Key facts
- Prince Harry, Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and Elizabeth Hurley are among claimants facing millions in legal bills.
- The claimants lost a High Court privacy case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail.
- A hearing is underway to determine who pays legal costs for the trial.
- ANL has incurred nearly £34.5 million in legal costs.
- Claimants have insurance cover of £16.2 million, which may be insufficient to cover their total exposure.
- ANL is seeking costs on an indemnity basis, alleging unreasonable conduct by the claimants.
High-profile claimants, including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and Elizabeth Hurley, are facing a potential legal bill of millions of pounds after losing their High Court privacy case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail. The group had sued ANL over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
A two-day hearing commenced at the High Court to determine the allocation of legal costs. Lawyers for ANL argue the claimants should pay its costs on an indemnity basis, citing the claimants' alleged unreasonable conduct, including the broad scope of allegations and the abandonment of some claims without apology. ANL is seeking an interim payment of £9,950,624.37.
Lawyers for the claimants described ANL's incurred costs, amounting to nearly £34.5 million, as 'astonishingly high' and exceeding their approved budget by over £18.6 million. They noted that the claimants had obtained insurance cover of £16.2 million, which may be insufficient to meet the total costs exposure, potentially leaving them liable for millions. The claimants' legal team maintained that their clients conducted themselves 'honestly and in good faith'.