LONDON: Prince Harry’s legal costs reached an initial £9.54 million after the UK High Court ordered seven claimants to pay the Daily Mail publisher by August 28.
Justice Matthew Nicklin ordered a joint interim payment to Associated Newspapers Limited; the sum is approximately USD 13 million.
The order does not require each claimant to pay £9.54 million individually. Their lawyers must determine how to divide the collective liability among Prince Harry, Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Doreen Lawrence, Sadie Frost and Simon Hughes.
Nicklin dismissed their unlawful information-gathering claims on July 7 after an 11-week trial. The claimants failed to prove allegations involving phone hacking, surveillance and other improper methods, while Associated Newspapers denied wrongdoing.
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In his August 21 costs ruling, Nicklin said the claimants had pursued allegations that were speculative, exceptionally broad or no longer realistically sustainable. However, the court did not find that any claimant had acted dishonestly.
The judge awarded most costs on an indemnity basis because he considered the conduct of the litigation outside the normal range of civil proceedings. Under this standard, costs need not be proportionate, although a costs judge may still reject expenses incurred unreasonably.
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Associated Newspapers claimed approximately £34.5 million in total costs. Nicklin described that figure as excessive and largely unexplained but refused the claimants’ request to impose a ceiling.
The £9.54 million remains an interim payment rather than the final liability. The parties have until October 2 to seek permission to appeal the trial judgment or costs ruling.
