Prince Harry‘s legal battle against U.K. news outlets could cost him.
After the Duke of Sussex and his co-claimants lost their privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited for allegedly unlawfully obtaining information, Harry might have to dole out millions.
Harry faces multi-million-dollar legal bill
According to Reuters, Associated Newspapers Limited wants interim payment from Harry and his fellow plaintiffs, such as Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and others, after spending $45 million in legal fees.
Per the submission, the claimants, who also have an insurance policy of $23.4 million, offered an advance payment of $10 million after the media company requested $13.3 million.
“Of course, the [claimants] accept that their claims have been dismissed and it is appropriate that an order for costs on the standard basis follows the event,” the document stated.
Harry issues a statement about the High Court’s decision
After the High Court found that the claimants did not provide sufficient evidence to prove their case, the Spare author issued a statement on the defeat.
“We came to court seeking justice and accountability,” Harry and his representatives told Page Six. “This judgment represents a complete reversal of the position which previous judges have taken in relation to the hacking claims successfully brought against both News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers [who were represented by, at the time, the judge who made this decision].”
“Generic findings about various private investigators that were held by the courts in these parallel claims to have carried out unlawful activity at the very same time in relation to similar stories and well-known individuals have been wholly ignored,” they noted.
Associated Newspapers Limited responds to Harry
During the Wednesday, July 29, hearing to determine how much the claimants will be liable for, Associated Newspapers Limited’s attorney Antony White responded to the 41-year-old’s message, calling it “entirely inappropriate and unreasonable.”
The ANL legal team also noted in a filing obtained by People, “That conduct sought — and achieved — global publicity for a continued allegation that Associated was in fact guilty of the wrongdoing alleged.”
“If the Claimants’ conduct in these proceedings does not attract an order for indemnity costs, then it is difficult to see what case would,” they continued. “The costs to be ordered at this hearing concern the action itself, not the reaction to it.”
Harry and Meghan’s past victory against the media
Although Harry did not prevail victorious in this legal battle, he and Meghan Markle received $1.36 million in damages after suing the Mail on Sunday for publishing a private letter from her father, Thomas Markle.
The Sun was also ordered to hand over an eight-figure sum in damages to Harry after he sued them for unlawful intrusion.
