Bernard, Jasper v The Jamaica Observer

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE OF JAMAICA

IN COMMON LAW

SUIT NO. CL 2002/B-048

BETWEEN JASPER BERNARD CLAIMANT

AND THE JAMAICA OBSERVER DEFENDANT

John Sinclair and Lawrence Phillpotts Brown instructed by Lawrence

Phillpotts-Brown & Co. for claimant.

Charles Piper instructed by Piper and Samuda for defendant.

Heard: 19'J~a nuary 2005 and 27'h January 2006

Campbell J

1. On the 2nd April 2002, Jasper Bernard filed a Writ of Summons and

Statement of Claim seeking damages for libel contained in an article entitled

Two face Court for Counterfeit $1,000.00 Bills printed and carried by the

defendant on the 4th day of July 2000. Paragraph 3 of his statement of claim

recites the articles of which complaint is made. Paragraph 8 recites another

article, carried the following day 5th July and which purports to give an

account by the claimant himself. The claimant makes no complaint of the

latter article.

2. The defendant is a limited liability company that publishes "The Daily

Observer" which is circulated internationally and locally. The defendant