**Rebekah Vardy Ordered to Pay Coleen Rooney Over £1.4 Million in Legal Costs**
A judge has mandated that Rebekah Vardy pay Coleen Rooney a minimum of £1.4 million in legal fees following Rooney’s victory in the highly publicized Wagatha Christie libel case. During a session at a specialist costs court on Tuesday, it was revealed that Vardy had already agreed to pay nearly £1.2 million to Rooney after her unsuccessful libel lawsuit against Rooney in the High Court in 2022. However, the judge determined that the amount should be increased.
The legal battle stemmed from Rooney’s 2019 social media accusation against Vardy, alleging that she had leaked private information to the press. Vardy, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, attempted to sue Rooney in a case that captured public attention and was later adapted for television. After losing the case, Vardy was ordered to cover 90% of Rooney’s legal costs, which included an initial payment of £800,000.
In the recent court proceedings, it was disclosed that Vardy had consented to pay £1.19 million of Rooney’s legal expenses. Additionally, Rooney sought an extra £315,000 for “assessment costs.” Costs Judge Mark Whalan ruled that it was “reasonable and proportionate” for Vardy to pay £212,266 of these assessment costs, bringing the total to at least £1.4 million.
The judge expressed satisfaction with the resolution, stating it was a “commercially satisfactory conclusion for both sides,” but noted the “extraordinary expenditure of costs” involved. He remarked, “I genuinely hope that this marks the end of a long and unhappy road.”
In her written arguments, Vardy’s barrister, Juliet Wells, criticized Rooney’s original legal bill of £1.8 million as “substandard,” claiming it included costs for press briefings and other expenses to which she was not entitled. Wells suggested that the matter could have been resolved sooner had Rooney engaged more constructively. She also mentioned that Vardy had proposed settling the legal bill for £1.1 million, excluding interest and assessment costs, in August 2024, but this offer was dismissed outright.
**FAQ**
*What was the outcome of the Wagatha Christie libel case?*
Rebekah Vardy was ordered to pay Coleen Rooney at least £1.4 million in legal costs after losing the libel case, which centered around accusations of leaking private information.
