Controversial social media personality, Melissa Ann Atwell, also known as “Melly Mel”, has been ordered to pay the Dr Balwant Singh’s Hospital Inc. and its principal Dr Madhu Singh over $38 million for defamation.
The judgment was handed down by High Court Justice Fidela Corbin-Lincoln on September 3.
The claimants had commenced the claim for damages for defamatory statements published over several days in June 2019 by Atwell, also known as ‘Melly Mel’ on her Facebook page.
After the close of the trial, the court found that the statements were defamatory of the claimants and that Atwell’s defence of justification failed.
As such, the court ordered that Atwell pay $20,000,000 to Dr Singh and $15,000,000 to the hospital for the defamatory statements published. She was also ordered to pay costs of $3,150,000.
Further, she was ordered remove or cause to be removed all the defamatory statements complained of from her Facebook account.
One of the lawyers who represented Melissa Atwell, Sanjeev Datadin
The claimants were represented by Robin Stoby, S.C., Mr. Stephen Fraser SC and Mrs. Shantel Scott-Lall.
Meanwhile, Atwell was represented by Sanjeev Datadin, Donovan Rangiah, Anessa Chow and Mohanie Anagnaoo.
