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News International rushes to settle phone-hacking claims ahead of hearing News International rushes to settle phone-hacking claims ahead of hearing
(about 2 hours later)
Rupert Murdoch's News International is making a concerted effort to close down the News of the World phone-hacking saga, agreeing out-of-court settlements on 143 of 165 outstanding civil damages cases it is facing in the high court ahead of a key hearing before a judge on Friday.Rupert Murdoch's News International is making a concerted effort to close down the News of the World phone-hacking saga, agreeing out-of-court settlements on 143 of 165 outstanding civil damages cases it is facing in the high court ahead of a key hearing before a judge on Friday.
However, lawyers acting for alleged phone-hacking victims say News International will be unable to finally draw a line under the scandal, as police are still in the process of informing victims.However, lawyers acting for alleged phone-hacking victims say News International will be unable to finally draw a line under the scandal, as police are still in the process of informing victims.
At least eight new claims are being prepared for Mr Justice Vos's court hearing on Friday, including cases brought by former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, the mobile-phone millionaire who bought the club in 2000 and remained chairman until it went into administration in 2010.At least eight new claims are being prepared for Mr Justice Vos's court hearing on Friday, including cases brought by former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan, the mobile-phone millionaire who bought the club in 2000 and remained chairman until it went into administration in 2010.
Jordan's action has just been lodged in the high court along with a case brought by Nigel Lythgoe, the British TV producer behind American Idol, and former assistant chief constable at South Yorkshire police Steve Chamberlain.Jordan's action has just been lodged in the high court along with a case brought by Nigel Lythgoe, the British TV producer behind American Idol, and former assistant chief constable at South Yorkshire police Steve Chamberlain.
One lawyer working on behalf of victims said News International was "throwing money" at claimants in a hope of persuading victims to drop their lawsuits ahead of Friday's case management conference before Vos and clean the slate for the company.One lawyer working on behalf of victims said News International was "throwing money" at claimants in a hope of persuading victims to drop their lawsuits ahead of Friday's case management conference before Vos and clean the slate for the company.
News International is understood to have been notified in total of 701 claims since the first action was launched by Sienna Miller back in 2010, but not all victims are going through the high court.News International is understood to have been notified in total of 701 claims since the first action was launched by Sienna Miller back in 2010, but not all victims are going through the high court.
More than 250 have opted to enter into an alternative £20m compensation scheme set up by News International, but earlier this week the publisher of the now-defunct News of the World informed lawyers it was closing this down in April.More than 250 have opted to enter into an alternative £20m compensation scheme set up by News International, but earlier this week the publisher of the now-defunct News of the World informed lawyers it was closing this down in April.
The decision to close the compensation scheme, which was launched in 2011, has raised concerns with lawyers who are acting for victims who have just been told by police their phones have been hacked.The decision to close the compensation scheme, which was launched in 2011, has raised concerns with lawyers who are acting for victims who have just been told by police their phones have been hacked.
Stephen Heffer, solicitor at Collyer Bristow, who is acting for 80 individuals seeking damages through the News International compensation scheme, said: "It is a very strong signal that News International are trying to close this down very swiftly. This will cause a big problem because there are more claims around from people who have just been told by police their phones had been hacked. They are trying to put a lid on something that is still popping out of the box." Steven Heffer, solicitor at Collyer Bristow, who is acting for 80 individuals seeking damages through the News International compensation scheme, said: "It is a very strong signal that News International are trying to close this down very swiftly. This will cause a big problem because there are more claims around from people who have just been told by police their phones had been hacked. They are trying to put a lid on something that is still popping out of the box."
He said that News International has also changed the rules on the scheme and is even challenging those who have been informed by the Metropolitan police that their voicemails were hacked by the News of the World.He said that News International has also changed the rules on the scheme and is even challenging those who have been informed by the Metropolitan police that their voicemails were hacked by the News of the World.
