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Prince Harry and 6 others must pay initial $13 million over failed invasion of privacy case
🇺🇸 United States /Conflict & Security

Prince Harry and 6 others must pay initial $13 million over failed invasion of privacy case

From PBS NewsHour · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Prince Harry and six other high-profile figures must pay an initial $13 million to the publisher of Britain's Daily Mail after losing their privacy invasion lawsuit.
  • The group alleged malpractice, including illegal phone hacking, against Associated Newspapers Ltd. but failed to substantiate their claims in court.
  • The publisher incurred over $46 million in legal costs, and the claimants could face an additional $34 million if the publisher pursues the full amount.

Prince Harry and six prominent figures, including Elton John, have been ordered to pay an initial 9.5 million pounds ($13 million) to Associated Newspapers Ltd., the publisher of Britain's Daily Mail, after their failed invasion of privacy lawsuit. The payment is due by August 28 and represents a significant defeat for the claimants and a vindication for the newspaper publisher.

The payment is at the upper end of expectations and marks a vindication for the journalists at the Daily Mail and a defeat for the losing claimants and their lawyers.

— Justice Matthew NicklinDescribing the significance of the initial payment order.

The group, which also included Doreen Lawrence, David Furnish, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley, and Simon Hughes, had accused Associated Newspapers of engaging in malpractice, such as illegal phone hacking. However, they lost their High Court case in London last month, failing to provide sufficient evidence to support these serious allegations.

several features were important in his decision, including the 'speculative' nature of the claims and the failure of the claimants to 'voluntarily' withdraw serious allegations that could no longer be backed up.

— Justice Matthew NicklinExplaining the reasoning behind his ruling on the claimants' conduct.

Justice Matthew Nicklin, in his written statement, highlighted several key factors in his decision, including the "speculative" nature of the claims and the claimants' failure to "voluntarily" withdraw allegations that could not be substantiated. He described their conduct as "unreasonable to a high degree."

The conduct was unreasonable to a high degree.

— Justice Matthew NicklinCharacterizing the claimants' behavior during the legal proceedings.

Associated Newspapers stated it incurred over 34 million pounds in legal costs during the case. If the publisher seeks the remaining costs and receives necessary legal approval, Prince Harry and the other claimants could be liable for an additional 25 million pounds. While the claimants had insurance for roughly half the total costs, the final amount could be determined by costs judges if the parties cannot agree. The chairman of the Association of Costs Lawyers noted the ruling was a significant setback for the claimants.

The ruling 'could not have gone much worse' for the claimants.

— David Bailey-VellaCommenting on the outcome of the case for Prince Harry and his co-claimants.
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Originally published by PBS NewsHour. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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