[2025] EWHC 2621 (KB)

The PI claims are brought by five women who allege that Mr Odey sexually assaulted them. The claims relate to alleged sexual assaults as follows. In the period 1995 to 1996, JAS; in the year 1998, MAM; in 2004 Ms Maher; in 2013, MJJ; and in 2021 JFM. Anonymity orders and associated reporting restrictions have been imposed in relation to the identities of four of the five claimants. In the case of Ms Maher, the equivalent restrictions have only been imposed in respect of her address.

Letters of claim were sent on behalf of the various claimants during the period July 2023 to January 2024. Claims by JFM and MAM were issued on 18 August 2023. Ms Maher and MJJ applied to be added to the existing claim form in November 2023. By order of 25 April 2024, Master Sullivan directed each claim to be issued on a separate claim form and thereafter individual claim forms were duly issued. Damages are sought for psychiatric injuries, injury to feelings and special damages are claimed for financial losses, including loss of earnings and treatment costs.

Mr Odey and OAM advanced substantive Defences to the PI claims, and in four of the five cases, a limitation Defence. The five claims have been case managed together. Standard disclosure and inspection took place in February and March 2025, witness statements were due to be exchanged by 12 June 2025. However, the claimants have not been ready to exchange statements thus far. The defendant, Mr Odey, has filed his statements with the court on a confidential basis. The parties have permission to instruct psychiatrists, and the experts were due to exchange reports by 25 June 2025. The claimants have been examined by the relevant experts, but exchange of reports has not taken place thus far. The PI claims have not yet been listed for trial.

Pursuant to Master Sullivan's order of 27 November 2024, a CMC was due to be held at 10.30 am on 21 July 2025. However, in light of the inter-relationship with the two applications I was due to rule on, and without objection from the parties, I adjourned the CMC at the conclusion of the hearing before me last Friday.