PXC -v- AB College and another (anonymity order)
Case Number: QB-2020-003979
Neutral Citation Number: [2022] EWHC 3571 (KB)
In the High Court of Justice
Queen’s Bench Division
8 June 2022
Amended 20 March 2023
Before:
Dexter Dias Qc
(Sitting as a Deputy High Court Judge)
Between:
PXC
[Anonymity order granted]
-v-
(1) AB College
(3) London Borough Of Richmond Upon
Thames & Others Defendants
Anonymity Order
UPON READING the application from the Claimant dated 6 May 2022
AND UPON hearing Counsel for the Claimant and Counsel for the Defendants
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 PURSUANT to Civil Procedure Rules 39.2(4), 5.4C and 5.4D and Section II of the Contempt of Court Act 1981
IT IS ORDERED THAT
- The identity of the Claimant as a party to these proceedings is protected and shall not be published.
- Pursuant to CPR 39.2(4), there shall not be disclosed in any report of these proceedings or other publication the name or address of the Claimant, or their immediate family members, the Third Defendant or any details (including other names, addresses, or a specific combination of facts) that could lead to the identification of PXC as the Claimant in these proceedings. The Claimant, and the Third Defendants shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this Order.
- 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 “PXC”.
b. The First Defendant shall be referred to as “AB College”.
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.
d. The Third Defendant (London Borough of Richmond upon Thames) can be named and reported in the usual way.
- Pursuant to CPR 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 paragraph 3 above.
b. If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR 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.
- The Court file shall be clearly marked with the words “An anonymity Order was made in this case on 6 May 2022 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.”
- 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, and that 7 days’ prior notice of the intention to make such an application is given.
- 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.
- Costs in the case.
Dated 8 June 2022
Amended 20 March 2023
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The order defines the scope of ‘publication’ and makes clear that it is a communication which is “addressed to the public at large or any section of the public”. Set out below is a non- exhaustive list of examples of communications and records which would 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 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.
(ii) Communications between the Court Funds Office, the anonymised party, and any financial institution concerned as to the receipt or investment of such money.
(iii) 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.
(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, HM Revenue and Customs (or its successor), the Compensation Recovery Unit 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.
(viii) Communications by or on behalf of a paying party for the purposes of ascertaining whether the anonymised party is alive, so entitled to continuing periodical payments.