Prince Harry, 6 Others Face £34.5 Million Bill in Failed Daily Mail Privacy Case

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Aug 21

A High Court judge ordered Prince Harry and six co-claimants to pay £9.54 million by next Friday and left them exposed to as much as £34.5 million in Associated Newspapers' legal costs.
Justice Nicklin said the group pursued the case in a way that was "unreasonable to a high degree," making it a rare case for indemnity costs and for recovery above the pre-trial agreed cap.
Insurance covers up to £16.2 million of ANL's costs, leaving Harry and the others potentially facing about £18 million themselves if the publisher recovers the full amount.
The ruling follows Nicklin's 7 July dismissal of their unlawful information-gathering claims after an 11-week trial; the seven have until 2 October to try to appeal.
ANL called the decision a devastating rebuke, while claimant Sir Simon Hughes said he was considering appeals against both the main judgment and the costs order.