<p>Media baron Rupert Murdoch's group today agreed to a multi-million pounds out-of-court-settlement with 19 high-profile victims who had filed cases when they realised their phones had been hacked by thenow defunct News of the World.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott and actor Jude Law are among those who have agreed to the settlement.<br /><br />Footballer Ashley Cole and Labour MP Chris Bryant have also reached settlements.<br /><br />Most people pursuing damages from the paper's publisher News International had now settled, lawyers said.<br /><br />Hearings in the cases were due to start on February 13, but this may not take place in relation to the cases launched by the 19 individuals.<br /><br />Overall, the settlement against the individuals is likely to cost Murdoch's company around 10 million pounds.<br /><br />The level of payments made today is likely to influence future claims against the now defunct tabloid from potentially hundreds of victims of phone-hacking.<br /><br />Scotland Yard has said that there were 742 victims of phone-hacking, some of whom are yet to be contacted.<br /><br />The settlements reached today included Labour MP Chris Bryant and Alistair Campbell, former aide of prime minister Tony Blair.<br /><br />Murdoch's group had earlier paid millions of pounds to the family of the murdered teenager Milly Dowler, whose phone was allegedly hacked.<br /><br />It was the report of Milly's phone being hacked that set off a chain of events last summer, leading to several changes in British press, politics and the police.<br /><br />The group had settled similar claims in December with seven individuals, including former army officer, James Hewitt.</p>
<p>Media baron Rupert Murdoch's group today agreed to a multi-million pounds out-of-court-settlement with 19 high-profile victims who had filed cases when they realised their phones had been hacked by thenow defunct News of the World.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Ex-Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott and actor Jude Law are among those who have agreed to the settlement.<br /><br />Footballer Ashley Cole and Labour MP Chris Bryant have also reached settlements.<br /><br />Most people pursuing damages from the paper's publisher News International had now settled, lawyers said.<br /><br />Hearings in the cases were due to start on February 13, but this may not take place in relation to the cases launched by the 19 individuals.<br /><br />Overall, the settlement against the individuals is likely to cost Murdoch's company around 10 million pounds.<br /><br />The level of payments made today is likely to influence future claims against the now defunct tabloid from potentially hundreds of victims of phone-hacking.<br /><br />Scotland Yard has said that there were 742 victims of phone-hacking, some of whom are yet to be contacted.<br /><br />The settlements reached today included Labour MP Chris Bryant and Alistair Campbell, former aide of prime minister Tony Blair.<br /><br />Murdoch's group had earlier paid millions of pounds to the family of the murdered teenager Milly Dowler, whose phone was allegedly hacked.<br /><br />It was the report of Milly's phone being hacked that set off a chain of events last summer, leading to several changes in British press, politics and the police.<br /><br />The group had settled similar claims in December with seven individuals, including former army officer, James Hewitt.</p>