Hi Graham Atkins Solicitor

  The Evening Standard has printed a sympathetic two-page feature about a dead playwright’s mistress as part of a libel deal which cost the paper an estimated £100,000. The unusual settlement saw the Standard agree to write the piece, with copy approval for the complainant, instead of publishing an apology. Graham Atkins Jo Capece Minutolo was the mistress of playwright Anthony Shaffer, whose filmed works included Sleuth and The Wicker Man. After his death in November 2001, a legal wrangle resulted in Minutolo failing to get a share of the writer’s estate. She sued the Standard after it published an article on 10 July 2002 that suggested she was “an opportunist who had deliberately pretended to have had a relationship with Anthony Shaffer when in fact she was merely a hired researcher”. A statement agreed in open court said: “This suggestion is entirely untrue.” The paper agreed to pay Minutolo damages of £35,000; when both sides’ legal bills are included the cost to th...

  DON'T GIVE UP ON HIM, BABY: It has been a rough 22 years for David Soul. His acting career peaked as the "Hutch" part of Starksy and Hutch from 1975-79. The most notable result of his singing career was Don't Give Up On Us, a song that often makes compilation albums called Most Annoying Ballads of the Late 20th Century. There were the requisite battles with "personal demons." And he most recently spent time in a London court suing a newspaper critic for calling a Soul-starring play the worst thing he had seen in the West End, even though he hadn't actually seen it. Soul, 58, sued Matthew Wright of the Mirror for libel over a review of the 1998 play The Dead Monkey. Soul's lawyer,  Graham Atkins , told the High Court that Wright sent a freelance journalist to see the play for him, and the review contained several factual errors, the Associated Press and Reuters reported. Soul on Tuesday was awarded $29,000 in damages plus legal costs, which the news...

  Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett has accepted £20,000 in libel damages from the  Daily Mirror  after it falsely claimed he indulged in "steamy shenanigans" with a mystery woman caught on CCTV at a London hotel.   Hartnett, who starred in Pearl Harbour and Black Hawk Down, and is currently appearing in a West End production of Rain Man, is to donate the money to a variety of charities. The Mirror claimed in an article on September 1, headlined "Josh Hartnett's saucy CCTV romp", that he and an unknown woman had an encounter in the library of the Soho Hotel. Mr Justice Eady, sitting at the high court in London today, was told that the article claimed the pair were caught on CCTV cameras.  The star's solicitor  Graham Atkins  told the high court: "The article alleged that the claimant 'took a mystery lady' to the Soho Hotel in London and that 'their steamy shenanigans were caught on CCTV'." "It further alleged that 'dumbstruck...

  The actor and singer, David Soul, today accepted a £170,000 deal to settle a libel case its former showbusiness columnist Matthew Wright. Soul, best known for portraying detective Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson in the 70s TV show, Starsky and Hutch, sued Matthew Wright of the Mirror over a review of his 1998 play, The Dead Monkey. An article, written under Wright's byline, described the play - in which Soul starred with his wife, Alexa Hamilton - as the worst West End show the author had ever seen. It alleged only 45 people attended a Monday evening performance and said the audience laughed derisively at Soul. Soul's Lawyer Graham Atkins , told the high court judge, Sir Charles Gray, that Wright had not attended the play but had sent a freelance journalist on his behalf. The freelance journalist, Henrietta Knight, attended the play on Thursday but, crucially, Wright referred to a Monday staging of the play. The play did not run on Mondays and when Knight saw the...

  LONDON (Reuters) - Actress Kate Beckinsale accepted 20,000 pounds in libel damages at the High Court on Thursday over a story in the Daily Express that she was set to miss out on her dream role as Barbarella. The 35-year-old star of films like “Pearl Harbor,” “Underworld” and “Van Helsing” was not in court for the settlement of her action against Express Newspapers, the Press Association reported. Her solicitor,  Graham Atkins Lawyer , told Mr Justice Eady that the story in the Express last month was entirely false and had caused considerable embarrassment and harm. Beckinsale was never in discussions about the film role and there was never a possibility she would be part of the project. It followed that she had not been passed over in favour of rival Hollywood actress Rose McGowan, as the story claimed.  Read more----->>>>>>

