Brassington files 13 lawsuit against Kaieteur News

Jul 29, 2014 News

In what might be a local record in the field of litigation, head of the National Industrial and Commercial

Head of NICIL
Winston Brassington

Investments Limited (NICIL) Winston Brassington, through his attorneys, has filed 13 lawsuits against the Kaieteur News, seeking damages totaling $1.3M for alleged libel.
The lawsuits which were served on the newspaper company and its Editor-in-Chief Adam Harris yesterday were all filed between July 18 and 21, last.
All the lawsuits stem from statements contained in the newspaper’s popular satirical column “Dem boys seh”. The lawsuits date back as far as January.
According to Brassington, some of the statements contained in the columns were published falsely and maliciously and were libelous of him and the office he holds.
In his statement of claim, Brassington said that by using the contentious statements in the columns, the newspaper and its editor meant and were understood to mean that the NICIL boss was “dishonest, and had been guilty of criminal activity and was habitually guilty of criminal activity and had engaged in criminal fraud and corrupt practices” in the conduct of his work.
He is also claiming that the newspaper wants its readers to believe that he wrongly procured by unauthorized means, preferential financial treatment from state resources for third parties.
Additionally, he claimed that the publications were calculated to cause and did cause him “serious public embarrassment, humiliation, ridicule, odium and injury to his reputation, both nationally and internationally, both personally in his official and professional capacity.”
In addition to the cash, Brassington is seeking an injunction, restraining the newspaper from further publishing the statements that were cited in his statement of claim, as well as other statements that have similar defamatory effects.
Five of the law suits were filed on July 17, six on the following day, while the two others were filed on July 21.
The newspaper and its editor in chief will contest the law suits.
Brassington is being represented by Attorneys Miles Fitzpatrick, SC; Timothy Jonas and Dennis Paul.