The News Corp. hacking scandal has proved to be a font of legal conflict. After it was revealed that Rupert Murdoch’s company engaged in hyper-aggressive investigation tactics, wronged parties started pelting the media conglomerate with claims. The latest to join the scrum? John Bryan, former paramour of the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson – a.k.a., “Fergie,” the British one, not the Black Eyed Peas one.
Decades Old Fergie Scandal Results In Present Day Defamation Lawsuit
This tale of defamation woe is rooted in a decades-old scandal. Around 20 or so years ago, an undercover reporter named Mazher Mahmood flew to Los Angeles. His mission? Pose as Saudi Sheikh Mahmud Al-Karim, a billionaire interested in investing in John Bryan’s then hotel venture. The goal? To entrap Bryan in a bit of front-page fodder. The tactic? Mahmood asked Bryan to procure some prostitutes and cocaine. Bryan refused. At the time, nothing ever came of it.
Wiretaps, Anyone?
Fast-forward a few years. News Corp. is busted for illegal wiretaps and other assorted investigative tomfoolery. Commonwealth press is still trading on the now years-old scandal. Recently, venerated UK news outlet, the BBC, aired an expose of their News Corp. investigation, which included a segment about Mahmood – the reporter who allegedly tried to entrap Bryan all those years back.
Republishing Old Libel Resets Statute of Limitations
Of course, News Corp. tried to block the BBC from airing more dirty laundry, but in an attempt to prove its side, the media outlet re-published the alleged libel about Mr. Bryan. Luckily for Mr. Bryan, when News Corp. re-published the libel, it also opened up the door for a lawsuit because it reset the statute of limitations clock.
The October 1 lawsuit alleges that News Corp. regularly took part in illegal criminal activities such as phone hacking, bribery, entrapment schemes and secret recordings of private conversations. The 13-page claim also states, “The vile conduct giving rise to this lawsuit includes a failed entrapment scheme, unlawful recordings, and a malicious libel.” Bryan wants $50 million in damages.
Lawyer Dan Warner from Kelly Warner Law speculated, “It’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top in this defamation case. U.K. defamation laws are more plaintiff-friendly than those in the United States. As such, Bryan has a shot at winning. But be sure, Team Murdoch will litigate this to the hilt.”
