An actor and comedian from Hove has had his phone-tapping claim against the News of the World newspaper reviewed by a High Court judge today (Friday 15 April).
Steve Coogan’s claim was one of 24 cases presented to Mr Justice Vos at a case management conference in London.
The judge decided to streamline the 24 claims for breach of privacy to four, which will be heard either later this year or early next year.
Mr Coogan’s was not one of the four test cases selected by the judge.
The test cases involve the actress Sienna Miller, football commentator Andy Gray, interior designer Kelly Hoppen and sports agent Sky Andrew.
They were among the eight people to whom the newspaper apologised last Sunday (10 April).
The newspaper’s owner and publisher, News International, said that it had set aside a £20 million pot for payouts to victims of the scandal.
The Metropolitan Police is also carrying out a criminal investigation.
Detectives have arrested three journalists during the current investigation in addition to Clive Goodman, the reporter who was jailed in 2007 along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