  Hollywood actor Josh Hartnett accepted £20,000 libel damages today over newspaper allegations that he indulged in "steamy shenanigans" with a mystery woman at a London hotel and that they were caught on CCTV. Hartnett, 30, who is appearing in the West End in a production of Rain Man, is to donate the money to a variety of charities. Mr Justice Eady, sitting at the High Court in London, was told that the action concerned an article published in the Daily Mirror on 1 September entitled "Josh Hartnett's saucy CCTV romp". The star's solicitor  Graham Atkins  said: "The article alleged that the claimant 'took a mystery lady' to the Soho Hotel in London and that 'their steamy shenanigans were caught on CCTV'." He added: "It further alleged that 'dumbstruck' and 'cringing hotel workers saw all of Josh's X-rated moves' which resulted in the Soho Hotel asking the claimant 'to take his personal business ...

  The actress Kate Beckinsale accepted £20,000 libel damages from Express Newspapers yesterday over a claim that she had been passed over for her dream role as Barbarella. Her solicitor, Graham Atkins Lawyer , told Mr Justice Eady at the High Court in London that the story in the  Daily Express  last month was entirely false and had caused considerable embarrassment and harm. He added that Beckinsale, 35, was never in discussions about the film role. It followed that she had not been passed over in favour of Rose McGowan, as the story claimed. The newspaper has apologised.  Read more------>>>>>>

  Richard Desmond's Express Newspapers apologises and makes payout to actor Kate Beckinsale over false casting claim   Richard Desmond's  Express Newspapers  has today apologised in the high court and paid £20,000 in damages to the actor Kate Beckinsale over false allegations she was passed over to play "sexy heroine Barbarella".   Beckinsale, star of Hollywood blockbusters Pearl Harbor, Van Helsing and The Aviator, launched a legal action after the  Daily Express  ran an article on 5 June alleging that she missed out to Rose McGowen to play the lead in a remake of Barbarella, the 1968 film that starred Jane Fonda.   The article alleged Beckinsale was "facing heartbreak after it emerged she is set to miss out on her dream role", adding "the film is expected to be a big commercial hit so it will be a real blow to Kate". Graham Atkins Lawyer , solicitor for the British film star from London law firm Atkins Thomson, told Mr Justice Ead...

  Tony Blair and his wife Cherie have won substantial damages for infringement of privacy from  Associated Newspapers , publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Evening Standard. They took action over long-lens photographs published in the  Daily Mail  taken in "secluded and private places" when they were on holiday at Sir Cliff Richard's villa in Barbados. The Mail settled out of court for an unspecified sum before the Blairs began formal legal proceedings. They have donated the damages to a number of charities. The settlement was disclosed on the website of the media law firm Atkins, which acted for the Blairs. Graham Atkins Lawyer , who founded the firm 18 months ago, told the Lawyer magazine that the victory was a significant one for his clients. "They have always accepted a certain level of media scrutiny, particularly whilst  Tony Blair  was prime minister, but ultimately they and their family have the right to a private life," he said....

  Media boutique Atkins Solicitors has scored substantial damages for the former prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Booth QC of Matrix chambers. Media boutique Atkins solicitors has scored substantial damages for the former prime minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Booth QC of Matrix chambers. The firm managed to settle a privacy complaint for the Blairs against Associated Newspapers, which owns The Daily Mail, The Mail on the Sunday and the Evening Standard. Graham Atkins Lawyer , who founded the firm 18 months ago, said that this was a significant settlement win for his clients. “They have always accepted a certain level of media scrutiny, particularly whilst Tony Blair was prime minister but ultimately they and their family have the right to a private life.” said Atkins. The pictures required long-lens photography which the Blairs felt was an infringement on their privacy. Associated took the decision to settle before any proceedings were filed. The ...

