MMM -v- Hampshire County Council (anonymity order)

Administrative CourtHigh CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim number: AC-2024-LON-003429

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Administrative Court

18 December 2024

Before:

Upper Tribunal Judge Elizabeth Cooke, sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge

Between:

The King on the application of
MMM

-v-

Hampshire County Council

Order

On an application by the Claimant for anonymity in these proceedings, and for leave to file amended grounds

Following consideration of the documents lodged by the Claimant and the Defendant

ORDER by Upper Tribunal Judge Elizabeth Cooke sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge

  1. Pursuant to CPR r.39.2, the identity of the Claimant shall not be directly or indirectly disclosed and shall be referred to in these proceedings as MMM.
  2. The Claimant may by 4p.m. on 3 January 2025 file and serve amended grounds and his witness statement dated 2 December 2024.
  3. If he does not do so the application for permission shall be placed before a judge for determination on the grounds as they stand.
  4. If the Claimant does file and serve amended grounds then the Defendant may, but is not required to, file and serve amended summary grounds of defence by 4p.m. on 17 January 2025. The application for permission shall be placed before a judge as soon as possible after that date.

Reasons

I accept the explanation given by the Claimant’s solicitors for their lodging of the claim before the grant of legal aid. Whilst it would have been better to apply for a stay pending the grant, I am prepared to allow the Claimant to amend his grounds in view of his claim to be a minor and of the importance of the claim to him. No doubt the amended grounds will take the opportunity to explain the relevance of the witness statement and also how it was produced in light of the Defendant’s comments about that.