The Sun-Times Media Group has sued Conrad Black to recover some of the legal costs it incurred defending him.

The Sun-Times group, as the remnants of the Hollinger International empire are now known, paid $60 million (£30m) to defend Black, its former Chairman, and three associates during their fraud trial last year.

Black has asked to serve his sentence in a minimum-security prison after a judge last week rejected his request to remain free while he appeals his conviction. He is to begin serving his 6 1/2-year sentence on 3 March.