

BEFORE His Honour Judge Mark Gargan sitting as a judge of the High Court at the Leeds District Registry of the High Court of Justice, Leeds Combined Court, 1 Oxford Row, Leeds LS1 3BG on 5 September 2024 via Teams

UPON hearing Miss Hartshorn, Counsel for the Claimant and Miss Caunce, Counsel for the Defendant.

AND UPON hearing the application dated 22 August 2024:

AND UPON:

1. Consideration of the Article 8 rights of the Claimant to respect for private and family life, and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.

2. It appearing that non-disclosure of the identity of the Claimant is necessary to secure the proper administration of justice and in order to protect the interests of the Claimant and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.

3. The Defendant indicating its neutrality to the making of the order and there being no representations from the press or any other interested party.

AND PURSUANT to section 6 of the Human Rights Act 1998; section 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981; and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4).

WHEREAS for the purposes of this order:

(i) ‘Publication’ includes any speech, writing, broadcast, or other communication in whatever form (including internet and social media), which is addressed to the public at large or any section of the public.

(ii) Publication for the purpose of this Order includes any further publication (as defined in subparagraph (i) above) from the date of this Order, even if such information has derived from a previous stage or stages of these proceedings.

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identity of the Claimant and Defendant as a party to these proceedings are protected and shall not be published.

  2. Pursuant to CPR Rule 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of the Claimant and Defendant or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of the Claimant or the Defendant in these proceedings.

  3. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:

    (i) The Claimant shall be referred to as “[AXS]”.

    (ii) The Defendant shall be referred to as “[TXM]”.

    (iii) Any other details liable to lead to the identification of the Claimant and the Defendant (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.

  4. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:

    (i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may not obtain a copy of a statement of case, judgment or order from the Court records unless the statement of case, judgment or order has been anonymised in accordance with subparagraphs 3(i) to (iii) above.

    (ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR r.5.4C(1B) or (2)) for permission to inspect or obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor.

  5. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 5 September 2024 and any application by a non-party to inspect or obtain a copy document from this file must be dealt with in accordance with the terms of that Order.”

  6. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court and electronic (pdf) bundle of the statements of case that have been anonymised in accordance with paragraph 3 above within 21 days of this Order.

  7. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this Order, provided that any such application is made on notice to the Claimant’s solicitor, and that 7 days’ prior notice of the intention to make such an application is given.

  8. Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 2019 a copy of this Order shall be published on the Judicial Website of the High Court of Justice (www.judiciary.uk). For that purpose, a court officer will send a copy of the order by email to the Judicial Office at judicialwebupdates@judiciary.uk.

  9. The costs of obtaining this order be costs in the case.