Baroness Lawrence & Ors v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2026] EWHC 493 (KB) (03 March 2026)

Baroness Lawrence & Ors v Associated Newspapers Ltd [2026] EWHC 493 (KB) (03 March 2026)

The documents sought are not likely to support the claimants' case or adversely affect the defendant's case within CPR 31.17, nor is disclosure necessary to dispose fairly of the claim or save costs; the application is refused.

Source-derived case information.

Citation
[2026] EWHC 493 (KB)
Parties
Claimant: Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE; Claimant: Elizabeth Hurley; Claimant: Sir Elton John CH CBE; Claimant: David Furnish; Claimant: Sir Simon Hughes; Claimant: Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex; Claimant: Sadie Frost Law; Defendant: Associated Newspapers Limited
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
03 March 2026
Procedural Posture
Application for Third Party Disclosure / Pre Trial Interlocutory Hearing
Outcome
application refused
Legal Topics
Third Party Disclosure, Credibility of Witnesses, Corrupt Payments, Journalistic Sources
Civil Procedure Media Law Third Party Disclosure Credibility of Witnesses Corrupt Payments Journalistic Sources

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Parties

Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE

Claimant

Elizabeth Hurley

Claimant

Sir Elton John CH CBE

Claimant

David Furnish

Claimant

Sir Simon Hughes

Claimant

Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

Claimant

Sadie Frost Law

Claimant

Associated Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Procedural Posture

Application for Third Party Disclosure / Pre Trial Interlocutory Hearing

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether third-party disclosure against the Metropolitan Police Service is justified under CPR 31.17
  2. 2 Whether the documents sought are likely to support the claimants' case or adversely affect the defendant's case
  3. 3 Whether disclosure is necessary to dispose fairly of the claim or to save costs

Ratio Decidendi

The documents sought are not likely to support the claimants' case or adversely affect the defendant's case within CPR 31.17, nor is disclosure necessary to dispose fairly of the claim or save costs; the application is refused.

Court Disposition

application refused

Orders

  • Claimants' application for third-party disclosure against the Metropolitan Police Service is refused.