News Corp investors press to keep hacking lawsuit alive

Lawyers for News Corp investors asked a U.S. judge to force the media company's board to face a lawsuit over a phone hacking scandal, while a defense lawyer said board members should be protected from second-guessing by shareholders.

News Corp shareholders argue that Chief Executive Rupert Murdoch and the board of directors, including two of his sons, should be held responsible for damage from the scandal. In their lawsuit, the investors say the board refused to investigate the hacking allegations because the directors sought to protect Murdoch's interests. The investor lawsuit was filed in Delaware's Court of Chancery, the forum for many U.S. shareholder legal disputes. The board of News Corp, which owns the Wall Street Journal as well as the Fox TV and studio business, wants an early dismissal of the case before the defendants are required to provide evidence to shareholders.