P v Griffith [2020] EWCOP 46 (02 October 2020)

P v Griffith [2020] EWCOP 46 (02 October 2020)

The court found beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Griffith forged a court order and sent it to Barts Health NHS Trust to obtain confidential medical records of P, despite the court having refused such disclosure. This deliberate act was intended to interfere with the due administration of justice and constituted a serious contempt of court. The only reasonable inference from the evidence was that Ms Griffith fabricated the order to circumvent the court's decisions.

Citation
[2020] EWCOP 46
Parties
Applicant: P; Respondent: Dahlia Griffith
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
02 October 2020
Procedural Posture
Committal Application for Contempt of Court / Final Hearing and Sentencing
Outcome
Contempt of court proved; immediate custodial sentence imposed.
Legal Topics
Forgery of Court Order, Interference With Administration of Justice, Disclosure of Confidential Medical Records, Committal Proceedings, Standard of Proof in Contempt, Sentencing for Contempt
Court of Protection Contempt of Court Civil Procedure Forgery of Court Order Interference With Administration of Justice Disclosure of Confidential Medical Records Committal Proceedings Standard of Proof in Contempt +1 more

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

More case intelligence is available

Unlock the full research layer for this judgment.

Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 12 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1
Sign in to unlock

Parties

P

Applicant

Dahlia Griffith

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Committal Application for Contempt of Court / Final Hearing and Sentencing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether Ms Griffith forged a court order and used it to obtain confidential medical records
  2. 2 Whether Ms Griffith's actions constituted contempt of court by interfering with the due administration of justice
  3. 3 Whether the court should proceed in the absence of the respondent

Ratio Decidendi

The court found beyond reasonable doubt that Ms Griffith forged a court order and sent it to Barts Health NHS Trust to obtain confidential medical records of P, despite the court having refused such disclosure. This deliberate act was intended to interfere with the due administration of justice and constituted a serious contempt of court. The only reasonable inference from the evidence was that Ms Griffith fabricated the order to circumvent the court's decisions.

Court Disposition

Contempt of court proved; immediate custodial sentence imposed.

Orders

  • Ms Griffith sentenced to 12 months' immediate imprisonment for contempt of court.
  • Committal order made; warrant to issue for Ms Griffith's arrest.