The Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL) has welcomed the decision by the Justice in Chambers of the Supreme Court of Liberia Yussif Kaba in declining to issue the writ of certiorari filed by Mr. Stanton Witherspoon of Spoon TV against the ruling of Civil Law Court Judge, Cllr. Kennedy Peabody in the Case: “Damages for Slander and Libel” filed against him by Mr. Wilmot Smith.”
The group believes that the Writ filed by Spoon TV was an undercutting ploy intended to deny or evade justice.
The Civil Society Network of Liberia states that during the hearing of the case, it was discovered that Spoon TV obtained a fraudulent bond, misled the court and it was opened.
It said the insurance company indicated by Spoon TV as the bond issuer filed a bill of information, informing the court that it did not issue the bond, as the company does not issue an indemnity bond.
“Judge Peabody then rendered the bond fraudulent, and Spoon TV was given three days to file a new bond. Due to her failure to issue a valid bond, after the bond was declared fraudulent as attested to by the Insurance Company that issued the bond, Mr. Witherspoon filed the Writ of Certiorari before the Justice in Chambers of the Supreme Court to stop enforcement from the lower court,” the group said.
Having reviewed the lower court’s decision, the Civil Society Network of Liberia believes that Justice Kaba’s decision to decline to issue the alternative of Certiorari filed by Mr. Witherspoon and his Spoon TV is in the interest of justice.
CSNL: “It is commendable that Justice Kaba has mandated the lower court to resume jurisdiction of the case. The case must be heard for the dispensation of justice. Over the years, Mr. Stanton Witherspoon has used his Spoon TV platform to spew out lies and manufactured documents against the character of peaceful and innocent individuals for his personal aggrandizement.
It is highly condemnable for Mr. Stanton Witherspoon to continuously use his Spoon TV as an avenue to make outlandish claims, intended to malign the reputation of individuals and institutions.”
The group is convinced that this case will serve as a precedent in discouraging Mr. Witherspoon from using his media network as a surrogate to damage the hard-earned reputation of persons and institutions.
Meanwhile, the Civil Society Network of Liberia calls on Judge Golda Bonnah Elliot to immediately resume hearing into the “Damages for Slander and Libel” case filed against Mr. Stanton Witherspoon and his Spoon TV, as mandated by the Supreme Court Justice in Chambers.
