Months before she impacts the Billboard 200 with two new studio albums, Pop purveyor Rihanna now finds herself in the middle of a vicious legal dispute launched by her former head of security this week.
How the ‘Home‘ hit-maker has found herself in scorching legal waters?
Details below…
Based in Dublin, Ireland, the singer’s former head of security Geoffrey Keating has accused her of defaming him in a series of emails she sent to both he and his wife in the July of 2013.
Reportedly seeing her launch a number of “nauseatingly offensive” accusations his way, the emails prompted Keating to launch proceedings seeking damages for the alleged defamation, after her scandalous claims reportedly ruined his business and reputation.
So horrified was Keating by her remarks, yesterday saw his lawyers secure permission from Ireland’s High Court to serve notice of his proceedings to the singer at her penthouse in Soho, NYC.
The Irish Times adds:
Keith Spencer, for Mr Keating, of Woodbank Drive, Valley Park, Finglas, Dublin, said his client had acted as head of security for the singer while she was on tour between October 2012 and July 2013.
While no details of the alleged defamatory remarks were outlined, counsel said the email contained allegations that were “nauseatingly offensive”.
Counsel said it was Mr Keating’s case he was defamed in the email and that the same allegedly defamatory allegations were made in a phone call by Rihanna, also made in July 2013, to Mr Keating’s sister.
Mr Keating’s solicitor, Gerald Kean, had attempted to serve the proceedings on firms of solicitors based both in Ireland and in the UK, but those firms had said they did not have the authority to accept proceedings on Rihanna’s behalf, counsel said.
As a result, Mr Keating’s lawyers needed permission from the High Court to serve the proceedings on Rihanna at her home address in New York.Mr Justice Peart, who said he had no “judicial knowledge” of Rihanna, said he was satisfied to make the order allowing Mr Keating’s lawyers to serve the singer with notice of the proceedings.