Hamlins' media team are instructed in relation to the phone hacking scandal, acting for individuals who have had their phones hacked into by the media. The team is prepared to act under a Conditional Fee Agreement or CFA (“no win, no fee”). We have extensive expertise in this area of law. For instance, media partner Chris Hutchings handled the leading privacy case of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones versus Hello! throughout its progress in the courts.
It is currently known that at least 5,795 members of the public have been affected by phone hacking alone. The police, to date, have contacted less than 700 of these people. Although some of these are celebrities or politicians, many more are ordinary business people or other members of the public. It is emerging that many have been targeted simply because of previous connections with other people in the news. Claims arise not only by virtue of phones having been tapped or voicemails intercepted; other victims have had emails intercepted or evidence obtained by journalists "blagging" confidential information.
Victims of such misuse of private information may have had some suspicion at the time that they were being placed under surveillance, or material may have appeared in the press which it seems could only have come through an invasion of their privacy. Those targeted may otherwise recall repeatedly receiving calls where the caller has hung up. Other signs were calling their voicemail where the automated reply describes messages they have not listened to as old messages. Other indications are of having received notification that their security PIN has been re-set, or receipt of a text from mobile phone providers informing them that someone else has tried to do this. These are a few of the techniques which have so far come to light.
Activity centres on hacking that took place from 2002 up to 2007. Evidence is, however, emerging of it continuing and of similar techniques being used by journalists more recently.
Hamlins' media team are happy to make initial enquiries and discuss possible claims free of charge.
For further information please contact Chris Hutchings on 0207 355 6104 or e-mail: chutchings@hamlins.co.uk or Callum Galbraith on 0207 355 6033 or e-mail: cgalbraith@hamlins.co.uk