The Vardy/Rooney case, does the judge just mull it over for a bit & then decide? Like a one-man jury?

[Mangojuic]

I'm not familiar with this type of case. Does the judge chat to other colleagues before she makes her decision? Or does she have to stay on her own & decide? Does she have to justify her decision or only announce it? Is there such a thing as a split decision or is it always black & white? Many thanks

@prh47bridge how exciting. I hope Colleen wins

Well I am impressed!

This is Wagatha Christie Eve

#TeamColeen

I thought this was all over, as I haven't heard it talked about for months. But I have no clue what the outcome was.

They've said the judgement is due tomorrow (Friday!)

Thank god you said this.

It’s not a criminal case.

interested to know how this judgement will translate into common law? I thought this was just about a woman having more money than sense to make a point. Seems really frivolous to me but happy to be educated - anyone?

I don't think it is frivolous but, unless there is something I've missed, I don't think the judge has to decide any points of law, so I don't think common law will be affected. I am expecting the judgement to be almost exclusively about the judge's findings of fact - has Rooney convinced the judge that her allegation about Vardy was substantially true or, to put it another way, was Vardy responsible for leaks to the press. I may be wrong, but I doubt this judgement will be one that is cited in future cases.

If Vardy has indeed been leaking (and the evidence we have seen suggests she was), bringing this case against Rooney certainly shows more money than sense. But it may be that there is evidence we haven't seen that shows Vardy was innocent. After all, none of us were in court to hear the evidence, nor do we have access to the documentary evidence.

@prh47bridge I don’t think it’s frivolous either! I am interested in what Mrs Justice Steyn has to say about the Rooney’s public interest defence (although I think I’m going to be disappointed and this element may not figure significantly!)

The real winners will be the legal teams. Libel cases are not cheap.

did she try and claim public interest defence?

its a tough one to make out as did THE PUBLIC need to know this story /vardy leaking or in fact could Colleen have told a few people in their social circle to be aware of it. - still libel if its untrue but unlikely to be actionable as so much more limited coverage.

RV is suing for defamation (damage to) character, from what I have heard her character is very dodgy so any damage is questionable.
RV may well win but get nominal damages, each side pays their own costs, bit unfair on CR and Wayne’s bank balance.

Rooney wins.

Yeah! Thanks for the update as I can’t open the judgement online yet! I’ll try again now!

truth defence won it (public interest not found)

Didnt realise there was already a thread. Sky news reporting Vardy might appeal. Madness. The whole thing.

It's the first time Vardy would ever appeal...
What an awful person.
Lying, scheming making her PA lose vital evidence and then ill two-faced (although it might be 3 or 4 now) excuse of XX chromosomes.

Will Mardy Vardy have to pay Rooneys costs?

Unlikely she would get leave to appeal. She would need to show that the judge erred in law (highly unlikely), or that the judge did not run the trial correctly and this disadvantaged her (e.g. refusing to allow evidence that should have been allowed - again, highly unlikely), or that the judgement is perverse (i.e. not supported by the evidence). I think she would be foolish to even try. However, given that she has pursued it this far, it wouldn't surprise me if she ignored any advice from her lawyers and threw further money away trying to get an appeal.

Assuming Rooney applies for costs, Vardy will have to pay. However, that is unlikely to cover Rooney's full costs. She will still be substantially out of pocket.

The public interest defence was dismissed in just two paragraphs. It failed, primarily because Rooney did not put the allegation to Vardy and give her a chance to respond. The judge stated that the fact Rooney expected Vardy to deny the allegation does not answer that point.

Rooney had to pay Watts £65000 costs because she wanted to add her to the case and the judge deemed it was too late. Does Rooney get any of that money back now, given the verdict?

I'd love to know what Vardy's legal team said to make her think she had a chance of winning.

What an absolute waste of money. A lot of people are saying the only winners are the lawyers, but I thought CR came out as a strong, dignified person.

Thank you!