Judge queries ‘proportionality’ of Mirror Group phone hacking trial
A High Court judge has called into question the ‘proportionality’ of pursuing a phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers, after it emerged their legal bill was set to hit £12m.
A fortnight long trial of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror is scheduled to take place this February with high-profile testimonies expected from the likes of Sven-Goran Eriksson, Alan Yentob and Christopher Eccleston when they take to the witness stand.
Lawyers acting for the publisher have protested bitterly however of the disparity in costs levied on the defendant and plaintiff’s with the former benefitting from ‘no win no fee’ deals, ensuring they have ‘no interest in the costs being charged by their respective lawyers.’
Mirror Group complain that fees being charged by lawyers representing the plaintiffs were ‘disproportionate’, citing the bumper pay packet of barrister David Sherborne – who is expected to enjoy a £234,500 pay day.
In a statement Mr Justice Mann expressed sympathy with this view, saying: “At one level, all these costs are disproportionate to the claims being brought.”