Gillian Ridley v Blackpool County Court
[2023] EWCA Civ 586
Corey-Lee Styles v South Wales Police
19 July 2023
[2023] EWHC 1835 (KB)
High Court
The claimant kept filing lawsuits that judges said were pointless. Because of this, a judge made a rule that she can't sue those same people again for three years without permission.
Key Facts
- •The claimant, Corey-Lee Styles (aka Corey-Lee Cortez), brought multiple unsuccessful claims against South Wales Police, Bro Morgannwg Trust (later Cwm Taff Bro Morgannwg University Health Board), and Bridgend Local Authority (Bridgend County Borough Council).
- •The claims involved allegations of breach of police protocol, human rights violations, clinical negligence, data protection breaches, defamation, harassment, and wrongful removal of children.
- •The claimant repeatedly failed to comply with court orders, including providing particulars of claim and adhering to procedural rules.
- •Multiple injunction applications were dismissed as being without merit.
- •The court considered imposing a civil restraint order due to the claimant's persistent filing of meritless claims.
Legal Principles
CPR Part 16.4(1) requires a concise statement of facts in particulars of claim.
Civil Procedure Rules
Courts can strike out claims for failure to comply with court orders or for being totally without merit.
CPR
Section 12 of the Human Rights Act 1998 requires notice in injunction applications.
Human Rights Act 1998
CPR 23.12 requires consideration of a civil restraint order when claims are dismissed as totally without merit.
Civil Procedure Rules
Outcomes
The fourth injunction application was refused.
The claimant failed to establish a viable claim with a real prospect of success and failed to demonstrate a credible threat of future wrongdoing. The application was deemed totally without merit.
Claim QB-2020-000642 was struck out as totally without merit.
The claim had been stayed, and the claimant failed to provide proper particulars of claim.
An Extended Civil Restraint Order was imposed.
The claimant persistently issued claims and made applications found to be totally without merit, all sharing a common theme and target. The order restricts future claims against specified defendants for three years unless permission is obtained from the supervising judge.