News Group Newspapers (NGN), owner Sunhad argued that Grant failed to file his claims within six years.
The judge dismissed Grant’s phone hacking claims on time-limited grounds, but said the case could continue with the other allegations.
“It was only upon seeing the invoices disclosed…in 2021 that Mr. Grant believed that the private investigators (PIs) had been instructed to Sun to attack him in various ways, particularly in 2011,” Fancourt wrote.
The case was discussed during a hearing last month that also included allegations of wiretapping by Prince Harry against News Group, Rupert Murdoch’s British newspaper.
Fancourt’s ruling did not address the Duke of Sussex’s case because he wants to hear more about Harry’s allegations that he was prevented from making his claims much earlier because of a “secret agreement” between Buckingham Palace and the Murdoch documents.
NGN has denied that there was a “secret deal”. The palace has not responded to messages seeking comment about that or William’s alleged deal.
A News Group spokesman issued a statement Friday saying it was pleased the court dismissed Grant’s phone hacking allegations.
“NGN strongly denies the various historical allegations of illegal information gathering contained in what remains of Mr. Grant’s claim,” the statement said.
