Today is the final day that damage claims can be filed against News International over alleged phone hacking by its now defunct News of the World . Just coming in ahead of the deadline, Hugh Grant's attorneys filed their claim on Thursday. Some 70-100 similar cases were expected to be filed by the end of the day. Grant has become a leading figure in the battle against British newspapers that have been accused of illegally invading the privacy of celebrities and public officials. He was particularly instrumental in forcing Scotland Yard to disclose their evidence in the phone-hacking scandal, thereby allowing the alleged victims to sue for damages. News International, a unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, has already settled more than 50 cases.

14/09/2012