Judge Orders New Disclosures in Daily Mail Lawsuit

A High Court judge has ordered Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, Liz Hurley, and other claimants to disclose documents related to any payments or inducements offered to witnesses in their lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail. The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, also ordered the claimants to provide details about their 'personal watershed moments,' referring to when they realized they might be victims of alleged unlawful activities. The claimants accuse the publisher of phone tapping, illegal access to records, and burglaries, allegations which the company denies as 'lurid' and 'preposterous.' The judge cited inconsistencies and inadequate disclosure by the claimants, stating that such information is relevant to assessing witness credibility. The trial is set for January 2026 and is expected to last nine weeks. Whether any inducements or timing of victim realization affect the credibility of witnesses will be determined at trial.