RMX -v- Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain (anonymity order)

CivilAnonymity Order

Claim no. QB-2020-001774

 

In the High Court of Justice

Queen’s Bench Division

27 of May

Before:

Master Gidden

Between:

RMX

-and-

  1. Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Britain
  2. The Mountain Ash Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
  3. The Trustees of the Mountain Ash Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (see attached list)
  4. Eric Drews

UPON the Claimant’s Application Notice issued on
AND UPON consideration of the Claimant’s Article 8 right to respect for private and family life and
the Article 10 right of freedom of expression.
AND UPON IT APPEARING the case is likely to attract publicity and that revealing the identity of the
Claimant is likely to unfairly damage the interest of the Claimant and that, accordingly, publication of
details revealing the Claimant’s identity ought to be prohibited.
AND PURSUANT to s.11 Contempt of Court Act 1981 and CPR Rule 5.4A to 5.4D and CPR Rule
39.2(4).
AND UPON IT HEARING a representative of the Claimant’s Solicitors without notice.
IT IS ORDERED that
1. There be substituted for all purposes of this case, in place of references to the Claimant by
name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the letters RMX.
2. To the extent necessary to protect the Claimant’s identity, any other references, whether to
persons or places or otherwise, be adjusted appropriately, with permission to the parties to
apply in default of agreement as to the manner of such adjustments.
3. So far as the Claim Form, or any Judgment or Order, or any other document to which anyone
might have access pursuant to CPR Rule 5.4A-D at any time does not comply with the above,
the Claimant’s solicitor has leave to file with the Court copies of such document adjusted so
as to comply therein. Such copies are to be treated for all purposes as being in substitution
for the relevant originals; and the originals are then to be retained by the Court in a sealed
envelope marked: “not to be opened without the permission of a Judge or Master of the
Queen’s Bench Division”.
4. A non-party may not inspect or obtain the copy of any document from the court file (other
than this order – duly anonymised as directed) without the permission of a Master. Any
application for such permission must be made on notice to the Claimant (the court will
effect service). Such file is to be retained by the court and marked “PRIVATE”.
5. A non-party may not obtain any copy statement of case or other document from the court
file unless it has been edited (anonymised) in accordance with this direction.
6. Reporting restrictions apply as to the disclosing of any information that may lead to the
subsequent identification of the Claimant. The publication of the name and address of the
Claimant and their immediate family is prohibited.
7. The Claimant has permission to issue the claim form giving the address of their solicitors
in place of their residential addresses. A copy of the claim form with the Claimant’s full
name and address is to be placed on file in a sealed envelope marked: “not to be opened
without the permission of a Judge or Master of the Queen’s Bench Division”.
8. Any party or non-party affected by this order may apply on notice to set aside or vary this
order.