Journalist sues The Chronicle

Jno Baptiste said he was defamed by the publication
Jno Baptiste said he was defamed by the publication

Dominican journalist, Carlisle Jno Baptiste, has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Chronicle Media Group Incorporated, known as The Chronicle.

Through his lawyer, Cara Shillingford in suit DOMHCV 41 OF 2015, Jno Baptiste claims that the newspaper defamed him by falsely and maliciously publishing statements about him and referring to him as “Canlie Jellsanti.”

The defamatory statements were published in the June 27, 2014 edition of The Chronicle in an article “Nabes and I” under the caption “A moder’s love,” according to the suit.

The court documents, obtained by DNO, said the article was published by the Defendant “maliciously” and the publication constitutes “a vicious and deliberate attack on the Claimant’s reputation as a result of his actual and or perceived political opinion.”

“Several persons who read the said article stated that they now had a low opinion of the claimant because of the article and that he was a sick and depraved individual,” the suit reads. “Many persons approached the claimant about the article and treated him with hatred and derision … the statements, innuendoes and imputations contained in the said article have lowered the claimant’s reputation in the estimation of right thinking members of society generally.”

Among the particulars of reference made was that “Canlie Jellsanti was from Pointe Michel and resides with his moder and always on the fire chair shouting Mat,” according to the suit.

The claimant, the suit said, fear that “unless restrained by the Honourable Court the Defendant will continue publishing defamatory material about him.”

“He is claiming damages for defamation, exemplary and aggravated damages; an injunction restraining the defendant from further publishing the offending words; cost; interest and any further and other relief that this Honourable Court deems fit,” the suit said.

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43 Comments

  1. Ms Polly Teaks
    March 13, 2015

    I really got some kicks while reading that article….

  2. Malpardee
    March 12, 2015

    But wait a min.., this man got to b joking. So nowadays sue going out of style in da? Country don’t even have money mae zor kar sou. What a beatiful day in the neighbourhood. So if i am smelling. my name is not pam and they say pam smelling i must sue.well , well. And d lawyer that taking that case there.. Hmm u maybe don’t have clients man.

    • Malpardee
      March 12, 2015

      Typo error : beautiful

  3. mine
    March 12, 2015

    This is really a big difference Carlisle Jno .Baptiste to Canlie Jellsanti Why would he say is deformation of character I don’t get it. These names are not the same even it is scrabble.

  4. Facto
    March 12, 2015

    Can we remember the case with the calypsonian brought by ambassador A , was his name ambassador A? Did he win his case? What is good for the goose is god for the gander.

    • joe
      March 12, 2015

      Facto, the calypsonian did not file a DEFENSE YOU REMEMBER?? or you just too BIAS to see further than your nose??

      • Peace
        March 12, 2015

        Thank you Joe …
        Facto, there is such a thing as a judgement in default.

    • LANlu
      March 12, 2015

      WHAT does dat have to do with carlisle

  5. grell
    March 12, 2015

    Kelvar supporting that one,waiting to see.

  6. joe
    March 12, 2015

    @ Shameless and others, all you have fowl memory man or all you just wicked??

    Boss Checko DID NOT FILE A DEFENSE as a result the case went to Ambassador A unchallenged!!!!! But the Chronicle will get the best lawyer and put up a DEFENSE so comparing Checko’s case with this one is CHALK AND CHEESE!!!!!!!! I hope that’s not the MO of a person who CAN LIE…… lmao!!!!!

  7. BooHoo
    March 12, 2015

    I did not laugh for a whole week until I read this article. Wi papa! Well my friend, if Ambassador A get money, you will get too. My only question is ‘What is your name?’ I know if I read an article that talk about Canlie Jellsanti is not me. I don’t care how close the description is to me, is not me. How many people in Pointe Michel living at their mother house? How many people does call Mat? Then again, Ambassador A win his case, so you go boy! (That Jellsanti have me. Lol)

  8. Anonymous
    March 11, 2015

    Well, Well ,Well, so its OK to sue the media now? I hope the crying will stop now. Just yesterday you were crying wolf about Mr. Darroux’s statement. He was only suggesting that you, the media, should censure the information you put out. Your sense of guilt scared you and you started crying about Government wanting to shut you up. Are you now trying to shut the Chronicle up?

