Vardy Loses Legal Battles Over Wagatha Christie Costs

Rebekah Vardy has been defeated in her latest legal challenge regarding the substantial costs incurred during the Wagatha Christie libel trial, specifically concerning a £1.8 million bill submitted by Coleen Rooney's legal team. Vardy, who lost the high-profile libel action in 2022, was previously ordered to cover a significant portion of Rooney's legal expenses. However, Vardy's legal representatives contested the amount, arguing that Rooney had deliberately understated her costs during an earlier hearing.

Vardy's lawyers had alleged "serious misconduct" by Rooney's legal team, claiming they had underreported costs. However, a judge found no evidence of such misconduct. Appealing this decision, Vardy's team argued that Rooney had significantly understated her costs in her budget. The appeal sought to limit the amount Vardy would have to pay. Rooney's legal team maintained that their budget was accurate and that there was no basis for the misconduct allegations. The High Court ultimately dismissed Vardy's appeal, upholding the initial ruling.

In a separate development, Vardy also largely failed in her attempt to gain access to additional documents related to the costs. Her legal team sought "privileged" documents, including details about Rooney's VAT claim and information about retainers between Rooney and her solicitors. Rooney's lawyers opposed this request, describing it as a "fishing expedition." The court ruled against Vardy's request for access to VAT documents and other privileged material, but did grant access to a redacted retainer agreement. Vardy was also ordered to pay a portion of the application costs. Following the rulings, a spokesperson for Vardy expressed disappointment with the appeal outcome but noted satisfaction with the disclosure order, indicating a desire to move forward.