Rewritten Article:
Prince Harry's Victory Against The "Sun" Edition: An Unlawful Procurement Case
Every morning in London's Royal Courts of Justice, lawyer seats fill up, anticipating the day's verdict. Friday was no different, but Prince Harry was missing, even as news of his triumph unfolded.
Harry had taken legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher behind The Sun and the once-popular News of the World. His lawsuit focused on allegations of unlawful information acquisition, which stretches back to 1996 and 2011. In June, Harry had brought his case to the High Court, arguing that NGN had turned to illegal tactics like phone hacking for provocative stories. However, NGN's legal team dismissed the allegations as "completely speculative."
Dissimilar to NGN's stance, the judge presiding over the trial offered a contrasting perspective. In a ruling on Friday, judge Timothy Fancourt declared, "Yes, Prince Harry was undeniably exposed to phone hacking attacks by News Group Newspapers, occurring in at least 18 cases of the 33 articles scrutinized in the period ending 2009. The Prince was awarded 140,600 pounds as compensation."
The ruling, however, didn't exonerate Harry entirely. Phone hacking wasn't the only technique journalists employed for investigative work, so the judge limited his compensation to the articles for which NGN's practices were deemed unlawful.
Harry's lawsuit aimed to send a clear message; high-profile individuals were seeking justice for their alleged data misuse. In the summer, Harry's legal team revealed claims of 320,000 pounds in damages from NGN, which publishes The Sun, Sunday Sun, and Sunday People magazines.
Morally and Legally Questionable Practices
Harry also pointed the finger at NGN for contributing to his relationship issues with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy and brother Prince William. Media reports about drug use at the time added fuel to the scandal.
During the trial, NGN admitted employing private investigators to gather information. NGN also expressed regret for its unlawful practices, claiming they were a significant part of the journalistic approach employed by the newspaper during that era.
Judge Fancourt acknowledged that 11 out of 51 investigators representing NGN had exhibited remarkable involvement in unlawful information collection for journalists and editors. Additionally, he determined that the company's CEO, Sly Bailey, was aware of these practices but chose to turn a blind eye.
Following the verdict, NGN issued a public apology to Prince Harry, admitting to past misconduct and agreeing to pay appropriate compensation.
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Enrichment Data:
Prince Harry didn't file a lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers. Instead, he filed a lawsuit against News Group Newspapers (NGN), which owns The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World. The lawsuit focused on allegations of unlawful procurement of information and phone hacking between 1996 and 2011.
The lawsuit's outcome was a settlement where NGN issued a "full and unequivocal apology" to Prince Harry for the serious intrusion into his private life, including incidents of unlawful activities carried out by private investigators working for The Sun and the News of the World. NGN also agreed to pay "substantial damages" to Prince Harry as part of the settlement.
