10 June 2016
Judicial approval of the settlement reached by agreement following the Supreme Court decision in Wyatt v Vince [2015] UKSC 14; consideration of reporting restrictions and the costs of a Dean summons.
Facts
- Following the decision of the Supreme Court in Wyatt v Vince [2015] UKSC 14 – allowing Ms Wyatt to pursue financial remedy proceedings 19 years after the grant of decree absolute – the parties reached a compromise agreement on 24 March 2016.
- In the course of drafting the consent order, Mr Vince attempted to introduce a mutual reporting restriction into the agreement. This was contested by Ms Wyatt, who issued a summons to hold Mr Vince to the original agreement. Mr Vince later conceded the issue and it formed no part of the hearing before Cobb J.
- On 20 May 2016 Cobb J was asked to approve the agreement, determine whether its terms could be made public, and rule as to Ms Wyatt’s costs of the hearing.
Held
- Cobb J approved the terms of the agreement, under which Ms Wyatt would receive £300,000 in full and final settlement of her claims for financial relief – in addition to the £325,000 already awarded to her in respect of her costs.
- Publication of the terms of the agreement was permitted. The presumption of confidentiality had been displaced by reason of the already extensive press coverage. There was also a legitimate public interest in the outcome of Ms Wyatt’s claim. Conversely, Cobb J refused permission to publish Ms Wyatt’s estimated costs bill because it was potentially misleading.
- Mr Vince was ordered to pay Ms Wyatt’s costs of issuing the summons, as they stood on 13 May 2016, summarily assessed at £1,000. There was no order as to costs in respect of the hearing of 20 May 2016.
