RA and LF (interested party) -v- Axa UK PLC (anonymity order)

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionAnonymity Order

Claim Number: QB-2022-MAN-000191

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

7 October 2022

Before:
RA
(A Protected Party by his Litigation Friend, LF)
-v-
Axa UK PLC


ANONYMITY ORDER

BEFORE HH judge Sephton KC sitting as a Judge of the High Court at the Manchester CJC on 7th October 2022

UPON hearing Mr Christopher Melton KC on behalf of the Claimant and Mr David Heaton KC on behalf of the Defendant

WHEREAS the Claimant has brought these proceedings against the Defendant claiming damages for personal injury and other losses suffered as a result of a road traffic accident on 15th September 2019.

AND UPON the Claimant and the Defendant having agreed the terms set forth in the Approval Order of even date, which have been approved by the Court.

AND UPON

(1) Consideration of the Claimant’s Article 8 right 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, the Litigation Friend and the Defendant is necessary in order to protect the interests of the Claimant.

(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 11 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981; and Civil Procedure Rules (“CPR”) 5.4A to 5.4D and 39.2(4).

IT IS ORDERED THAT:

  1. The identities of the Claimant, and his Litigation Friend in these proceedings are protected and shall not be published.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 the name or address or email address of the Claimant, the Claimant’s Litigation Friend, or any details that could lead to the identification of the Claimant. The parties shall be referred to as set out at paragraph 3 of this anonymity Order.
  3. In any report of these proceedings or other publication (by whatever medium), including in all statements of case and other documents subsequently to be filed or served in the proceedings, and in any Judgment or Order in the proceedings in relation thereto:

(i) The Claimant shall be referred to as “RA”;

(ii) The Litigation Friend shall be referred to as “LF”;

(iii) The Defendant company shall continue to be referred to as “Axa UK PLC”;

(iv) Any other details liable to lead to the identification of the Claimant and/or the Litigation Friend (including any names of other family members or addresses) shall be redacted before publication.

  1. That in so far as necessary, any statement of case or other document disclosing the Claimant’s name or address or the name or address of the Litigation Friend already filed in the proceedings be replaced by a document redacting such name or address as above by 4pm on 7th November 2022.
  2. That the unredacted original of any such document disclosing the name or address of the Claimant or of the Litigation Friend or of the First Defendant is to be placed on the Court file in a sealed envelope marked ‘not to be opened without the permission of a District Judge of the County Court.
  3. Pursuant to CPR Rule 5.4C:

(i) A person who is not a party to the proceedings may obtain a copy of a statement of case, Judgment or Order from the Court records only if the statement of case, Judgment or Order has been anonymised in accordance with paragraphs 3 and 4 above;

(ii) If a person who is not a party to the proceedings applies (pursuant to CPR Rules 5.4C (1B) or (2)) for permission to obtain a copy of any other document or communication, such application shall be on at least 7 days’ notice to the Claimant’s Solicitor and the Court will effect service.

  1. Any interested party, whether or not a party to the proceedings, may apply to the Court to vary or discharge this anonymity Order, providing that any such Application is made on notice to the Claimant’s Solicitor and that at least 7 days’ prior notice of the intention to make such an application is given.