The high court judge presiding over 155 civil damages claims for alleged phone hacking being brought against News of the World's publisher has disclosed that one of his relatives is among the fresh cases.
Mr Justice Vos opened a case management hearing at the high court on Tuesday by revealing that major David Brooks, one of the new claimaints, was his niece's husband.
Brooks lodged a claim earlier this month in time for the 14 September deadline set by Vos for the second tranche of claims against News Group Newspapers, the News International subsidiary that published the now closed News of the World.
"Major David Brooks, he is the husband of my niece, my brother's daughter," Vos told the high court. "I can't see there is a present problem but there might be if major Brooks is chosen as a lead case."
Vos made his remarks before the opening of the 10th case management conference on civil litigation in relation to alleged phone hacking.
The court was told by lawyers acting for alleged victims there were now 155 new claims being brought by 175 claimants, including public figures such as Cherie Blair and Sarah Ferguson, and celebrities such as former Doctor Who star Christopher Eccleston and Hugh Grant.
Also suing are members of the public who found themselves in the centre of crime cases including Joanne Lees, the girlfriend of outback murder victim Peter Falconio.
Tuesday's hearing is focusing on claims for exemplary damages sought by victims.
Dinah Rose, QC for News International, asked the court to strike out the claims for exemplary damages on several grounds. Opening her argument, she questioned whether they should be paid out for alleged misuse of private information.
Vos said he was concerned that any application for exemplary damages which implied knowledge by any senior staff at News Group Newspapers would interfere with criminal proceedings in relation to alleged phone hacking at the News of the World.