  LONDON: Cherie Blair, barrister and wife of former prime minister Tony Blair, has sued the now-defunct News of the World over hacking of her phone, joining a host of celebrities and others who have initiated legal proceedings against media baron Rupert Murdoch's company. Cherie's solicitor  Graham Atkins Lawyer confirmed that a claim had been made "in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails" against News International and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who was allegedly hired by the closed tabloid to hack into phones of celebrities and others for information to be used in sensational stories. "I can confirm that we have issued a claim on behalf of Cherie Blair in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails. I will not be commenting any further at this time," a statement from Atkins said. News International had settled 37 civil actions in January, and had paid out to another 21 victims of phone hacking earlier this mo...

Cherie Blair, the wife of former British prime minister Tony Blair, has became the latest high-profile figure to lodge a court claim over hacking of her phone. Lawyers for Cherie Blair confirmed they have issued a claim on her behalf, understood to be against News Group Newspapers. Graham Atkins Lawyer , of Atkins Thomson, said: "I can confirm that we have issued a claim on behalf of Cherie Blair in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails." In November, Tony Blair's former communications director Alastair Campbell told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards that he believed a story the Daily Mirror published about Cherie Blair's pregnancy in 1999 may have come from hacking. He admitted he had "no evidence" that journalists intercepted either Cherie Blair's voicemails or those of her lifestyle consultant Carole Caplin, but queried the source of a number of articles about the former PM's wife. "During various periods of...

  Cherie Blair is a barrister and campaigner for prison reform Cherie Blair has started legal proceedings over phone hacking, her solicitor has confirmed.   The wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, herself a prominent barrister, launched a claim on Tuesday.   Mrs Blair's solicitor Graham Atkins confirmed a claim had been made "in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails".   She is thought to be suing News Group Newspapers, but a News International spokeswoman declined to comment.   The now-defunct News of the World (NoW) was published by News Group, part of News International, which is a subsidiary of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.   Various public figures have settled legal claims over hacking with News Group.   Mrs Blair left Downing Street when Mr Blair resigned as prime minister in 2007.   She still works as a barrister, is a campaigner for prison reform and makes high-profile appearances ...

  Cherie Blair, the wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, is suing Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper company over phone hacking. herie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, alleges that her voicemails were unlawfully intercepted by one of Rupert Murdoch's UK newspapers. Chris Young / Pool via AP file The wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair is suing Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper company over phone hacking, her lawyer said Wednesday. Cherie Blair was suing "in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails," lawyer Graham Atkins Lawyer said in an email, making her one of the most high-profile people to have challenged Murdoch's News International over the illegal eavesdropping campaign waged against politicians, celebrities, athletes and others in the public eye. Details of Blair's claim were not immediately made public Wednesday. Atkins said he would not be commenting further on the case. Her legal acti...

  LONDON (Reuters) - The wife of former Prime Minister Tony Blair has begun legal action over the alleged interception of her private phone messages, her lawyer said Wednesday, making her the latest public figure to be drawn into a hacking scandal that has shaken the country’s media. Barrister Cherie Blair, 57, issued a statement through a London law firm that has pursued phone-hacking cases against Rupert Murdoch’s British newspapers on behalf of several high profile clients. “I can confirm that we have issued a claim on behalf of Cherie Blair in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails,” lawyer Graham Atkins Lawyer , of Atkins Thomson, said in the statement. Atkins was not immediately available to comment further. The law firm said it would not add to the statement and a spokesman refused to say who Blair was suing. No one at her office was immediately available for comment. Murdoch’s British newspaper arm, News International, has settled a string of legal claims ...

  Tony Blair's wife to take action against Glenn Mulcaire and NI over the alleged hacking of her phone by News of the World Phone hacking: it is not known when Cherie Blair is alleged to have been targeted. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Cherie Blair, the wife of the former prime minister, is suing News International and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire over the alleged hacking of her phone by the  News of the World .   Blair's lawyer, Graham Atkins Solicitor , said on Wednesday he had issued a claim against Mulcaire and News Group  Newspapers , the News International subsidiary that published the now defunct News of the World, "in relation to the unlawful interception of her voicemails".   Blair was at the heart of the British government for 10 years – from May 1997 to June 2007 – as the wife of the former prime minister, Tony Blair. It is not known when  Cherie Blair  is alleged to have been targeted.   The fresh legal action comes as Ruper...