Prince Harry, Elton John face £9.54m costs after dismissal
Prince Harry, Elton John, and five other prominent claimants now face an interim payment of £9.54 million in legal costs after their lawsuit against Associated Newspapers (the Daily Mail's publisher) was dismissed.
The court said some of their claims of illegal information gathering were based on "speculative and inferential" evidence.
Judge Matthew Nicklin said the case had been pursued in an unreasonable manner and was far outside what would normally be considered reasonable in civil proceedings.
Associated Newspapers legal costs $45.8m
Associated Newspapers says its legal expenses hit a massive $45.8 million, well above what the claimants' insurance covers (£16 million).
The judge ruled that costs should be assessed on an "indemnity basis," so the publisher doesn't have to prove every expense was reasonable.
The claimants pushed back, calling the amount "eye-watering" and well over budget.
A detailed review will decide how much they actually owe in the end.