DEF -v- Dr Christoph Schultz (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: QB-2021-BHM-000026

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Birmingham District Registry

23 August 2023

Before:

Her Honour Judge Emma Kelly

Between:

DEF (A minor by his mother and Litigation Friend EFD)

-v-

Dr Christoph Schultz

Order

BEFORE Her Honour Judge Emma Kelly sitting in the High Court of Justice, King’s Bench Division, Birmingham District Registry on 22 August 2023
AND UPON the Claimant’s application, dated 3 July 2023, for an anonymity order
AND UPON the Court considering the matter on the papers

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 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 The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is protected and shall not be published.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, 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.
  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 “DEF”.
    (ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “EFD”.
    (iii) 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.
  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, trustee or deputy.
  5. The Claimant’s solicitor shall file with the Court an electronic (PDF) bundle of the statements of case that has been anonymised in accordance with paragraph 3 above by 4pm on [21 days], and re-filed in the event that any statement of case is amended, within 21 days of such amendment.
  6. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 22 August 2023 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.”
  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, trustee or deputy, 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. Costs in the case.
  10. The Court has disposed of the application for an anonymity order without service of a copy of the application notice. Any person not served with a copy of the application notice before the order was made may apply to have the order set aside or varied, with any such application to be made within 7 days after the date on which the order was served on the person making the application. This entitlement is in addition to any rights arising under paragraph 7 of this order.