Court Shuts Down Spoon Group of Companies for Slander and Libel

The Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court “A” Judge Kennedy Peabody has ordered the closure of the Spoon group of companies for the action of damages by bill of attachment

Judge Peabody’s decision follows a lawsuit filed by Wilmot Smith, former Deputy Director General for information Coordination at the Liberia Institute of Statistic and Geo-information Services against the Management and CEO, Stanton Whiterspoon of the Spoon Group of companies institution.

The institution, according to court documents is sued for One Million Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (US$1, 500,000.000) for damages they caused on the person of Mr. Smith.

They are required by law to also post an indemnity bond in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount they are being sued for.

Mr. Smith, through his lawyer in 2022 filed a US$ 1.5 million lawsuit against the Management of Spoon TV/ FM Communication Network for the action of damages, slander, and libel.

In a letter addressed to the chief executive officer of Spoon Network, through his legal counsel, Arthur Johnson stated that his client has become a victim of a systematic campaign from June-November 2022 to defame his name by alleging that he stole and personally converted funds from the national population and housing census (NHPC).

Cllr. Arthur Johnson reminded Witherspoon about how Smith was repeatedly labeled and stigmatized as a criminal on several broadcasts on Spoon Talk, which is aired live on social media and radio.

The network was given 72 hours to retract and correct all slanderous statements made against him but non was adhered to.

This happens after Mr. Smith was dismissed by President George Weah for “administrative reasons” along with Alex Williams on November 14, 2022.