Anita James stated: "people didn't understand the significance of...the documents they were handling, and didn't give any thought...to the possibility of litigation ... compounded by the fact that the Department had undergone extraordinary upheaval." Read more about Anita James stated: "people didn't understand the significance of...the documents they were handling, and didn't give any thought...to the possibility of litigation ... compounded by the fact that the Department had undergone extraordinary upheaval."
Anita James stated that she had visited Dr Metters' office during her earlier stint at the Department of Health and had seen that he was careful about keeping documents. She recalled seeing the ACVSB minutes then. Read more about Anita James stated that she had visited Dr Metters' office during her earlier stint at the Department of Health and had seen that he was careful about keeping documents. She recalled seeing the ACVSB minutes then.
Anita James described Dr Rejman as "a bit of a law unto himself in the sense that he wasn't a great respecter of lawyers, but then, you know, that goes with the territory." Read more about Anita James described Dr Rejman as "a bit of a law unto himself in the sense that he wasn't a great respecter of lawyers, but then, you know, that goes with the territory."
Anita James was asked why Dr Metters had not been approached, regarding the papers which he had kept (until their destruction) as DCMO, "much earlier, when the GEB file was identified as missing?". Her response was "I don't know." "Things hadn't come to a head." Read more about Anita James was asked why Dr Metters had not been approached, regarding the papers which he had kept (until their destruction) as DCMO, "much earlier, when the GEB file was identified as missing?". Her response was "I don't know." "Things hadn't come to a head."
Anita James recognised when she was told that file GEB/1 volume 4 had been destroyed, she took no steps to ensure that the policy team destroyed no other files. She went on to say that "obviously, we should have insisted that files were better looked after". Read more about Anita James recognised when she was told that file GEB/1 volume 4 had been destroyed, she took no steps to ensure that the policy team destroyed no other files. She went on to say that "obviously, we should have insisted that files were better looked after".
When Anita James was sent a minute that mentioned possible destruction of important policy files, and was asked if that raised any concerns for her at the time she replied "I don't remember raising any concerns, no." Read more about When Anita James was sent a minute that mentioned possible destruction of important policy files, and was asked if that raised any concerns for her at the time she replied "I don't remember raising any concerns, no."
Dr Rejman told Anita James in regards to the documents she was seeking in order for her to deal with hepatitis litigation, that "As agreed, I do not intend to go through the full discovery list which we prepared at the time" for the HIV litigation. She did not insist that he did. Read more about Dr Rejman told Anita James in regards to the documents she was seeking in order for her to deal with hepatitis litigation, that "As agreed, I do not intend to go through the full discovery list which we prepared at the time" for the HIV litigation. She did not insist that he did.
When the class action in respect of HIV litigation began, and when the class action in respect of Hepatitis C began, documents relating to a central thrust of the plaintiffs' or claimants' case went missing. Read more about When the class action in respect of HIV litigation began, and when the class action in respect of Hepatitis C began, documents relating to a central thrust of the plaintiffs' or claimants' case went missing.
Anita James confirmed it did not appear that the registered files had been retrieved from the DRO at any time before January 2000 and there was no blanket request across the Department of Health to find any relevant files. Read more about Anita James confirmed it did not appear that the registered files had been retrieved from the DRO at any time before January 2000 and there was no blanket request across the Department of Health to find any relevant files.
Anita James accepted that when she was told that GEB/1 volume 4 had been destroyed, "we should have insisted that files were better looked after" and that she, David Burrage and Dr Rejman should have ensured that those involved with the management of those files understood their importance. Read more about Anita James accepted that when she was told that GEB/1 volume 4 had been destroyed, "we should have insisted that files were better looked after" and that she, David Burrage and Dr Rejman should have ensured that those involved with the management of those files understood their importance.