Prince Harry's lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch's U.K. tabloids has been temporarily halted as both sides engage in settlement negotiations. The trial, focused on allegations of phone hacking and privacy violations, was scheduled to begin but has been adjourned pending further discussions. This marks a significant development in Harry's long-running battle with the press, whom he blames for his mother's death and the relentless attacks on his wife, Meghan Markle.
Prince Harry 's high-stakes trial against Rupert Murdoch 's U.K. tabloids has been temporarily stalled. The case, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, was adjourned as both parties engaged in private settlement discussions. Harry, along with one other claimant, remain the sole plaintiffs of the hundreds who have settled lawsuits against News Group News papers, the publisher of The Sun and the defunct News of the World, alleging phone hacking and unlawful invasions of privacy.
This marks the first trial of its kind against the publisher since the widespread phone hacking scandal forced Murdoch to close News of the World in 2011. News Group has already settled over 1,300 other claims. When Judge Timothy Fancourt refused to grant a further delay until Wednesday, attorneys representing both sides declared their intention to appeal to the Court of Appeal, effectively postponing the trial's commencement. News Group attorney Anthony Hudson asserted that productive discussions had taken place, emphasizing a 'very substantial sum' at stake if the trial proceeded before negotiations could be finalized. For the Duke of Sussex, this trial represents the second legal battle in London's High Court against the press, whom he blames for his mother, Princess Diana's, death in a 1997 car crash while being pursued by paparazzi. He also holds them responsible for relentless attacks on his wife, actress Meghan Markle, culminating in their decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the U.S. in 2020. Harry maintains that his pursuit of media accountability has strained his relationship with his family, but it's a cause he feels compelled to champion to expose misconduct. He previously secured a victory against the publisher of the Daily Mirror newspaper in 2023 and has another pending case against the Daily Mail's publisher. Harry alleges that News Group journalists and private investigators hired by them engaged in unlawful tactics to uncover information about him and his family between 1996 and 2011. His fellow claimant, Tom Watson, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party, claims his voicemails were intercepted during his investigation into the phone hacking scandal. Their lawyer asserts that the newspapers routinely used deception to obtain medical, phone, and flight records, bugged homes, and installed listening devices in vehicles. They further allege that executives concealed these activities through means including document destruction. Former executives implicated in the scandal include Will Lewis, currently CEO of the Washington Post, and Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK, a division of News Corp. Both deny any wrongdoing. Brooks was acquitted of phone hacking conspiracy charges in a criminal trial in 2014, although her former colleague, Andy Coulson, who later served as Prime Minister David Cameron's spokesperson, was imprisoned. News Group vehemently denies all allegations and claims Harry's lawsuit was filed outside the required six-year statute of limitations. News Group apologized to victims of the News of the World phone hacking scandal in 2011. The Sun has never admitted liability. Actor Hugh Grant, initially one of Harry's co-claimants, revealed he was compelled to accept a 'massive sum of money' to settle due to the potential legal costs exceeding 10 million pounds ($12.3 million) even if he won at trial. English civil law mandates that the claimant who secures a court judgment lower than the settlement offer must cover both parties' legal expenses. This provision aims to discourage lengthy trials. Despite the substantial financial risks, Harry stated during The New York Times Dealbook Summit in December that he would not back down. 'They settled because they had to settle,' he said of previous claimants. 'One of the main reasons for seeing this through is accountability, because I'm the last person that can actually achieve that.' The trial, anticipated to last 10 weeks, would place Harry back in the witness box for several days in February. In 2023, Harry became the first senior royal family member to testify in court since the late 19th century, when Queen Victoria's eldest son, Prince Albert Edward, provided testimony twice. Harry disclosed in court documents that his father disapproved of his legal action. He also revealed that his older brother, William, Prince of Wales, and heir to the throne, had received a 'substantial sum' to settle a complaint against News Group. 'The mission continues, but it has, yes, it's caused, as you say, part of a rift,' Harry said in the documentary 'Tabloids On Trial.' 'But, you know, I'm doing this for my reasons,' he added
Prince Harry Rupert Murdoch Tabloids Phone Hacking Privacy Violations Trial Settlement News Group Newspapers The Sun News Of The World Media Accountability Royal Family
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