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The phone hacking lawsuit settlements continue to come in. At the end of January, News Corp. Newspapers, the UK branch of News Corp. paid Elizabeth Hurley, Elton John and Heather Mills over their lawsuits alleging the UK newspapers hacked their personal phones.

While the lawsuits were settled, News Group Newspapers hasn’t admitted that the Sun hacked. An NGN spokesperson gave iMediaEthics the following statement:

“News Group Newspapers has settled cases relating to voicemail interception at the News of the World which closed in 2011.

“Sincere apologies have been offered to the claimants for the distress caused by the invasion of privacy.

“No admission of liability has been made to any allegations of illegal information gathering at The Sun newspaper.”

“This is the fourth time in the last 18 months that News Group Newspapers has settled phone hacking claims on the eve of trial, with the company’s settlements – collectively running into millions – ensuring that they are not tested in open court, where executives could be called to give evidence,” according to the Guardian.

The UK law firm Hamlins LLP issued a press statement about the settlements.

On Feb. 5, Hamlins issued a further statement correcting its previous statement, noting that it didn’t actually represent Heather and Fiona Mills; Mark Thomson of Atkins Thomson did. iMediaEthics has written to Hamlins and Atkins Thomson.