Five lead and five reserve lead cases to go forward
Mr Justice Vos today chose five of the phone hacking claims against News Group Newspapers and Glen Mulcaire to be the lead cases that will go forward to trial, including the claims brought by Jude Law and Kelly Hoppen, as well as five further claims to stand in reserve.
The five lead cases are to be those brought by actor Jude Law, designer Kelly Hoppen, football agent Sky Andrew, Chris Bryant MP and commentator Andy Gray. The claim brought by Sienna Miller had been anticipated to be one of the lead cases, but judgment has been entered for the actress following admissions by News Group.
The claims brought by former Max Clifford assistant Nicola Phillips, former MP George Galloway, former footballer Paul Gascoigne, Mary-Ellen Field (former advisor to Elle MacPherson ) and comedian Stephen Coogan were identified as the reserve cases and will progress to disclosure.
A number of generic issues common to all of the claims to be determined at the trial of the lead cases were also identified at today’s case management conference. The other parties to the claims will therefore be entitled to be represented at that trial, due to take place early next year.
5RB‘s Alexandra Marzec (instructed by Payne Hicks Beach) acts for Glenn Mulcaire; David Sherborne (instructed by Atkins Thomson) acts for Jude Law and Kelly Hoppen; William Bennett (instructed by Taylor Hampton) acts for claimants Nicola Phillips, Mary-Ellen Field, Kieren Fallon and Mick McGuire; and Richard Munden (instructed by PSB Law) acts for Ian Edmondson, former News of the World Assistant Editor and a defendant in the claim brought by Nicola Phillips.
Links
- Jude Law and Chris Bryant join phone-hacking test cases – Guardian
- Jude Law in key phone hacking case – Telegraph