The Managing Judge in the Mirror Newspapers Hacking Litigation, Mr Justice Fancourt, has today handed down judgment on costs and permission to appeal following the trial in May-June 2023 and the hand down of the substantive judgment on 15 December 2023.
Unusually, the Judge made orders for costs on the indemnity basis against both sides: against Coronation Street actors Nikki Sanderson and Michael Turner in respect of the individual costs of their claims, and against MGN Ltd for the costs of trying the generic issues. MGN did not seek indemnity costs against the other claimant whose claim was resolved, Fiona Wightman (former wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse).
The Judge refused Ms Sanderson, Ms Wightman and Mr Turner permission to appeal on various grounds relating to his dismissal of the former two claims on limitation grounds, and aspects of the judgment relating to damages in respect of Ms Sanderson and Mr Turner.
Separately, the Duke of Sussex and MGN have now settled the Duke’s claim, part of which had been determined in the trial.
5RB‘s David Sherborne and Julian Santos (instructed by Thomson Heath as lead solicitor, Clintons for the Duke of Sussex, Charles Russell Speechlys for Ms Sanderson and Mr Turner, and Taylor Hampton for Ms Wightman) appeared for the Claimants; Richard Munden (instructed by RPC) appeared for the Defendant.