Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, and other well-known British figures are suing Daily Mail's publisher. Allegedly, the tabloid violated their privacy by placing listening devices in their homes and cars – amongst other things – a law firm representing the plaintiffs claimed on Thursday.
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What’s the case?
The law firm Hamlins – which is representing Prince Harry – released a statement that their client is a victim of ‘abhorrent criminal activity.’ The lawsuit, according to BBC, alleges that Daily Mail – which also publishes Mail on Sunday and the Mail Online – resorted to unfair means to obtain private information. This includes:
- Hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside people’s cars and homes
- Commissioning the bugging of live and private phone calls
- Paying police officials for sensitive information
- Impersonating individuals to obtain medical records
Hamlins said in its statement:
It is apparent to these individuals that the alleged crimes listed above represent the tip of the iceberg - and that many other innocent people remain unknowing victims of similar terrible and reprehensible covert acts.
Other people included in the list of victims are – actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, singer Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, and Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993. Hamlins also represents Sadie Frost, while the other plaintiffs are represented by gunnercooke.
Previous banter
This isn’t the first time that Prince Harry is dragging the tabloid owners to court. The most recent one is where he sued the Mail on Sunday for libel over the article where the associated newspaper claimed that Harry tried to keep secret details of his legal fight private to get his police protection back.
Reuters confirms that the Duke also won damages from the same newspaper last year over the claims that he turned his back on the Royal Marines. What’s more? Meghan Markle also won a privacy case against the newspaper after they published a private letter she had written to her estranged father.
Back in 2018, when the Sussex couple stepped down from the position of senior royals, interference by the British tabloids was one of their primary reasons to quit their Royal duties.
Sources Used
- BBC: 'Elton John and Prince Harry sue Daily Mail publisher over 'privacy breach''
- Reuters: 'Prince Harry, Elton John and others sue UK paper group over privacy breaches'
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