As Circuit Court Orders The Media Network Reopened
TEMPLE OF JUSTICE, Monrovia- The Sixth Judicial Circuit, Civil Law Court “A” Judge Kennedy Peabody has ordered the reopening of Spoon FM/TV Communication Network.
The Judge’s decision is based on a motion to vacate attachment filed by the management of Spoon Network on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
“You are hereby ordered to lift the attachment on Mr. Stanton Witherspoon and the Management of Spoon TV/FM Communication Network, applicants/movants in the above entitled cause of action, thereby opening applicants/movants premises, permitting and allowing movants/applicants/defendants to carry on their normal business activities until otherwise order by the court,” the court order said.
On July 14, ordered the closure of the Spoon for action of damages by bill of attachment, following a lawsuit filed by Wilmot Smith, former Deputy Director of 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.
The institution was sued with an attachment of FIVE MILLION TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND United States Dollars for damages they caused on the person of Mr. Smith.
In a writ issued on the Management for Slander and Libel, identified Spoon Communication Network as first defendant while their CEO Stanton Witherspoon as second defendant.
The writ said: “You are hereby commanded to attach the offices, land, goods, money, chattels and credits of the first and second defendants the Management of Spoon Communications network of the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County Liberia, first defendant, Mr. Stanston Witherspoon of the City of Monrovia, Montserrado County second defendant.”
It further says: “Ihe defendants in the above entitled cause of action to the amount of US$5,250,000.00(one half times (US$3.500,000.00 of the amount sued for thereof being to cover the principal and cost of the proceedings and you will return this writ to my office on or before 23rd Day of July A.D. 2023 with your official returns endorse on the back thereof as to the manner of service.”
They were to also post an indemnity bond in an amount equal to one and one-half times the amount they are being sued for amounting to approximately US$8 million
Mr. Smith, in 2022 filed a US$1.5million lawsuit against the Management of Spoon TV/ FM Communication Network for the action of damages, slander, and libel.
Judge Peabody also ordered the arrest of the living body of the management and CEO of the institution following the complaint filed before the court.
Cllr. Arthur Johnson said Witherspoon repeatedly labeled and referred to Smith as a criminal on several broadcasts on Spoon Talk, which is aired live on social media and radio.
The former acting director-general of the LISGIS at the time give Spoon Network 72 hours to retract and correct all slanderous statements made against him during his stewardship at LISGIS.
This followed after Smith was dismissed by President George Weah for “administrative reasons” along with Alex Williams, who was deputy director-general for statistics and data processing, on 14 November, 2022.
Following that, they filed a lawsuit against the media institution where their real properties worth over US$3.5 was expected to serve as surety bond in keeping with Section 63.1 and 63.2 of the Civil procedure law of Liberia.