Hugh Grant Resolves Privacy Lawsuit Against Rupert Murdoch’s Tabloid

Actor Hugh Grant recently revealed that he opted not to go to trial after being advised by his lawyers that settling a legal dispute with News Group Newspapers (NGN) was likely. Although he did not disclose the details of the settlement, Grant stated on social media that he had been offered a substantial sum of money not to go to court.

The settlement came amidst ongoing legal actions against NGN, with dozens of claimants, including Prince Harry, pursuing the publisher over alleged unlawful practices, as heard in the High Court in London. Prince Harry, who has brought several claims against UK newspaper publishers in recent years, is set to go to trial in January.

Similarly, Grant, Charles III’s youngest son, settled a long-running claim against Mirror Group Newspapers and is also pursuing legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail. Grant expressed reluctance to accept the settlement money and voiced his desire to see the allegations tested in court.

He explained that civil litigation rules posed a risk of substantial costs if he proceeded to trial and was awarded damages even slightly lower than the settlement offer. In his previous legal action against NGN, Grant had accepted a substantial sum from the publisher in 2012, relating to the activities of its now-defunct News Of The World title.

NGN settled Grant’s recent claim “without admission of liability,” citing financial interests in avoiding a costly trial. The Sun, a tabloid under NGN, has not accepted liability or made admissions to the pending allegations in the High Court.

Grant further claimed that NGN has incurred over £1 billion in damages and legal fees in settling more than 1,500 claims. Despite the settlement, Grant’s decision not to proceed to trial highlights the complexities and risks involved in civil litigation.