The High Court has blocked second phone-hacking damages claims brought by former TV presenter John Leslie and Jeff Brazier, once partner of the late reality star Jade Goody. (Picture: Reuters)
Mr Justice Mann allowed applications by News Group Newspapers (NGN) for summary judgment on the basis that the terms of the settlement reached in their first claims barred the new actions, because they fell within the settled claims.
In December 2012, the court heard that Brazier was among 22 claimants to have recently accepted offers of substantial damages from NGN, publisher of the now-defunct News of the World.
And, at another hearing in April 2013, Leslie's counsel said he had accepted substantial damages, costs and an apology.
In a ruling given yesterday, the judge said that Brazier was "bound" by the compromise and the compromise barred the bringing of the second action.
For the same reasons, he added, the order settling Leslie's case compromised his second claim in relation to phone-hacking.
In his second action, Leslie had added other claims based on the alleged wrongful acquisition of information by corrupt means.
The judge went on to strike out one of the corruption claims because it was brought outside the legal time limit.
Neither Leslie nor Brazier were in court in London for the brief hearing.
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