Actor Hugh Grant has reached a settlement in a privacy case against the publisher of the Sun newspaper, avoiding potential legal costs of up to £10m.
Grant had accused News Group Newspapers (NGN) of using private investigators to tap his phone and burgle his house, but NGN denied the allegations.
The settlement, which was reached without admission of liability, was described as being in the financial interests of both parties to avoid a costly trial. Grant expressed disappointment in accepting the settlement offer, as he wanted to see the allegations tested in court. However, he was advised by his lawyers that the legal costs of a trial could amount to £10 million.
Grant announced that the funds he received from the settlement will be repurposed by groups like Hacked Off to expose the worst excesses of the press. The actor, known for films like Notting Hill and Love Actually, has been a vocal campaigner for press reform since the phone-hacking scandal a decade ago.
This was not the first time Grant had sued NGN, as he previously settled a case in 2012 in relation to the now-defunct News of the World tabloid. NGN has settled over 1,000 cases without admitting liability for wrongdoing. Currently, there are 42 ongoing claims against the company, following the recent resolution of Grant’s case.
NGN stated that it has been paying damages to victims since a public apology in 2011 for voicemail interception by News of the World. The company emphasized the commercial sense of settling disputed matters, some dating back over 20 years, to bring resolution before trial. The Sun, a publication under NGN, does not accept liability or make admissions to the allegations.
Grant’s case is just one of many involving alleged unlawful information gathering. Prince Harry is also suing NGN for similar reasons, continuing his legal battle with the company.
