An plea for a mistrial submitted by Kennedy Agyapong’s legal team after the jury’s decision in the defamation lawsuit against him by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas was denied by a U.S. court.
Evans Selasi Adika, a member of Anas’ legal team, claims that opposing counsel has filed two post-verdict applications thus far: one for a mistrial and one for remittitur.
The first, submitted right after the jury’s decision on Thursday, March 13, aimed to lower the $18 million damages given to Anas, arguing that it was disproportionate and “shocked the judicial conscience.” Agyapong’s attorney was told by the judge, however, that the matter was improperly before the court.
“On the 18th, when the jury had other business related to this case, opposing counsel made a motion for a mistrial, which was firmly denied by the court,” Adika stated in an interview on JoyNews‘ Newsfile on Saturday, March 22.
This comes after the Superior Court of New Jersey granted investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas $18 million in damages in a defamation case against social media commentator Frederick Asamoah and former Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong.
Since the ruling has not yet been legally reduced to writing, Mr. Adika stressed that the case is not now on appeal. Nonetheless, he emphasized the need to adhere to the legal procedure.
“Despite counsel’s misgivings about what transpired in court, his recourse lies in following the rules and filing the necessary post-trial motions, as instructed by the judge,” he added.
When asked whether anything could alter the jury’s verdict of malicious defamation and the $18 million damages awarded, Adika affirmed that the trial itself was over.
“As we stand, we don’t have a next court date. The trial is over, subject to anyone filing a post-trial motion within the framework of the law,” he replied.