SeagaOPPOSITION LEADER Edward Seaga will know on Friday if he has filed a reasonable defence in the libel suit filed against him in the Supreme Court by Mandeville businessman Kenneth Black, also known as 'Skeng Don'.
Mr. Black, the managing director of Black Brothers Company Limited, is seeking to have the defence struck out on the ground that it does not disclose a reasonable defence. He is also asking the court to find that the defence is frivolous, vexatious and an abuse of process.
Mr. Justice Donald McIntosh heard legal arguments in chambers yesterday arising from the summons Mr. Black filed to have the defence struck out. The judge has reserved his decision until Friday.
If the judge rules in favour of Mr. Black, then an application will be made in the Supreme Court for damages to be assessed against Mr. Seaga.
In December last year, Mr. Black filed a libel suit contending Mr. Seaga libelled him on October 21 last year at a meeting at Junction, St. Elizabeth. He said the libel was broadcast on television on that day and repeated on radio the next day.
Mr. Seaga has pleaded fair comment. Mr. Seaga is contending, in his defence, that he was performing his duty as Leader of the Opposition and as a watchdog of the laws and practices of Government. He claimed further that Mr. Black was not injured in his credit, character, reputation or in his business as he is alleging.
Attorney-at-law Gordon Robinson, instructed by attorney-at-law Bert Samuels, is representing Mr. Black.
Mr. Seaga is being represented by R.N.A. Henriques Q.C., instructed by Clough Long and Company.
