Phone hacking: NI asks judge to strike out exemplary damages claims

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

News International wants a high court judge to strike out demands from phone-hacking victims for high-value exemplary damages in a case conference due to be heard in London on Friday.

Olswang, the Murdoch-owned publisher's new lawyers, wants Mr Justice Vos to rule that the company should not be liable for punitive fines in any of the cluster of civil actions ranged against it.

News International is the defendant in more than 60 phone-hacking-related civil actions, including cases brought by Sheila Henry, the mother of 7/7 victim Christian Small, actor Steve Coogan and football agent Sky Andrew.

Trials in a handful of "lead actions" are expected to be conducted next year, with the intention of setting a benchmark for compensation cases in the future.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/17/phone-hacking-ni-exemplary-damages

[Moosepoop]

1. Of course they'll ask.

Hopefully, the judge won't rule in their favor on it.