Warner seeking damages over TV6 news story

Jack Warner's lawyers have served a legal notice on journalist Sasha Mohammed over what Warner says is defamatory remarks made by Mohammed in a broadcast on August 26, 2010 on the 7pm newscast on TV 6. The story was also transmitted on the Internet.

Lawyers for the Works Minister wrote to Mohammed in a letter dated September 1, 2010 advising her that Warner is "entitled to and will be seeking substantial compensation for the injury to his reputation and feelings...(and) also require payment from you of all legal costs he has incurred in this matter."

The Pre-Action Protocol letter is in connection with a story by Mohammed in which the lawyers say she repeated allegations of impropriety by Warner in his capacity as Vice President of FIFA, the world football authority.

In the letter the lawyers stated that Mohammed made allegations against Warner that "are defamatory, false and malicious and constitute a serious slur upon his character and his reputation both in his personal and his professional capacities."

They added that the "utterances by you of these allegations has caused and continues to cause the Intended Claimant (Warner) mental agony, embarrassment and immeasurable injury to his personal and professional capacity both locally and internationally. They represent an affront to responsible journalism to which you have not adhered."

Warner's lawyers have given Mohammed 21 days to provide evidence to substantiate claims made in her report.

"Failure or refusal to do so will serve to confirm that there is no truth to the said allegations, which in turn will further aggravate the damage to the Intended Claimant," they stated.

The lawyers also want a written undertaking that the slander will not be repeated and "a full and unequivocal retraction and apology" in terms to be approved by Warner's lawyers.

In addition they are seeking payment of all legal costs incurred by Warner in this matter. They said if Mohammed fails to respond to the demands laid out in the letter within 21 days "we reserve the right to commence proceedings without further reference to you."