  9. A Doubting Thomas
    March 11, 2015

    Everything that Journalist have ever written or said I want to read and listen too. I want to see if he has ever said or insinuated anything about anyone that was not the whole truth. Maybe he hasn’t and I would like to know. The Chronicle should start going into its archives and pull up everything ever reported by him. The Chronicle can have an NEP trainee search the archives and radio for anything.

    We not easy in this country of ours. Journalist suing a newspaper and we are saying the government wants to censor news reporting? I wonder what the news organization is saying, what is the name of the organization? Does it exists? It starts with an M I believe. Is the organization supporting him? Is Freedom of Press reserved only for some?

    I suppose the Press will make sure what they report is factual at all times, but wait! Isn’t that what the Minister is talking about? I wonder if he had an opinion on it! I must read that Nabes and I; Democracy at its best in…

  10. Anthony Ismael
    March 11, 2015

    All the Labor supporters were celebrating when Dr. Aaron won his suit against Checko, for deformation of character. In the song, Checko used the name: Ambassador A. So now that the shoe is on the other foot, some of them are crying wolf.

    This is what we call a “Working Democracy.” The courts will ultimately decide whether or not the journalist proved his case beyond a reasonable doubt and damages may or may not be awarded based on the outcome of the case.

    • real possie
      March 12, 2015

      @ A, boss when will you all get it? there was no other Ambassador representing Dominica to Venezuela with the name starting with A, boss you do realize Checko is a police rite? if he did not see it fit to mount a defense why are you on here crying for him? and these are the people we rely on to protect and serve, they can’t even help themselves, boy go back and read your Proverbs eh, in my DA voice.

  11. smh
    March 11, 2015

    you guys seem to be forgetting that checko failed to provide any defence, there is no precedent set by that case

  12. Huh
    March 11, 2015

    That is the same person crying that “they” trying to stifle freedom of speech, but turn around and do the same thing. Let me hear him talk about freedom of the press and speech again. Hypocrites!!!

    • Barbara Saunders
      March 12, 2015

      Huh

      We only feel it when we are on the receiving end!

      You know, I sat in amazement one evening watching Fox News when Bill O’Reilly was indicating that some other journalist had tried to discredit a story he had done many moons ago. He explained the lengths to which he scrambled to get the script, which when shown on the screen looked like something from the age of manual typewriters from some ancient archives and do you know what Bill O’Reilly said? Lucky for him he has a media outlet where he could come and defend himself, but can you imagine the people who do not have that privilege? (words to that effect). All I could say is, “Ask yourself that question, Mr. Bill O’Reilly” on behalf of all of those persons who were on the receiving end of your caustic tongue for years without having the privilege of defending themselves. There seem to be many other Bill O’Reillys in Dominica now!

      • Dear Barbs
        March 12, 2015

        Pointing out ur one-sidedness/affiliations everytime & all the time like ur bon gent use to say. lol God is good everytime and everytime god is good
        Go girl!

      • Barbara Saunders
        March 17, 2015

        Dear Barbs

        You must be clairvoyant! You were able to identify a side in my comment? You were also able to identify which side and who the bon jens are? Congrats to you sir, madam! The cap must have fit some journalists very snugly!

  13. real possie
    March 11, 2015

    Boss I would have to read that whole column to get what you claiming, I never saw that word moder before, and I have a can of lie on shelve rite now. When the other people had own that paper and said stuff about people de country was nice then, but what he standing for nah? Hahaha.

  14. hmmm
    March 11, 2015

    Pointe Michel people like trouble….

  15. george Fontaine
    March 11, 2015

    That calypso paper is a tabloid..
    They may have the right to joke..

