The so-called "Wagatha Cristie" case is returning to court after Rebekah Vardy launched an appeal against the ruling that said she would need to pay Coleen Rooney's £1.8million legal bill.
It comes after Rebekah, who is married to footballer Jamie Vardy, was ordered to pay 90 per cent of the legal fees Coleen, the wife of Wayne Rooney, spent during their court battle. But in court, lawyers for Rebekah argued the sum should be reduced due to what they said was "serious misconduct" by Rebekah's legal team.
However, Senior Costs Judge Andrew Gordon-Saker found Coleen's team had not committed wrongdoing and said it was "not an appropriate case" to reduce the amount of money Rebekah should pay. But Rebekah's team has now launched an appeal bid.
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NurPhoto via Getty Images)The Daily Mail reported that Rebekah's lawyers, Kingsley Napley, confirmed the appeal bid is related to the misconduct ruling. The Wagatha Christie saga began in 2019 when Coleen, via a now iconic Instagram revelation, accused Rebekah of leaking "false stories" about her private life to the press via watching her private Instagram Stories. Rebekah hit back, vehemently denying the charges and initiating libel proceedings in 2020.
In July 2022, Mrs Justice Steyn ruled in Coleen's favour and said it was "likely" that Rebekah's agent Caroline Watt had passed information to The Sun. But the legal bill Rebekah was asked to pay is said to be three times what she had budgeted for, after apparently preparing to pay £540,000.
A breakdown of the bill which is being challenged includes a £2,000 charge for her solicitor's stay at London's five-star Nobu Hotel and a £225 food and mini-bar tab. Vardy's legal representation also argue that there are a minimum of £120,000 worth of costs that have been charged to her which were outside of the liable time frame.
Allegations also include reported exaggerated hourly rates from London-based law firm Stewarts and Liverpool's Brabners. A source previously told The Sun: "As far as Becky is concerned, they have been trying to pick her pockets because they think they can get away with it."
They added: "They underestimated their costs and are over-billing her. From the costs of experts to legal fees, the figures are ludicrous. They've taken a kitchen sink approach and are trying to get as much out of her as they can. Why on earth would her lawyer need to have dinner at somewhere so exuberant that cod costs £52 - and expect Becky to foot the bill? Becky won't stand for it. She will keep fighting in court until she feels there is a fair outcome."
Hitting back at Mr Carpenter's claims, Robin Dunne, who is acting on behalf of Coleen said that it was "frankly outrageous" to claim they acted dishonestly. The senior costs judge said: "You can't stand there throwing mud about them incurring costs if you're not going to be upfront about your own. Even if you've decided you're not going to seek to recover it, you've still incurred it."
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