(Credit: News International)

News International is “close to settling at least 10 lawsuits” over phone hacking, Ad Age reported.

Two of the hacking lawsuits settlements — filed by politician Chris Bryant and attorney Graham Shear — would pre-empt a February trial.  According to Ad Age, “the trial is to give guidance on damages for 70 current cases, as well as future lawsuits and out-of-court settlements” for those suing over phone hacking.

Read more about the settlements here.

We wrote in May 2011 when News International paid actress Sienna Miller $162,500 in a settlement after she accused News of the World of hacking her phone.