High Court Judge Priya Sewnarine-Beharry on Monday dismissed a $125M million lawsuit filed by former Attorney General Anil Nandlall against his successor Basil Williams for defamation of character in relation to the Commonwealth Law Reports which Williams had accused Nandlall of stealing.
Nandlall told News Room that the case was thrown out after he failed to submit certain documents in accordance with the stipulated time.
The former Attorney General explained that his legal team had requested an extension of the time to submit the documents but that it was not granted.
He noted that the judge’s action was an “unusual exercise” as “extensions are granted routinely”.
In fact, he pointed out that just today, the Chief Justice (acting), Justice Roxane George-Wiltshire granted an extension to the Attorney General to file an affidavit in defense of the legal action filed by Freedom Radio Inc. in relation to the amendments to the Broadcasting Bill.
Nandlall said he will be appealing the judge’s decision shortly. Nandlall was seeking damages in excess of $25M for slander published on March 24, 2017, at a press conference hosted at the National Communication Network Inc.; damages in excess of $25M for libel published on the same day; damages in excess of $25M for libel published in the Guyana Times Newspaper, at page 11, March 25th, 2017; damages in excess of $25M for slander published during an outreach program in Berbice, on the 26th March, 2017; damages in excess $25M for libel published by DemeraraWaves on the 27th day of March, 2017; exemplary/aggravated damages and interest on all damages awarded pursuant to Section 12 of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Chap 6:02.
During the aforementioned press conference, Williams had claimed that Nandlall stole the law books right before demitting Office – a claim which Nandlall has denied.
Nandlall had explained that the law books are his, as they were purchased for him by the State as part of his terms of employment.
