Former British MP Mr Neil Hamilton is celebrating tonight after Mr Mohamed Al Fayed failed in his bid to recover legal costs from backers of Mr Hamilton.
The Harrods boss is still owed around £1.3 million sterling costs from the trial after the "cash for questions" libel action against him.
He now faces having to pay up to £100,000 costs to the eight backers. The backers have been cleared of any liability to pay.
Mr Justice Morland said: "Having considered carefully the arguments on both sides and reflected on them, I have come to the conclusion that it would be unjust and unreasonable to make any orders for costs in favour of Mr Al Fayed against any of the respondents."
In a statement from his home in Nether Alderley, Cheshire, Mr Hamilton said: "Hooray! Justice has, for once, been done in a court of law. Public-spirited people can now help finance worthy cases without being pursued financially by vindictive opponents.
"The odds will always be stacked in favour of the rich, but today's judgment is good news for those of modest means who can't get legal aid. Nobody gets costs from the Legal Aid Fund when he wins against a legally aided opponent. Why should private charity be treated differently?"