Ex-SSL boss files defamation suit against Shelly-Ann Curran

Former CEO of Stocks & Securities Limited (SSL), Mark Croskery, has filed a defamation lawsuit against vlogger and businesswoman Shelly-Ann Curran for tweets and videos reportedly posted by her in the wake of the multibillion-dollar fraud scandal engulfing the fraud-hit investment firm.

Curran, who is the host of a newly launched online talk show, is accused of defaming the businessman in a series of tweets and videos posted on her social media accounts in January.

“The said words published by the defendant on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube, on or about January 23, deceptively juxtaposed my client to an ongoing national scandal which was alleging fraud by persons with the same family name as him, but with whom he was no longer involved in any business,” Croskery’s attorney, Monique Morrison, said in the documents filled.

Additionally, the lawyer said that the assertions are wholly false, in that, the “claimant is not responsible for or connected to allegations of fraud facing the entity”.

Croskery, in the lawsuit filed on Friday in the Supreme Court, is seeking damages for defamation, negligence, aggravated damages, as well as legal costs and interest.

The offending posts are said to have caused loss and damage to Croskery’s reputation.

The businessman is contending that he was “injured in his credibility, character, and reputation, suffered mental pain and anguish and was put through considerable trouble and anxiety”.

The defamation suit was filed after Curran reportedly ignored the businessman’s demand for a retraction and an apology.

In the documents filed, Curran is accused of referring to the retraction dismissively in another social media post instead of complying with the order to remove the posts.

On Sunday, Curran told The Gleaner that she was not aware that a claim had been filed and that she would ask her attorney to check on the matter.

She declined to comment on whether she had made potentially defamatory posts on her social media accounts, but indicated that the posting on Twitter was a tweet that she had retweted.

SSL became embroiled in a fraud scandal this year, which led to criminal charges being laid against a former employee, Jean-Ann Panton.

Dozens of investors, including track and field legend Usain Bolt, have reportedly lost billions of dollars in the decade-long scheme.

Croskery, who had served as CEO at SSL from May 2007 to March 2018, has denied knowledge of any fraudulent activity during his tenure.

“The issues raised in the public domain concerning SSL have nothing to do with me,” he said in a statement weeks ago.

When contacted on Sunday, Morrison told The Gleaner: “Mr Croskery is fully intent on protecting and preserving his reputation against a series of falsehoods that have been uttered on various platforms including social media. He is fully intent on using the course of law in ensuring that justice prevails and is confident that this will be the case.”

The attorney used the occasion to remind the public that social media must be used in a responsible manner and should not be weaponised without basis in an attempt to destroy the character or reputation of individuals.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com