Prince Harry and others ordered to pay initial US$13 million in failed lawsuit

Prince Harry, Elton John, and other claimants have been ordered to pay an initial US$13 million (approximately £9.54 million) towards the legal costs of Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail. A judge ruled that their failed privacy lawsuits were conducted in an unreasonable manner. The claimants must pay these costs on an "indemnity basis," meaning the publisher does not need to prove the costs were reasonable or proportionate. This ruling follows the judge's comprehensive rejection of the case last month, which alleged unlawful activities by Mail titles, including phone hacking. The judge criticized the claimants' case, stating that serious allegations were based on speculative and inferential foundations.

Prince Harry and six other claimants, including Doreen Lawrence and Elton John, have been ordered by a judge to pay an interim sum of £9.54 million towards the legal costs of Associated Newspapers Ltd. This payment is due by 4 pm on August 28th. The order follows the claimants' unsuccessful High Court case, which alleged unlawful information gathering by the Daily Mail publisher. Associated Newspapers Ltd had strongly denied these allegations. Mr. Justice Nicklin dismissed all the claims last month after an 11-week trial. The court was informed that Associated Newspapers Ltd's total costs for the case exceeded £34 million.

Prince Harry and six other high-profile individuals, including Elton John, will learn on Friday the initial amount they must pay to Associated Newspapers Ltd., the publisher of the Daily Mail, following their unsuccessful invasion of privacy lawsuit. The group lost their High Court case in London last month, which alleged malpractice such as illegal phone hacking. They face exposure to approximately £34 million in legal costs incurred by the publisher, though they are believed to be insured for about half that amount. Associated Newspapers is seeking over £9.9 million as an interim payment, while the claimants' lawyers propose just over £7.9 million. The judge is expected to issue a written decision on the financial implications.