Rupert Murdoch’s News International settles 144 phone hacking suits

Rupert Murdoch’s News International settled on Friday the bulk of lawsuits brought against it for phone hacking charges, according to CNN.

The news outlet said the British news source reached settlements in 144 of the suits. Some plaintiffs refused to settle, however, and are headed to court. Seven of the cases are set for trial in June, CNN reported.

Court officials in Britain, where the newspaper company is headquartered, did not release the names of plaintiffs involved, or the amounts of their settlements.

Mr. Murdoch’s news empire came under fire months ago, following revelations of company employees hacking into personal records of celebrities, politicians and others to obtain information.