The news that 46 new phone-hacking cases have been filed at the high court in London by figures including Wayne Rooney, actor James Nesbitt and John Major’s former daughter-in-law, Emma Noble, will trouble News Corporation shareholders.
The scandal has already cost the company at least $195m in lawyers’ fees and payouts to victims, and with the total number of “likely victims” now estimated at 1,174 the final bill could end up being closer to $1bn.
This reminder of the News of the World’s industrial-level hacking also comes at an awkward moment for Rupert and James Murdoch. Both are appearing separately at the Leveson Inquiry next week.
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