Phone hacking: Milly Dowler's family offered £2m-plus settlement

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Milly Dowler's family have been offered a multimillion-pound settlement by Rupert Murdoch's News International, in an attempt to settle the phone-hacking case that led to closure of the News of the World and the resignation of the company's chief executive, Rebekah Brooks.

It is understood that News International has made a settlement offer estimated by sources at more than £2m, a figure that includes a donation to charity. But the publisher and media group has not reached agreement with the Dowler family, whose lawyers were thought to be seeking a settlement figure of closer to £3.5m.

The seven-figure sums under negotiation are far larger than other phone-hacking settlements reached, reflecting the fact that the phone-hacking case affected a family who were victims of crime. Thirteen-year-old Milly Dowler went missing in March 2002 and was later found murdered.

It emerged in July that Milly Dowler's mobile phone had been hacked after her death. Voicemails were accessed on behalf of the News of the World, and messages left for her were deleted to make room for more recordings. This gave the family false hope that she was still alive, because messages were disappearing.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/19/phone-hacking-milly-dowler-family

[joeybee12]

1. If I were the family I'd take the 2M if they agreed to draw and quarter Rupert...

I'd give up the additional 1.5M just for that.

[polly7]

2. Yes ... what they put that family through was horrible. nt.

[Demeter]

3. There are some things money can't buy

and they're all in this situation. Life, love, honor, justice...

[beac]

4. I hope they tell Rupert to shove that offer up his corrupt and wrinkly butt!

They should sue him for every last pound of his filthy lucre.

Oh, and the draw-and-quarter-Rupert clause mentioned above is a fine idea too.

[Selatius]

5. If I were the Dowlers' financial advisor, I'd tell them to hold out for 5,000,000.

If they don't pay up, then take them to court and take them down.

[dipsydoodle]

15. Probably just as well you're not their advisor then.

In the UK civil cases have no jury. Judge sets damages which are never that high over here

[MicaelS]

6. If Rupert told the family he was "very, very sorry"...

Then let him pay them whatever they ask for.

[beac]

7. I'm suprprised he didn;t say he was "very, very sorry...

if anyone was offended."

Murdoch and his vile son and equally vile minions are only "sorry" that they got caught. I hope the Dowler's sue him into oblivion.

[MicaelS]

8. Me too...I hope they don't settle, let them take it to court

And take him to the cleaners.

[SecularMotion]

9. News International to Pay $4.7 Million to Settle Hacking Case

Source: Reuters

News International is expected to pay about three million pounds($4.7 million) to settle hacking claims by the family of murder victim Milly Dowler against the now defunct News of the World newspaper, sources close to the case told Reuters on Monday.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2011/09/19/world/europe/news-us-britain-hacking-dowler.html?_r=1&hp

[TheWraith]

10. Sounds like a good precedent.

Now multiply it by everyone whose phone was hacked.

Assuming 2,000 victims... that's $11 billion out of pocket, or all of News Corp's profits for the next four years.

[TroglodyteScholar]

11. If only it worked that way. n/t

[dipsydoodle]

13. Out of court settlements

Don't set precedents

[dipsydoodle]

12. Duplicate LBN

See adjacent post 30 minutes earlier.


Btw NYT have mistAted the situation. Of the sum mentioned $1.6 million is an amount being donated to charity personally by Rupert Murdoch.

[gratuitous]

14. Settlement? Sure!

On the record, full disclosure, all part of the public trial record, and precedent for any future lawsuits against NI.

Oh, and put another 0 on the end of the offer, and you've got yourself a deal, Rupert.

[glinda]

16. hmmmm.... let's weigh them both. Rupie in prison or a few milllion $.

It would be an incredibly noble and patriotic thing to do to throw charges at him and let him serve time and reveal the truth.

[CHIMO]

17. News International offers Milly Dowler's family £3m settlement

Source: guardian.co.uk

Milly Dowler's family have been made a £3m offer by Rupert Murdoch's News International in an attempt to settle the phone-hacking case that led to the closure of the News of the World and the resignation of the company's chief executive, Rebekah Brooks.

The money on the table is understood to include a personal £1m donation to charity by Murdoch himself as well as contributions to the family's legal costs. But the publisher has not yet reached final agreement with the Dowler family, whose lawyers were thought to be seeking a settlement figure closer to £3.5m.

The seven-figure sums under negotiation are far larger than other phone-hacking settlements reached – and amount to one of the largest payouts ever made by a newspaper owner – reflecting the fact that the phone-hacking case affected a family who were victims of crime.

Milly Dowler went missing aged 13 in March 2002 and was later found murdered.



Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/19/news-international-milly-dowler-settlement

[MinneapolisMatt]

18. Should be 3.5 BILLION.

[defendandprotect]

19. misplaced --