Overview
- On Friday, August 21, Mr Justice Matthew Nicklin ordered the seven claimants to pay an interim payment on account of £9,544,355 to Associated Newspapers Ltd by 4pm on August 28.
- The order follows the judge’s July 7 ruling that dismissed the group’s unlawful information‑gathering claims for lack of adequate evidence.
- Associated Newspapers told the court it incurred roughly £34.4–34.5 million defending the case while the claimants hold collective insurance cover of about £16.2 million, creating a likely gap between costs and cover.
- The judge directed that recoverable costs be assessed on an indemnity basis, which makes it easier for the publisher to recover a larger share of its bill and raises the claimants’ potential personal exposure.
- Next steps include detailed costs assessment hearings before specialist costs judges and an appeal window for the claimants that runs until October 2, 2026.