Liam Payne’s friend Roger Nores ‘sues’ singer’s father Geoff in defamation lawsuit
Roger Nores, one of the last people to see Liam Payne alive, is reportedly suing the late singer’s father for £8.1 million in a defamation lawsuit filed in Florida.
The Argentinian businessman claims Geoff Payne made “misleading false and defamatory” statements to police in Buenos Aires investigating the former One Direction star’s death.
The lawsuit, filed this week, centres on sworn declarations Geoff Payne made to authorities which Nores claims led to his arrest and manslaughter charges.
Nores was among those present before Payne, 31, fatally fell from a third-floor hotel balcony in Buenos Aires on October 16 last year.
The businessman alleges Geoff Payne’s statements have caused him “irreparable damage” valued at more than $10 million (£8.1 million).
Nores disputes Geoff Payne’s claim to police that he and Kate Cassidy were Liam’s nurses responsible for his care.
The businessman maintains that while Liam was a “dear friend”, he never agreed to be his caretaker and had no legal duty of care.
Another contested statement involves allegations that Nores took Liam to see a new psychiatrist in Florida after Dr Rhaidy resigned.
Nores insists this claim is “100 per cent fiction” and that no such visit ever took place.
The lawsuit also challenges Geoff Payne’s assertion that Liam could not be left alone and was only contactable through Kate or Nores.
According to Nores, Liam frequently spent time alone while living in Florida and maintained his own phone, except briefly after breaking it during an argument with Kate.
Liam Payne died after falling from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on October 16, with the cause of death confirmed as “polytrauma” at a recent Buckinghamshire Coroner’s Court hearing.
Judge Laura Bruniard determined that the singer jumped from his hotel balcony whilst in an altered state of consciousness.
A toxicology report revealed cocaine, alcohol and antidepressants were present in his system at the time of death.
Five people have been charged in relation to Payne’s death, including Nores, hotel manager Gilda Martin, reception head Esteban Grassi, Ezequiel Pereyra and Braian Paiz.
Judge Bruniard said the hotel employees “did not act maliciously” but were “imprudent” in their actions.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Linda Nolan’s sister Maureen shares cause of death as she explains singer did not die of cancerPaul Danan death update as police confirm tragic circumstances star was found inBBC The Traitors viewers fume as they spot moment in edit that ‘gave away’ major twist: ‘Obvious!’
The judge noted that while she did not believe Nores, Martin, and Grassi planned Payne’s death, they “created a legally disapproved risk.”
Nores has pledged that all “net financial proceeds” from the legal action will be donated to Liam’s son Bear.
In a statement, Nores said: “Geoff needs to backtrack on his sworn statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker. Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”
The estate of Liam Payne has declined to retract the declarations, accusing Nores of “seeking to interfere with a police investigation by pressuring [Geoff] to change his evidence.”
In their response, the estate said they would “bring his actions to the attention of the Argentinian authorities.”
The estate added they “could not take this matter more seriously” and would support Geoff Payne, who “denies, in the strongest possible terms” having defamed Nores.