Murdoch firm settles 9 more hacking lawsuits

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

February 8, 2012 6:20 AM

Murdoch firm settles 9 more hacking lawsuits

(AP) LONDON — Rupert Murdoch's News International has settled nearly all the cases against the company in the first wave of lawsuits for phone hacking by its journalists, with a new round of apologies and payouts announced Wednesday in a London court.

But a potentially damaging claim lodged by British singer Charlotte Church is still headed to trial later this month and a wave of new lawsuits — as many as 56 in all — is looming, lawyers told London's High Court.

News International, a division of News Corp., has tried hard to keep phone hacking cases from going to trial, launching its own compensation program overseen by a respected former judge and paying out millions of pounds (dollars) in all in out-of-court settlements for about 60 cases.

On Wednesday, lawyers announced that nine more lawsuits filed on behalf of about a dozen different people had been settled, including cases brought by comedian Steve Coogan, former soccer star Paul Gascoigne and maverick lawmaker George Galloway.

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57373066/rupert-murdochs-company-settles-9-lawsuits/

[DCKit]

1. It'll be 'enough' when Rupert and his spawn are living in a trailer somewhere in Arizona. nt

[Oldtimeralso]

3. That's too good

How about a tent and wearing pink underwear, sharing a tent with the establishments founder sheriff Joe!

[AndyTiedye]

15. Club Fed, or the British Equivalent, Seems More Approprate

[Kingofalldems]

2. Hmmm, one wonders what they have been up to in the USA

Thorough investigation needed.

[global1]

4. So Is Murdoch Buying His Way Out OF Jail?......nt

[dipsydoodle]

5. Nope

just saving legal fees.

[LiberalLovinLug]

9. Amounts to the same thing

He may or may not save money on legal fees when you factor in this payout money.

But the end game is to avoid taking cases to trial....and Rupert perhaps going to jail. Most likely he'd win even then with his zillions, but the publicity is what would do the most damage to his enterprises if any of these cases went to a full blown trial.

We are witnessing the very real process of money buying someone out of charges they should be facing.

[dipsydoodle]

17. No association -

these are civil trials : not criminal.

On the money side the bad publicity in July concerning allegations, now largely dismissed, concerning the deleted voicemails, led to the NewsCorp shares dropping down to US$13. That conveniently coincided with NewsCorp announcemant of a major share buy back. Seems to have saved them about a few billion - they're back up near $20. Perhaps now you see the triviality of these out of court settlements.

[unionworks]

6. isn't it amazing

How this story just went quietly to the back burner on the news?

[dipsydoodle]

7. Well its only news

because the predicted out of court settlements have now actually ocurred. I don't really see why its of much interest outside of the UK anyway. Have you actually heard of some of those involved before this ?

[unionworks]

10. it's of interest

..because there was much speculation that they were also hacking democrats here in the U.S..

[dipsydoodle]

11. Was there ?

Got a link a news link to that ?

[unionworks]

12. on my droid

Right now and can't link. Try googling "did Murdoch hack democrats". I think there wwas speculation that they were involved in the Weiner scandal.

[unionworks]

13. and I do remember

There was speculation that Murdochs minions were feeding hacked info to Brietbart and co.

[Lint Head]

8. I hope all of the hacking crimes are not just setteled. People need to go to damn jail.

[DallasNE]

14. Relatively Speaking

These fines would be like asking me to pay 70 cents in fines. Plus, fines are paid by the stockholders rather than the people personally responsible. Making somebody else pay for your mistakes will not self-correct the problem. It just means that they will try to be a little more careful in the future. No jail time, no justice.

[Justice wanted]

16. GAWD Murdock needs to be behind bars. The thing with Charlotte Church was so Vial. For that young

girl to put up with what she did...