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Rebekah Vardy Suffers Another Setback in “Wagatha Christie” Legal Battle
Rebekah Vardy has experienced a further setback in the protracted “Wagatha Christie” legal dispute, as Coleen Rooney secured victory in the most recent court proceedings. The 42-year-old, embroiled in the widely followed libel case, has been instructed to cover 90 percent of Rooney’s legal expenses, including an initial payment of £800,000, following her substantial loss in the initial libel trial. This ruling intensifies the financial repercussions for Vardy in the ongoing legal saga.
Prior Legal Costs Order
This latest development follows a previous blow in October when a judge mandated that Mrs. Vardy, wife of footballer Jamie Vardy, pay an additional £100,000 within a 21-day timeframe. Furthermore, Rebekah Vardy’s attempt to reduce Rooney’s overall legal costs, which were tallied at £1,833,906.89, was unsuccessful. Subsequently, she initiated an appeal against the October decision, alleging “serious misconduct” on the part of Coleen Rooney’s legal representatives.
Appeal Dismissed in High Court Hearing
However, Vardy’s appeal bid was rejected on Thursday, April 10th, after a hearing at the High Court. Justice Cavanagh, presiding over the hearing, stated, “The appeal must be dismissed on the grounds that the judge was entitled to arrive at the conclusion that he did.”
Arguments Regarding Legal Costs
Jamie Carpenter KC, representing Rebekah Vardy, argued that Coleen Rooney had “significantly understated” her legal costs by approximately 40 percent in her submitted budget. He also accused her legal team of minimizing certain costs to leverage an advantage against the opposing side’s expenses.
Accusations of Misconduct
Mr. Carpenter continued, stating that while the costs judge had critiqued Mrs. Rooney’s legal team for a lack of transparency, he concluded “on balance” and “only just” that no misconduct had occurred. He respectfully argued that this assessment was incorrect.
The barrister proposed that a “proportionate sanction” for the alleged impropriety would be to cap Coleen Rooney’s legal costs up to August 2021 at £220,995.07.
Defense Against Misconduct Allegations
In contrast, Benjamin Williams KC, defending Coleen Rooney, asserted that the budget was “properly and correctly completed” and that there was “no credible case” of misconduct.
He further stated, “Mrs. Rooney’s primary contention is that, in this matter, she and her solicitors adopted the correct approach; but even if this is not the case, it was a reasonable approach.”
Initial Ruling and Potential Final Bill
In the October ruling, Senior Costs Judge Andrew Gordon-Saker determined “on balance, and it must be said, only just,” that Coleen Rooney’s team had not engaged in any improper behavior. Consequently, he ruled in her favor, adding that it would not be “appropriate” to decrease the amount Rebekah Vardy was required to pay. This decision means Rebekah Vardy could still face a substantial legal bill of up to £1.6 million in the ongoing “Wagatha Christie” dispute.