More phone-hack claims settled (From Northwich Guardian)

More phone-hack claims settled

11:00am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in National News © Press Association 2011

Another nine claimants have settled their actions in the phone-hacking damages litigation, the High Court has heard.

Hugh Tomlinson QC, who represents some of the claimants, said nine out of ten outstanding claims had been settled with News of the World publisher News Group Newspapers.

The announcement came during the latest in a number of pre-trial reviews in the case in preparation for a long-awaited trial due to start next week.

The news, at a hearing in London before Mr Justice Vos, follows last month's settlement of 37 claims against News International subsidiary NGN.

Mr Tomlinson told the court that singer Charlotte Church had not reached an agreement with NGN.

The court heard that 15 new settlements had been reached, including nine of the ten which were due to be heard in next week's trial.

These ten claimants were thought to include Miss Church and her parents, comedian Steve Coogan, singer Pete Doherty, football agent Sky Andrew, MP Simon Hughes, Tracey Temple, who had a relationship with Lord Prescott, jockey Kieren Fallon and racing trainer Samantha Wallin.

The court heard that Mr Coogan had settled his claim for £40,000.

A lawyer told the High Court that Mr Gascoigne's friend, James Gardner, had also settled his claim and accepted "substantial" damages.

Former Labour communications director Alastair Campbell had also settled his claim and accepted substantial damages, as had Phil Hughes, who worked as an agent to late footballer George Best.