Introduction
The protracted legal saga between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, colloquially dubbed the “Wagatha Christie” case, has taken another contentious turn. Following a series of legal defeats, Vardy has launched a fresh appeal, accusing Rooney’s legal team of “serious misconduct” in the handling of legal costs. This development adds another layer to a dispute that has captivated public attention since its inception in 2019.
Background of the Dispute
In October 2019, Coleen Rooney publicly accused Rebekah Vardy of leaking stories from her private Instagram account to the press. Rooney claimed to have conducted a sting operation by posting false stories and restricting their visibility to Vardy’s account, which subsequently appeared in the media. Vardy denied the allegations and initiated a libel lawsuit against Rooney in June 2020.
The case proceeded to trial in May 2022, culminating in a July 2022 ruling by Mrs Justice Steyn in favor of Rooney. The judge found that Rooney’s allegations were “substantially true” and criticized Vardy’s evidence as “manifestly inconsistent” and “evasive.” Vardy was ordered to pay 90% of Rooney’s legal costs, estimated at approximately £1.5 million.
Recent Developments: Accusations of Misconduct
In October 2024, Vardy’s legal team filed an appeal challenging the assessment of legal costs, alleging that Rooney’s team had “very substantially understated” their legal expenses by approximately 40% in their budget. Vardy’s barrister, Jamie Carpenter KC, argued that this constituted “serious misconduct” and sought to limit the amount Vardy was required to pay.
Carpenter contended that Rooney’s legal team had adopted a “kitchen sink approach” in calculating costs, including expenses for stays at luxury hotels and substantial charges for meals and drinks. He proposed capping the recoverable costs up to August 2021 at £220,955.07.
Court’s Response to the Appeal
The High Court, however, dismissed Vardy’s appeal. Costs Judge Mark Whalan found that while Rooney’s legal team could have been more transparent, there was no evidence of misconduct warranting a reduction in recoverable costs. The judge ordered Vardy to pay an additional £212,266.20 in assessment costs, bringing the total amount payable to Rooney to approximately £1.4 million.
Judge Whalan criticized the protracted nature of the dispute and the excessive legal expenditures incurred by both parties. He expressed hope that this ruling would bring the matter to a close.
Reactions from Both Parties
Following the ruling, Coleen Rooney expressed relief that the legal battle had concluded. She emphasized that the case should never have escalated to such an extent and thanked her legal team, family, and supporters for their unwavering support.
Rebekah Vardy, on the other hand, reportedly expressed relief that the court proceedings had ended, despite the unfavorable outcome. Sources close to Vardy indicated that she is now focusing on future opportunities and moving past the legal dispute.
Conclusion
The “Wagatha Christie” case has been a high-profile legal battle that has drawn significant public attention. While the recent ruling marks the end of the courtroom proceedings, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities and potential consequences of public disputes and litigation.
Both parties now face the task of rebuilding their public images and moving forward from a saga that has been as much about personal reputations as it has been about legal principles.
