Friday, April 15, 2011

Josh Halliday: Phone hacking scandal: The test cases....

These are four people whose claims against News Group will take precedence in court proceedings
Interior designer Kelly Hoppen took action against the News of the World and its feature writer Dan Evans for 'accessing or attempting to access her voicemail messages'. Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features
The test cases to be heard later this year or early next year include four of the victims who won an apology and offer of compensation from News International last week.

Sky Andrew, football agent

The football agent is suing News Group Newspapers for breach of privacy after Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who was employed by the News of the World, admitted hacking into his phone in 2006. Andrew began legal action in 2009, after learning that other victims had been paid compensation. Mulcaire claims that Ian Edmondson, the paper's sacked assistant editor, ordered him to intercept Andrew's voicemail messages. Andrew acts for former England defender Sol Campbell – who dated interior designer Kelly Hoppen back in 2003.

Sienna Miller, actor

Miller is suing News Group for breach of privacy and harassment, having described the alleged phone hacking as "outrageous violations of her privacy". It has emerged she has been offered £100,000 to settle the lawsuit. Court documents obtained by the Guardian show that Ian Edmondson allegedly asked Glenn Mulcaire to hack into Miller and associates, including the actor Jude Law, in 2005. Law is now poised to launch seperate legal proceedings against the paper. Edmondson was suspended, and later sacked, when the revelation came to light.

Andy Gray, football pundit

The former Sky Sports football pundit is suing Glenn Mulcaire as well as News Group after being shown evidence which apparently shows that his voicemail was unlawfully intercepted around a dozen times in six months by the News of the World. As part of its fresh investigation into the affair, Scotland Yard uncovered new evidence which could strengthen Gray's legal action. Gray, who now works for TalkSport radio, is battling in the high court to force Mulcaire to name the NoW executives who ordered him to hack into phones.

Kelly Hoppen, interior designer and Sienna Miller's stepmother

Hoppen, who is Sienna Miller's stepmother, intensified the phone hacking affair earlier this year when it emerged that she was suing the News of the World and its feature writer Dan Evans for "accessing or attempting to access her voicemail messages" within the past year. News International initially strongly denied Hoppen's accusation, but admitted liability and an offer of compensation to the interior designer last week. Evans was suspended from the paper in April.


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