The afternoon hearing (5 February 2024) that I tried to observe before Her Honour Deputy District Judge Emma Davy was the case of Jones v Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & 3 Others, held at 3pm in Court 3 Weymouth County Court via video link using Teams.

At 15:03 the Court Clerk Gillian Dean announced the case number K01ZA784 and on the Teams screen there were 7 participants including myself.

The Court Clerk, Her Honour DDJ Davy, John Blackburn, William Tyler (who had by his name D4 - Specsavers, so I assume this is the 4th defendant, Specsavers), Sarah Hicks and Fadzai Smith (and myself, the public observer).

As she spoke the Judge's picture on the video was freezing but the audio was clear, which did not bode well (as you will see later).

The Judge said, this is Deputy District Judge Davy sitting at Weymouth County Court. Mr Blackburn sent in a letter with enclosures if we could have an update Mr Blackburn?

Mr Blackburn - if the defendant could perhaps ...?

Sarah Hicks for the first defendant Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - we were waiting a draft order, the recitals are rather cumbersome and it arrived to late for me to get any instructions.

The costs are disputed. We believe there should be no order as to costs. This was about disclosure and that was first in December 2021. We do not agree costs in the case.

4th defendant - we are not content with costs in the case. We believe that claimant should pay the 4th defendant's costs.

Judge asks - on what basis should claimant pay your costs?

And then at 15:07 I was suddenly removed from the Teams meeting!

At 15:11 I telephoned the Court but could not get an answer.

At 15:14 I sent an email to the Court asking to be readmitted to the hearing.

At 15:15 I telephone the Court again and was advised that there were technical difficulties. I asked if the hearing was continuing and was told that the Court Office did not know. They had just received a message on Teams from the Usher. I asked them to let the Usher know that I was still waiting on Teams to be readmitted.

At 15:48 I telephoned the Court again and was advised that the Court had finished for the day and the Usher had brought the papers up to the office.

At 16:00 I sent an email to the Court asking for an explanation of what had happened and how the case had progressed after I had been removed from the hearing.

When (if) I hear anything more, I will post an update.