Law Commentary - California Edition
Hugh Grant's Lawsuit Against Tabloid Publisher Alleging Hacking and Burglary Settled Out of Court
Actor Hugh Grant has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun tabloid. The lawsuit, filed by Grant, accused NGN of hiring private investigators to unlawfully tap his phone, bug his car, and break into his home to gather information. Grant, known for his roles in films like "Notting Hill" and "Four Weddings and a Funeral," alleged that journalists engaged in widespread unlawful activity between 1994 and 2016. Throughout the years, NGN has faced similar claims from other celebrities, including actress Sienna Miller and soccer star Paul Gascoigne.
The settlement was announced following a preliminary hearing where Grant disclosed that he reluctantly agreed to settle due to the possibility of facing substantial legal costs even if he prevailed at trial. Grant faced a notable risk due to the regulations of civil litigation, particularly the provision where the loser often pays the winning party's legal expenses. Additionally, the settlement offer presented by the defendant was likely higher than what Grant could have expected to receive at trial, making it a more financially prudent decision to settle.
NGN has denied the allegations but agreed to the out-of-court settlement "without admission of liability" to avoid the expenses of a trial. However, the amount of the settlement remains undisclosed.
Although Grant expressed disappointment in having to settle, he emphasized his commitment to holding media organizations accountable for their actions. He plans to repurpose the settlement funds to support groups advocating for press reform, such as Hacked Off.
This settlement represents the ongoing legal battles between celebrities and media organizations over privacy violations. While NGN has settled numerous cases without admitting liability, the issue of unlawful information gathering by tabloids continues to be a subject of public concern.
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