scandal-stained wretches

News Corp. Now Has More Than 1,000 ‘Likely Victims’ of Phone Hacking

MUNICH, GERMANY - JANUARY 25: James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch and Chairman and Chief Executive of News Corporation, Europe and Asia, looks on during the Digital Life Design (DLD) conference at HVB Forum on January 25, 2011 in Munich, Germany. DLD brings together global leaders and creators from the digital world. (Photo by Miguel Villagran/Getty Images)
Photo: Miguel Villagran/Getty Images

The settling of more than 50 phone-hacking cases earlier this year by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. has just made way for a second wave of civil suits, with the number of “likely victims” reaching 1,174, up from a previous estimate of 829. About 46 new cases are expected in this round, bringing the total number of lawsuits to more than 100; people are “still queuing up outside,” a high court justice joked today. (And the U.S. could be next.) Out of 4,791 potential victims, 1,892 have reportedly been contacted by police. The company has spent at least $195 million on the scandal so far, while Rupert and James Murdoch are scheduled to testify in Britain again next week.

News Corp. Has More Than 1,000 ‘Likely Victims’