Practice Directions

1. This Practice Direction applies to all proceedings against the Ministry of Defence for damages for personal injury allegedly caused or contributed to by failure by the Defendant [1] to take adequate steps to avert the onset of combat stress reaction [CSR] or post- traumatic stress reaction [PTSR] or [2] to diagnose or treat CSR PTSR and/or post- traumatic stress disorder [PTSD] or other related psychiatric disorder arising from stress or trauma suffered by the Claimant as a result of service in the Armed Forces where the first alleged failure by the Defendant occurred after 15 May 1987.

2. Any such proceedings currently pending in any District Registry or in county court should be transferred forthwith to the Royal Courts of Justice.

3. Any such proceedings commenced in the future should be commenced in the Central Office of the Queen's Bench Division at the Royal Courts of Justice.

4. All claim forms, statements of case and orders shall be marked in the top left-hand corner "Post-traumatic Stress Disorder litigation against the Ministry of Defence. Group Action (Group 2)".

5. Master Foster shall be the Assigned Master. Interlocutory appeals or references which require the attention of a High Court Judge should be made to Mr Justice Buckley, the Judge in Charge of the Non-Jury List until such time as a trial judge is assigned.

6. The Practice Direction applies to all claims irrespective of the value of the claimant's claim. The CPR 1998 will apply and all claims will be allocated to the multi-track.

7. This Practice Direction in respect of transfers from the county court under paragraph 2 above has been approved by the Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the Lord Chancellor.

The Lord Chief Justice