find a solicitor from the best UK solicitors directory
Facebook law Twitter law

Sponsored links

Solicitor.info Blog

Posts Tagged ‘journalists’

Settlements Announced in Phone Hacking Case

Friday, January 20th, 2012

The settlement figures are beginning to roll in – at least, those wishing to divulge what they received from News International. Eighteen victims agreed to put their settlement figures into the official court dockets while another nineteen opted to keep it private. Here’s what we know –

The total paid to these 18 named victims comes to more than £600,000. Allegations were that senior employees and directors at News Group Newspapers (the News International subsidiary that published the News of the World) were aware that their journalists illegally taking part in certain practices and that these individuals were looking to deliberately deceive investigators and destroyed evidence.

It’s important to note that NGN has not admitted or denied any of these claims, even though it agreed compensation could be assessed on that basis. They’ve not commented publicly since the rulings on Thursday.

(These settlements do not include the court costs, which were awarded to each of the recipients.)
Actor Jude Law – £130,000
Journalist Tom Rowland – £25,000
MP Chris Bryant – £30,000
Designer Sadie Frost – £50,000
Rugby Player Gavin Henson – £40,000
MP Denis MacShane – £32,500
Assistant to Jude Law, Ben Jackson – £40,000
Sports Solicitor Graham Shear – £25,000
Denis MacShane former partner Joan Smith – £27,500
Ciara Parkes (PR to Jude Law) – £35,000
Guy Pelly (nightclub entrepreneur and friend of Prince Harry) – £40,000
Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott – £40,000

It’s not over yet, though. Neville Thurlbeck, a former editor and reporter for News International posted on his controversial blog after court:

Much more evidence against News International will come in the future.

I worked there from 1988 onwards and I am aware of executives who witnessed practices which would send the share price crashing through the floor.

I expect much of this to come out in industrial tribunals and High Court actions by former members of staff.

But it is the irrevocable loss of trust which could sink it.

Even with the monetary payouts, it’s clear this chapter’s not ended.

New Legal Woes for News of the World?

Friday, September 16th, 2011

Looks as though the now-defunct News of the World might be in hot water once again, courtesy of a large collection of what’s being called “previously undiscovered documents and emails”. It’s believed if verified, this new cache would bring the scandal to an entirely new level. Worse, those in the know say these documents are in the “tens of thousands”.

The judge, Mr. Justice Vos, said this revelation is “significant”, and included nearly seventy pages of names associated with Glenn Mulcaire, who you’ll recall is the jailed phone hacker. These documents memorialize the requests for “voice mail interception”. Mulcaire typically documented the requests he received with handwritten notes, including either the names or initials of the journalists making the requests. One victim was allegedly told by Mulcaire that he couldn’t remember who requested the inquiry regarding the victim’s privacy violation. Before long, Mulcaire and his team of solicitors found themselves in a courtroom, only to learn Mulcaire would be forced to answer tough questions.

Needless to say, there are probably many on the phone today with their own solicitors in an effort to stave off any new disclosures. Solicitors have also been in court concerning the new information. Mr. Justice Vos said, in his own statement, “There’s some important material in what’s already been disclosed…there’s some significant material and I’m sure there’s lots more to come”.

Damages are set to be announced in January 2011 as all the legal teams gather together once again in front of Mr. Justice Vos. Among other things, efforts to define monetary damages in various areas of the case will be determined in hopes of eliminating time consuming court cases while also keeping the “little fish” from being pulled into it the scandal.

Have you liked our Facebook page yet? You can also follow Solicitor Info on Twitter @SolicitorInfo. We’re doing great things with our solicitor reviews – come and see for yourself!

Sponsored links