Marlon Samuels files lawsuit against former Aussie pacer Geoff Lawson

West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels dragged former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson and the Australian publication News.com.au into a legal tussle after he filed a defamation lawsuit against them. Lawson had alleged that West Indies all-rounder Samuels was involved with gangs in Jamaica.

The suit indicates during the radio podcast Lawson made malicious unjustifiable comments.

Lawson made the comments on the Big Sports Breakfast radio programme after the World Twenty20 final in April, commenting on Samuels’ argument with England’s Ben Stokes on the field.

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“He’s tied up with some pretty shady people back in the West Indies, he’s a guy you don’t muck around with on or off the field,” Lawson had said.

“He’s from Kingston, Jamaica, it’s one of the murder capitals of the world…he’s tied up with gangs there, it goes well beyond cricket.”

Lawson is not the only one being taken to court as journalist James Matthey at news.com.au also finds himself under fire after he published the quotes, and called Lawson’s accusations ‘an extra reason not to get on Marlon Samuels’ bad side’.

Samuels finds the comments defamatory and deeply offensive. Samuels has no criminal record nor has been the subject of any criminal investigations.

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“Through this case, I intend not only to defend my integrity and my image as an international cricketer but also the values I have defended all my career.

“I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished.

“If I win this case any compensation awarded I will donate some of the proceeds to the Marlon Samuels Society for the Blind in Jamaica.”

The comments were published and aired with the absence of conducting proper journalist research, nor where Samuels contacted to give his views on the damaging remarks about his character. Marlon Samuels feels compelled to defend his integrity and his image as an athlete and a sporting ambassador to his country.

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Consequently, his lawyers filed the defamation suit against Lawson, Matthey, New.com.au and the Big Sports Breakfast radio because of the “offensive remarks” which were published and aired back in April.

Samuels, who was named Man of the Match in the World T20 final, said, “Through this case, I intend not only to defend my integrity and my image as an international cricketer but also the values I have defended all my career.

“I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished.”

“If I win this case any compensation awarded I will donate some of the proceeds to the Marlon Samuels Society for the Blind in Jamaica.”