Practice Directions

Kilrie Children's Home

1. This Practice Direction applies to proceedings issued before 4.00pm on 28 January 2000 in which the claimant claims damages for personal injury arising out of abuse, maltreatment, and assaults whilst in the care of Cheshire County Council at Kilrie Children's Home, Knutsford, Cheshire and carried out by their employees, servants or agents.

2. All future proceedings coming within the terms of paragraph 1 should be commenced in the appropriate County Court or District Registry and will, subject to any contrary order that may be appropriate in an individual case, be transferred to the Manchester District Registry without further order.

3. All existing actions coming within the terms of paragraph 1 should be transferred forthwith to the Manchester District Registry unless already proceedings there.

4. Any claimant seeking to join the Kilrie Children's Home litigation must issue proceedings before 4pm on 28th April 2000.

5. The proceedings referred to in paragraph 1 are subject to the Directions Order made on 25 November 1999 by the Honourable Mr Justice Douglas Brown. This Practice Direction should be read with that Directions Order.

6. District Judge Fairclough will be the assigned District Judge. Interlocutory appeals or references which require the attention of a High Court Judge should be made in the first instance to the Presiding Judges of the Northern Circuit until such time as a trial judge is assigned.

7. All Statements of Case and Orders shall be marked on the top left hand side "The Kilrie Children's Home litigation".

8. This Practice Direction applies to all claims that come within the terms of paragraph 1 and all claims irrespective of the value of the claim will be allocated to the multi-track with the CPR 1998 applying thereto.

9. This Direction in respect of transfers from the County Court has been approved by the Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of the Lord Chancellor.

Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
20th December 1999