  16. justice
    March 11, 2015

    go going let them pay for their actions dominican too like that

  17. Sunne
    March 11, 2015

    But wait a minute, if your name is not “Canlie Jellsanti.” Why are you filing a lawsuti shake my head!!! literally :-|

    • Shameless
      March 11, 2015

      Somebody name was NOT “Ambassador A” and they sued Cheko and got a nice award. I am watching intently to see if the court system is going to have a one size fits all policy or continue to have double standards depending of who you are n society. Like it, I really really reallyyyyyyyy like it. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

      Assertive, NOT Aggressive!

      • Anonymous
        March 11, 2015

        Your logic is very poor.

      • Peace
        March 12, 2015

        Checko did NOT file a defense … although something is telling me that you already know that and simply wish to perpetuate that level of nonsense

    • Historian
      March 11, 2015

      Yes the other guy’s name was Ambassador A, right?

      • Anonymous
        March 11, 2015

        That should be his “Title”, and that definitely identified him.

  18. COMBOS
    March 11, 2015

    ohhhh Lord will have mercy on Dominica…. Again man… whats up with my little country in the Caribbean… i guess that is why the minister calling for review of media laws etc…. I hope the reviews take things like that into account.. Carlisle memsi jell ou santi, memsi ou westey avec mama ou, memsi ou couyee matt.. you are one of the only real journalist in the Country.. you bring out the new and the torry and fox and the rest would love to have u.. u dont wait for story to come to you but you go to story.. you are a winner at what you do…. so memsi yo fashey, memsi yo quashey.. carlisle las pou westey

    and carlisle the devil dont tempt sinners,,,, no need too the devil tempts christians.. keep that in your mind

    • One Comess
      March 11, 2015

      Sounds more like copie that combo. readers do you agree?

  19. cece
    March 11, 2015

    Tax payers money that paying for all this.

  20. Mamzel X
    March 11, 2015

    Carlisle my boi you not going to win that case.

    This is not in the same manner as the ‘Ambassador A’ case.

    You don’t know is one set of people alone that can ‘sue’ in Dominica?

    That lawsuit is like ‘David vs Goliath”.

    And this time I putting my money on Goliath… :lol: :lol: :lol:

  21. boom bam bam
    March 11, 2015

    but but where in the article which i read….did they mention mr. jno baptiste name?…i guess he trying a pull an ambassador A stunt on the court…please sir….u trying to prove a point here n its rather moot……..

  22. ME
    March 11, 2015

    One quick question, Wait U OWN UP?

  23. Lizette
    March 11, 2015

    Wi papa bodieh….Look jokes. So wait…is one set alone to talk about people. You can stay on the radio station and say what you want about people and when people say what they want about u…u suing? Well do so never like so. Deal with it because what goes around comes right back around and sometimes bite you in the posterior. hahhahahah look jokes…

    • Titiwi
      March 11, 2015

      Anyone who feels offended or wronged can sue too, it is not restricted to one particular party. That is the freedom we have under democracy and may it last a long time. You know they have satirical magazine in England called “Private Eye”? That has been sued more often than I can remember and they are proud of it.

  24. TRUTH
    March 11, 2015

    sorry who have not see it. That will be a very interesting case and we await the overview on the hot seat.

  25. Jane Doe
    March 11, 2015

    Look “roro”. I want to be in court during the hearing of this case.

  26. TRUTH
    March 11, 2015

    DNO publish the article so we can give our views those of us whi have not seen it 8-O

    ADMIN: We cannot publish nor reproduce the article because of legal constraints

  27. Mark
    March 11, 2015

    Wow Jno. Baptiste I think this is a wrong move. As a journalist you will be attacked and accused many times because they will attack the messenger and not the message. I would advise you not to proceed with this law suit.

    But good luck and keep on reporting the news without fear or favour.

  28. Titiwi
    March 11, 2015

    There is a precedent with the case brought by Ambassador A. Good luck Carlisle.

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