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

Charles Russell Speechlys can today confirm the settlement of a privacy claim for unlawful voicemail interception on behalf of actress Samantha Womack (née Janus). Duncan Lamont (Consultant), Claire Greaney (Senior Associate) and Hannah Kent (Associate) assisted Ms Womack in achieving this successful settlement.

The claim was brought against News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of News of the World and The Sun. A settlement has now been agreed and includes an undertaking by NGN not to intercept the Claimant’s voicemail messages, to pay compensation to the Claimant, and join in a statement in open Court to apologise to the Claimant for the misuse of her private information.

The public apology was made today in the Commercial Court in London. Hannah Kent was in Court today to read the statement on behalf of Ms Womack “for the distress caused to her by the invasion of her privacy by individuals working for or on behalf of the News of the World”.

Duncan Lamont, says:

“We are pleased that we could assist our client in resolving her dispute with NGN and that the publisher has made a public apology to our client.”