A former TV weather presenter has lost her legal appeal against an 'old friend' of Prince Harry, Howard Spooner, in a row over an Isle of Wight hotel.
It's reported that Sally Johnson, 57, has been hit with legal fees of up to £1.5 million after a major fall-out with her ex-business partner.
She sued and lost when her and Mr Spooner's plan to turn Yarmouth's George Hotel into an Island celebrity haunt soured.
The appeal was an attempt to overturn Mr Spooner’s success at trial in February 2022 in securing declarations from the court, confirming the existence and terms of an oral agreement, for Mrs and Mr Johnson to end their business relationship with him, including for Mrs Johnson to transfer to him her share in a company benefitting from a lease over The George Hotel.
The pair, who went into business together in 2019, have been locked in a battle over control of the 17th century building, which they planned to transform.
At an appeal hearing, The Honourable Mr Justice Zacaroli handed down judgement in favour of Mr Spooner - who has previously described himself as a 'nightclub entrepreneur, racing driver and racehorse owner', with a string of celebrity connections.
Now, after the failed appeal, Mrs Johnson must pay an extra £120,000 in costs, making her bill a possible £1.5 million.
Acting for Mr Spooner, Greenwoods Legal LLP, said:
"Whilst the Appellate Judge upheld the declarations made by the Trial Judge, he did so on the basis of a different implied term, namely that Mrs Johnson would transfer her share to Mr Spooner within a reasonable time.
"This success on appeal was underpinned by the numerous factual findings the team succeeded in obtaining from the Trial Judge regarding what was agreed between the parties at a meeting at The George Hotel in July 2020.
"Mrs Johnson had dishonestly denied that any agreement was negotiated or reached at the meeting, and Mr Spooner’s written evidence and oral evidence at trial was preferred. Permission to appeal various factual findings of the Trial Judge was refused."
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