• A judgment in Peter McCormack’s case against Craig Wright concluded that Wright must pay the court fees of McCormack on an indemnity basis.
• Wright is being directed to pay approximately $1.1 million (900,000 British pounds) in legal costs, subject to evaluation by a cost judge.
• There is now an inquiry into Wright for contempt of court for allegedly breaching an embargo on a draft judgment.
The Royal Court of Justice recently concluded a judgment in a case between Peter McCormack and Craig Wright. The court found that Wright must pay the court fees of McCormack on an indemnity basis, in addition to other findings. Furthermore, Wright is being directed to pay approximately $1.1 million (900,000 British pounds) in legal costs, subject to evaluation by a cost judge.
The inquiry into Wright for contempt of court is due to an alleged breach of an embargo on a draft judgment. Justice Chamberlain of the Royal Courts of Justice wrote that “I will issue a summons requiring Dr. Wright to attend a directions hearing before a judge nominated by the Judge in Charge of the Media and Communications List, who will give directions for the conduct of contempt proceedings in respect of breach of the embargo.” The Court of Appeal has also signaled that breaches are likely to result in contempt proceedings.
The case has been going on for four years and has had a significant impact on McCormack and his family. It all started back in 2019 when Wright sued McCormack for calling him a “liar” and “fraud”, claiming that it caused monetary damages after he had speaking roles canceled. The court did rule in Wright’s favor, but only after pointing out that he submitted false evidence which led to an awarding of only 1 British pound in nominal damages. Wright had also previously lost his defamation trial against pseudonymous Bitcoiner Hodlonaut in October of 2022.
The judgment in this case serves as a reminder of the importance of not breaching embargoes and the potential consequences for doing so. It also serves as a reminder of the impact legal battles can have on people and their families.
