Philip Williams appeared in the High Court before Mr Justice Warby against Katie Price in Alex Reid’s claim for damages on 9th March 2020.

Katie Price (also sometimes known as Jordan) had breached undertakings, breached the Data Protection Act 1998 and Mr Reid’s privacy. This is an important decision and has overtaken the phone hacking cases; Gulati v MGN [2015] EWHC 1482 & [2015] EWCA Civ 1291 and that of Max Mosley sexual exploitation case; Mosley v News Group Newspapers Ltd [2008] EWHC 1777.

Mr Williams argued (and the Court agreed) that the legal and factual arguments were unique. Mr Williams argued that there was no defence to the maliciousness and dishonesty. Mr Williams advised the Court that Mr Reid’s position is reserved in relation to making an application to Commit Ms Price to prison for her flagrant disregard to engage with her bankruptcy process and defending the case.

Mr Williams argued for aggravated damages because of the way:

• Mr Reid had suffered with for years; and
• Damages can be exercised to compensate victims [Mr Reid]; and
• Can reflect the loss of control over such personal data; and
• The case has a relationship with defamation, privacy cases and personal injury cases; and
• Damages can be made without specific details or records of wrongful activities.

It is the position of Mr Reid (and it will be argued) that the damages and costs will survive the Bankruptcy Order and Ms Price will still have to pay the award when she is discharged.

Mr Williams is currently instructed on several matters in the High Court and Court of Appeal relating to complex civil proceedings for several high profile and high net worth individuals.

Mr Williams was originally led by Mr Patrick Harrington QC but appeared unled as sole counsel before the Court. Mr Williams was instructed by Tim Gir of Sanderswitherspoon LLP. Judgement is reserved and will be handed down shortly due to the legally novel points.

Some of the media links to the case are set out below: The Sun, The Metro, The Daily Mail and MSN.