Sunday, March 11, 2012

#Leveson Inquiry :Coulson battles on to force News International to pay his legal costs

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson is trying once again to force News International to pay his legal costs.

The Press Association reports that he has renewed his application for permission to appeal against a high court decision that his former employers do not have to pay costs arising from the phone-hacking affair.

The renewed application, as shown on the justice ministry's case tracker site, means he will get an oral hearing in front of three judges on 8 May.

The panel will consist of Lord Justice Maurice Kay, who is vice president of the appeal court's civil division, Lord Justice Etherton and Lord Justice Aikens.

On 21 December, Coulson lost his high court bid to force News Group Newspapers (NGN) - the News International division that published the News of the World - to pay costs.

Then, on 14 February, he was denied permission to appeal in a ruling by Sir Richard Buxton, a former lord justice.

After the December judgment, Coulson put his south London house up for sale with an asking price of £1.6m.

Coulson's lawyers have argued that a clause in his severance deal meant NGN should pay professional costs and expenses incurred by him "in defending allegations of criminal conduct" during his tenure as editor.

In July last year Coulson - former director of communications for prime minister David Cameron - was arrested by police officers investigating phone-hacking at the News of the World. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.




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