Prince Harry, singer Elton John and five other high-profile claimants could reportedly face legal costs running into millions of pounds after losing their privacy case against the publisher of the British newspaper the Daily Mail.
The seven claimants recently lost their legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail, over allegations of unlawful information gathering and serious invasions of privacy. During an 11-week trial, the group alleged that journalists had engaged in activities including bugging vehicles and homes, intercepting phone calls and accessing private financial and medical information. ANL strongly denied the allegations.
In a written judgment issued earlier this month, the High Court dismissed the claims after ruling that the claimants had failed to prove the allegations made in their case.
The claimants include Prince Harry, Elton John, his husband David Furnish, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, campaigner Doreen Lawrence and former politician Simon Hughes. They are now facing a dispute over the legal costs of the case, with ANL’s lawyers arguing that the claimants should pay a larger share of the publisher’s legal expenses, which reportedly total around £34 million.
The final amount the claimants may have to pay will depend on whether the court orders costs to be paid on a standard basis or under the stricter indemnity basis. ANL’s lawyer, Antony White, argued that the claimants should be ordered to pay on the indemnity basis.
Representing the claimants, Nicholas Bacon warned that such an order could have serious financial consequences. He said the group has combined insurance coverage of around £16.2 million, which may not be enough to cover the total legal costs if the stricter basis is applied, potentially leaving them personally responsible for many millions of pounds.
The court is expected to determine how the legal costs should be divided and how much the claimants will ultimately be required to pay following their unsuccessful case.
