Phone hacking: Charles Russell Speechlys achieves settlement for three celebrity clients from News Group Newspapers

Charles Russell Speechlys can today confirm the settlement of privacy claims for unlawful voicemail interception on behalf of three celebrity clients, Caroline Quentin, Rupert Hill and Jennifer Hill (professionally known as Jennifer Platt).

Duncan Lamont (Consultant), Gabrielle Shovlin (Associate), Hannah Gornall (Associate), Daniel McDonagh (Trainee Solicitor) and Sydney Lee (Apprentice) assisted their clients in achieving these successful settlements.

The claims were brought against News Group Newspapers (NGN) publisher of The Sun and it was the publisher of the News of the World, which ceased publication in 2011. A settlement has now been agreed and includes an undertaking by NGN not to intercept the Claimants’ voicemail messages, to pay compensation to the Claimants, and join in a statement in open Court to apologise to the Claimants for the misuse of their private information.

The public apologies were made today in the Commercial Court in London. Hannah Gornall and Gabrielle Shovlin were in Court today via video link to read the statements on behalf of the Claimants “for the distress caused to [them] by obtaining private information about [them] and using that information”.

Duncan Lamont, Consultant, Charles Russell Speechlys, says:

“We are delighted to have achieved such satisfactory settlements on behalf of our clients against NGN Limited. The publisher has also joined in a public apology to our clients for the distress caused by the invasion of their privacy.

“Whilst the remedies awarded to our clients don’t, and can’t, put the clock back, we hope that this compensation goes some way towards alleviating the damage caused by the many intrusive articles published and allows our clients to move forward with their lives.”