Defamation suit filed against Emily Shields
Published:Wednesday | January 30, 2019 | 12:00 AMNickoy Wilson/Gleaner Writer
Vaughn Bignall of the St Andrew-based law firm Bignall Law has filed a defamation lawsuit against attorney-at-law and radio talk show host Emily Shields for comments published on her Twitter account on or about December 2, 2018, about his law firm.
Bignall takes issue with a tweet posted via Shields’ Twitter handle during ‘The X Factor’.
Shields’ Twitter account has more than 40,000 followers.
In court documents obtained by The Gleaner, Bignall said the tweet suggested that he practises law in an unethical and improper manner and exaggerates his clients’ personal injury claims.
He said that there have been recent publications and public statements about regulating personal injury lawyers and contingency fees. In light of this controversy, he asserts that Shields’ comments would be readily understood to be true.
As a result, Bignall has claimed that the words were calculated to disparage him as an attorney and the tweet was intended to lower him in the estimation in the minds of right-thinking members of society generally and to expose him to odium, contempt and ridicule.
Bignall has asked relief from the court for damages, aggravated or exemplary damages, and costs.
The move to file a defamation lawsuit came after law firm Nea Lex, representing Bignall, sent a letter to Shields demanding an apology, among other things.
It is claimed that such demands were not met within the one-week ultimatum given in the December 10, 2018 letter.
The Gleaner reached out to Shields’ attorney, Ransford Braham, who indicated that his client was only served with the documents yesterday. He said that he is now in the process of preparing a defence.
A date has not yet been set for the matter.