Actor Johnny Depp has initiated legal proceedings against News Group Newspapers, accusing the media giant’s publications of hacking his phone between 1996 and 2010.
News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun and the now defunct News of the World, is a British subsidiary of the American-owned News Corp.
“Yesterday we sent notice to The Sun of our intention to file suit against them for illegally hacking Johnny Depp.
“Our Barrister David Sherborne has represented Princess Diana, and also Elton John, Jude Law, Hugh Grant, and Prince Harry in hacking claims against The Sun.
“The Sun has paid out tens of millions of pounds to settle dozens of illegal hacking claims for one reason – because they did it. This case is a matter of principle for Mr. Depp, not one of money,” his attorney Adam Waldman said in a statement.
Depp and his team believe that at various points in his life the papers were privy to private information that could only have been obtained through a long and well orchestrated hack.
Of particular concern to Depp was how they had managed to obtain information about his girlfriend’s two pregnancies while hiding behind the cover of anonymous close sources.
“These details were obviously intrusive and sensitive and included the stages of the pregnancies, our client’s movements and plans (showing clear surveillance of him),” the legal letter said.
Another sore point for the Pirates of the Caribbean star was how the publications had revealed details around his daughter’s illness, details he said had left him “most angered and violated.”
Those reports in 2007 came when the publications “were aware that our client’s daughter was in a ‘serious condition,’ the name of the hospital where she was being treated, and the nature of her illness.
They also knew of measures taken by our client to protect his and his family’s privacy, including entering the hospital through the staff entrance and traveling discreetly.”
Phone hacking allegations are not new to News Group Newspapers.
From 2006, allegations of phone hacking began to engulfed one of its publications, News of the World, culminating in the revelation on 4 July 2011 that, nearly a decade earlier, a private investigator hired by the newspaper had intercepted the voicemail of missing British teenager Milly Dowler, who was later found murdered.
Amid a public backlash and the withdrawal of advertising, News International announced the closure of the newspaper on 7 July 2011. Daily Mast
