MJL -v- Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: KB-2023-001914

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division

15 April 2026

Before:

Master Eastman

Between:

MJL
(by his mother and litigation friend, GJL)

-v-

Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Order

Warning: Reporting restrictions apply as to the disclosing of any information that may lead to the subsequent identification of the Claimants. The publication of the names and addresses of the Claimants is prohibited.

UPON the papers

AND UPON consideration of the Claimant’s Article 8 right to respect for private and family life and the Article 10 right to freedom of expression.

AND UPON 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.

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:

(1) ‘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.

(2) 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:

  1. That the identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is confidential and shall not be published.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, 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 MJL as the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant and the Litigation Friend shall be referred to as set out in 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 “MJL”.
(ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “GJL”.
(iii) Any other details which, on their own or together with other information publicly available, may lead to the identification of the Claimant (including the names of other immediate family members or their addresses) shall be redacted before publication.

  1. 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 party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR 5.4C(IB) 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.

  1. 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 at least 21 days prior to the first CCMC, and re-filed in the event that any statement of case is amended, within 21 days of such amendment being approved.
  2. The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity order was made in this case on 15 April 2026 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”.
  3. That the Claimant do draw and file this Order and serve the same on the Defendant within 7 days of the date of this Order.
  4. 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 7 days’ notice to the Claimant’s solicitor.
  5. Pursuant to the ‘Practice Guidance: Publication of Privacy and Anonymity Orders’ issued by the Master of the Rolls dated 16 April 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.
  6. Costs in the case

Dated 15 April 2026