DEF (A Child By His Mother And Litigation Friend, GHI) -v- Wirral University Teaching Hospital Nhs Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

Queen's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim No. QB-2020-003670

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION

Before:
Mr Dexter Dias QC
(sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court)

Between:
DEF
(a child by his Mother and Litigation Friend, GHI)
-v-
WIRRAL UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST

ANONYMITY ORDER

BEFORE Mr Dexter Dias QC sitting as a Deputy Judge of the High Court at the Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London WC2A 2LL on 2 February 2022

UPON HEARING Lizanne Gumbel, one of her Majesty’s Counsel, on behalf of the Claimant and Angus Moon, one of her Majesty’s Counsel, on behalf of the Defendant

WHEREAS the Claimant has made a claim against the Defendant for personal injuries suffered by him arising out of the alleged negligence of the Defendant on 4 April 2017 and in respect of which proceedings were commenced by the Claimant against the Defendant in the High Court of Justice Queen’s Bench Division on 19 October 2020

AND WHEREAS the Claimant is a Protected Party and brings the Claim by his mother and Litigation Friend, GHI

AND UPON READING the Advice from Leading Counsel for the Claimant dated 25 January 2022

AND UPON
1. Consideration of the Claimant’s Article 8 rights 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 in order to protect the interests of the Claimant.
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 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981; and CPR rules 5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2 (4)

IT IS ORDERED THAT

1. For the purposes of this order:
(a) ‘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.
(b) 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.
2. For the avoidance of doubt, set out below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of communications and records which do not constitute publication within the meaning of this order (providing always that proper steps are taken to protect the confidentiality of information from being made public). In this list references to ‘the anonymised party’ include that party’s appointed representatives and advisers, such as solicitor, Litigation Friend, attorney, trustee and deputy.
(a) Communications between the Court Funds Office and the anonymised party in relation to the payment of money into the Court Funds Office for the benefit of the anonymised party or the investment or treatment of payment out of such money.
(b) Communications between the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of such money.
(c) Records kept by the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of the Claimant’s money.
(d) Retention by all parties to the claim, their representatives, and their advisers of their unredacted files for the purposes of their continuing functions and obligations in relation to the proceedings.
(e) Communications between the Defendant(s), their insurers, or their successors in title and their legal and professional advisers, reinsurers, HM Revenue and Customs (or its successor), the Compensation Recovery Unit or any other person required by law.
(f) Communications between the anonymised party’s representatives and advisers in managing that party’s affairs.
(g) Communications for the purpose of obtaining medical care, advice or treatment for the anonymised party.
3. The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is protected and shall not be published.
4. 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, the Claimant’s Litigation Friend or other immediate family members, or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of DEF as the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant and the Litigation Friend shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this Order.
5. In any judgment or report of these proceedings, or other publication (by whatever medium) in relation thereto:
(a) The Claimant shall be referred to as “DEF”.
(b) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “GHI”.
(c) Any other details liable to lead to the identification of the Claimant (including any names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.
6. Pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C and 5.4D:
(a) 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.
(b) 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, trustee or deputy.
7. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on [date of this Order] 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.”
8. 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, trustee or deputy, and that 7 days’ prior notice of the intention to make such an application is given.
9. 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.
10. The costs of obtaining this Order be costs in the case.