A UK High Court judge has said Coleen Rooney has been “entirely successful” in Rebekah Vardy's appeal in their high-profile libel case involving Wagatha Christie.
In 2022, Ms Vardy unsuccessfully brought legal action against Ms Rooney, and the two are still in dispute over the amount of legal costs Ms Vardy should pay.
In October last year, a costs judge found that Ms Rooney's lawyers had not committed misconduct after Ms Vardy's legal team accused them of “deliberately” understating some of her expenses.
Earlier this month, Mr Justice Kavanagh dismissed Ms Vardy's appeal against that decision, but she then challenged Ms Rooney's costs for the appeal.
Jamie Carpenter QC, representing Ms Vardy, told the court in written submissions that although Ms Rooney had successfully contested the appeal, the court had not accepted two applications lodged on her behalf, resulting in Ms Vardy incurring additional costs to pursue those arguments.
Ms Rooney's lawyers argue she should be awarded full compensation for her legal costs in fighting the appeal, which they say total £85,468.50.
In his judgment on Tuesday, Mr Justice Kavanagh said: “Mr Carpenter QC accepted that the reduction in costs reflecting the lack of success of these arguments should only be 'modest' and that a 10% reduction in Ms Rooney's costs would fairly reflect the overall situation.”
“I do not accept this statement.”
He added: “While there may be situations where it is appropriate to disregard some of the successful party's costs because much of the hearing concerned a particular issue or issues on which the party was unsuccessful, that is not the case here.
“The reality is that Ms. Rooney was completely successful at the appeal hearing.”
The amount of legal costs Ms Rooney must pay to fight the appeal will now be determined by the judge.
A separate assessment of the costs Ms Vardy must pay Ms Rooney in the libel trial will begin on May 6. Costs Judge Mark Whelan is due to hold a hearing that is expected to last 10 days.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
