LXP -v- Aviva (anonymity order)

Anonymity Order

CLAIM NO. QB 2019 002667

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE
QUEEN’S BENCH DIVISION

23 June 2021

BEFORE:
MRS JUSTICE STACEY

BETWEEN:
LXP (a protected party by her litigation friend, EXP)
-v-
(1) NXC
(2) AVIVA INSURANCE LIMITED
(3) THE MOTOR INSURERS’ BUREAU
(4) THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
(5) TXP


UPON HEARING leading and junior counsel for the Claimant (Ms Crowther QC and Mr Clarke) and leading counsel for the First and Second Defendant (Mr Vincent QC and Ms Turton),
AND UPON the Third and Fourth Defendant not appearing or being represented
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, First Defendant and Part 20 Defendant is necessary in order to protect the interests of the Claimant and that there is no sufficient countervailing public interest in disclosure.
(3) The First and Second Defendant indicating 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, Contempt of Court Act 1981; and CPR rr5.4C, 5.4D and 39.2(4).
WHEREAS:
(1) 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.
(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.
(i) Communications between the Court of Protection and the anonymised party in relation to the payment of money into the Court of Protection for the benefit of the anonymised party or the investment or treatment of payment out of such money.
(ii) Communications between the Court of Protection, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of such money.
(iii) Records kept by the Court of Protection, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of the Claimant’s money.
(iv) 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.
(v) Communications between the Defendant(s), their insurers, or their successors in title and their legal and professional advisers, reinsurers, HMRC (or its successor), the CRU or any other person required by law.
(vi) Communications between the anonymised party’s representatives and advisers in managing that party’s affairs.
(vii) Communications for the purpose of obtaining medical care, advice or treatment for the anonymised party.
IT IS ORDERED BY CONSENT THAT:
1. The identities of the Claimant, the First Defendant and the Part 20 Defendant as parties to these proceedings are protected and shall not be published.
2. Pursuant to CPR r39.2(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 LXP as the Claimant, NXC as the First Defendant or TXP as the Part 20 Defendant in these proceedings. The Claimant, the Litigation Friend, the First Defendant and the Part 20 Defendant 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 “LXP”.
(ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “EXP”.
(iii) The First Defendant shall be referred to as “NXC”.
(iv) The Part 20 Defendant shall be referred to as “TXP”.
(v) 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 rr5.4C 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 (v) above.
(ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR rr5.4C(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 Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 23 June 2021 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. 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.
7. 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.
8. The costs of obtaining this order be costs in the case.