QUEEN'S BENCH DIVISION
ADMINISTRATIVE COURT
Strand, London, WC2A 2LL |
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B e f o r e :
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THE QUEEN (on the application of CLAIRE WAXMAN) |
Claimant |
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- and - |
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CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE |
Defendant |
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Mr. Louis Mably (instructed by Crown Prosecution Service) for the defendant
Hearing date: 14th November 2011
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Crown Copyright ©
Lord Justice Moore-Bick:
" . . . a substantial amount of money which was awarded to the defendant as compensation at a previous case held at Brent Magistrates' court."
The claim was struck out as having no prospect of success. It could equally well have been regarded as an abuse of the process.
"(1) To close down a Facebook website created by [Ms Waxman] and its associated social network sites which contains [sic] details of a hate campaign against myself, Elliot Fogel.
(2) To prevent any further attempts by [Ms Waxman], either directly or indirectly, to get me sectioned under the Mental Health Act."
On 1st February 2011 that claim too was struck out as being wholly without merit and a civil restraint order was made prohibiting Mr. Fogel from issuing any further claim without the leave of a circuit judge.
"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations . . . everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law."
It is recognised that this is not an absolute right, however, and is subject to restrictions necessary to achieve a legitimate social objective: see Ashingdane v United Kingdom (1985) 7 EHRR 528. The prevention of persistent harassment of the kind in which Mr. Fogel had been engaged is, in my view, a legitimate social objective that is capable of justifying a restriction on his rights under Article 6.