Prince Harry Launches Appeal After Losing High Court Battle with Publisher
The Duke of Sussex and high-profile figures appeal the High Court dismissal of their unlawful information-gathering lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Lim...
POLICY WIRE — London, UK — The Duke of Sussex, alongside several high-profile individuals, has officially moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge recent judicial rulings following their unsuccessful legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited. The group, which includes Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John, had initiated legal action against ANL over allegations of unlawful information gathering practices.
The claims were heard during a week-long trial in London earlier this year, but Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed all cases in a judgment delivered on July 7. In an August ruling, the judge mandated that the group pay an initial sum of £9,544,355 within seven days as a contribution toward the publisher’s legal costs, with further hearings required to determine the final total.
Mr Justice Nicklin also ruled that ANL costs should be assessed on an indemnity basis, a decision that favors the publisher regarding recoverable amounts except where previous orders already exist. On Friday, a spokesperson representing Harry, Lady Lawrence, Sir Elton, David Furnish, and actresses Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost confirmed the claimants have filed applications for permission to appeal Mr Justice Nicklin’s judgments regarding the dismissal and the indemnity costs order.
The claimants stated they respectfully disagree with these unprecedented decisions, which they consider both factually and legally flawed. Barristers for the group argued during the trial that private investigators, freelance journalists, and ANL staff engaged in activities such as voicemail interception, landline tapping, and obtaining information through deception, often referred to as blagging.
Conversely, legal counsel for the publisher maintained that Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday journalists provided a compelling account of legitimate sourcing. This included information from leaky social circles, press officers, and spokespeople, as well as reporting from freelance journalists and other news agencies.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