"People who would have expected they had a prima facie case are now finding their cases contested on the grounds of lack of evidence, but that's because they haven't had disclosure from the police yet and they may not get it before the April deadline. That means their only option is to go to the high court which is more expensive," said Heffer."People who would have expected they had a prima facie case are now finding their cases contested on the grounds of lack of evidence, but that's because they haven't had disclosure from the police yet and they may not get it before the April deadline. That means their only option is to go to the high court which is more expensive," said Heffer.
Heffer, who acted for Meg Matthews in the first batch of civil phone-hacking damages claims settled in the high court in early 2012, said he has at least another 20 claims heading for the compensation scheme.Heffer, who acted for Meg Matthews in the first batch of civil phone-hacking damages claims settled in the high court in early 2012, said he has at least another 20 claims heading for the compensation scheme.
Vos has already said he does not want to see a third tranche of claims and is expected to seek an update from News International at the hearing on Friday.Vos has already said he does not want to see a third tranche of claims and is expected to seek an update from News International at the hearing on Friday.
A spokesman for News International said: "We have been keen from the beginning to settle these cases with minimum delay and minimum stress for all involved."A spokesman for News International said: "We have been keen from the beginning to settle these cases with minimum delay and minimum stress for all involved."
MediaGuardian reported that News International had agreed to settle 130 of the high court claims in early January, including cases brought by Cherie Blair, David Beckham's father and James Nesbitt.MediaGuardian reported that News International had agreed to settle 130 of the high court claims in early January, including cases brought by Cherie Blair, David Beckham's father and James Nesbitt.
But now it has made 13 more settlements, including deals struck with actor Christopher Eccleston and Uri Geller, who suspects he was hacked because of his friendship with pop star Michael Jackson.But now it has made 13 more settlements, including deals struck with actor Christopher Eccleston and Uri Geller, who suspects he was hacked because of his friendship with pop star Michael Jackson.
One source said that at least seven of the high court claimants, including Tony Woodley, the former joint general secretary of the Unite union, are adamant that they want their case to go to trial. And at least one claim, that brought by Mary Ellen Field, the former adviser to model Elle Macpherson, is being contested by News International, which has made an application to have her case struck out.One source said that at least seven of the high court claimants, including Tony Woodley, the former joint general secretary of the Unite union, are adamant that they want their case to go to trial. And at least one claim, that brought by Mary Ellen Field, the former adviser to model Elle Macpherson, is being contested by News International, which has made an application to have her case struck out.
Statements from at least 15 claimants are expected to be read out in the high court on Friday, but the exact size of the settlements are not expected to be revealed.Statements from at least 15 claimants are expected to be read out in the high court on Friday, but the exact size of the settlements are not expected to be revealed.
This will be unlike the scenes of pandemonium in the high court last January when dozens of solicitors, claimants and journalist piled into court to hear News International lawyers make 37 humiliating apologies to individuals including Jude Law, who received a £130,000 settlement, former Labour deputy leader Lord Prescott (£40,000), Labour MPs Chris Bryant (£30,000) and Denis MacShane (£32,500), Welsh rugby union international Gavin Henson (£40,000), designer Sadie Frost (£50,000) and Prince Harry's friend Guy Pelly (£40,000).This will be unlike the scenes of pandemonium in the high court last January when dozens of solicitors, claimants and journalist piled into court to hear News International lawyers make 37 humiliating apologies to individuals including Jude Law, who received a £130,000 settlement, former Labour deputy leader Lord Prescott (£40,000), Labour MPs Chris Bryant (£30,000) and Denis MacShane (£32,500), Welsh rugby union international Gavin Henson (£40,000), designer Sadie Frost (£50,000) and Prince Harry's friend Guy Pelly (£40,000).
The majority of claimants in the second tranche of actions being managed by Vos have opted for privacy and do not want statements in open court. Among those who do want the settlement and apology on the public record are actor Hugh Grant, Geller and Eccleston.The majority of claimants in the second tranche of actions being managed by Vos have opted for privacy and do not want statements in open court. Among those who do want the settlement and apology on the public record are actor Hugh Grant, Geller and Eccleston.
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