Prince Harry’s Lawyers Seek Millions In Fees After Winning British Tabloid Phone Hacking Case
Prince Harry's lawyers are seeking $2.5 million in legal fees after winning a case that proves the Mirror Group Newspapers invaded his privacy by hacking his phone and misusing private information from 1991 to 2011.
The hearing on Monday addressed the legal fees for a trial involving the Duke of Sussex and three other claimants, which included participants in a famous British TV soap opera, 'Coronation Street.'
According to the Associated Press, they claimed the U.K. tabloid, the 'Daily Mirror,' hacked their phones and hired investigators to illegally gather information about them and their lives.
A judge found that phone hacking was "widespread and habitual" after Harry, 39, won 140,000 pounds — $178,000 — in damages for a similar issue at the hands of the same publication, while their executives tried to cover it up.
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Considering the history of British tabloids being fiercely competitive, it was reportedly commonplace for them to go to great lengths to obtain information, even unlawfully. The publications would allegedly often target members of the royal family, politicians, athletes and celebrities.
This case marks Prince Harry as the first senior member of the royal family to testify in court in over a century.
Due to the hearing's short notice, Prince Harry was not present, but did say in a statement: "Today is a great day for truth, as well as accountability."
"The court has ruled that unlawful and criminal activities were carried out at all three Mirror group newspaper titles, The Mirror, The Sunday Mirror, and The People, on a habitual and widespread basis for more than a decade," he said. "I'd like to thank my legal team for so successfully dismantling the sworn testimony of The Mirror Group's senior executives, legal department, and journalist - who at least turned up to court — unlike their colleagues, who were perhaps too afraid to do so."
"This case is not just about hacking," Prince Harry continued. "It's about a systemic practice of unlawful and appalling behavior followed by cover-ups and destruction of evidence — the shocking scale of which can only be revealed through these procedures."
Late last year, Prince Harry said those involved in the lawbreaking should face criminal charges.
The Mirror Group denies any wrongdoing in Prince Harry's case, saying they used legitimate methods to obtain information. They also admitted to paying over 100 million pounds in lawsuits also involving phone hacking over the years.
