Roger Nores, friend of Liam Payne, files lawsuit against One Direction singer’s father for alleged defamation
Liam Payne’s close friend, Roger Nores, has initiated legal action against the deceased One Direction singer’s father, claiming defamation.
In the lawsuit filed in Florida on Wednesday, which was acquired by YSL News on Friday, Nores, whose full name is Rogelio Nores, alleges that Geoff Payne shared “false” and “misleading” information with prosecutors in Argentina during the investigation into Liam’s death.
Within the lawsuit, Nores states that he was a “dear friend” of Liam and that his reputation has been significantly harmed due to Geoff’s alleged defamatory remarks made in two sworn statements to Argentine authorities.
Nores is seeking $10 million in damages and has indicated that he plans to “donate the net financial proceeds” to Liam’s son, Bear. Additionally, he is asking for a retraction and clarification regarding Geoff’s statements made to the authorities.
Last year, Nores was charged with manslaughter in relation to the death of the singer, who tragically fell from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in October. He is being accused of manslaughter for allegedly leaving Liam in a vulnerable state, fully aware of the singer’s struggles with addiction and his inability to take care of himself.
Toxicology tests revealed that Liam had traces of alcohol, cocaine, and a prescribed antidepressant in his body within the 72 hours prior to his death. Prosecutors assert that Nores left the hotel less than an hour before the fatal fall.
A judge pointed out that Nores shouldn’t have relied on hotel staff, who were also charged, to look after Liam’s safety.
In his filing, Nores, who resides in Miami but has been ordered to remain in Argentina, refutes allegations that he was employed by Liam or compensated by him, despite speculation that he acted as the One Direction star’s manager. He emphasized that neither he nor Liam had a “duty of care” to each other.
Geoff signed two sworn statements, originally written in Spanish, claiming that Nores acted as a caretaker for Liam, which included attending a psychiatric consultation during which both of them allegedly misrepresented Liam’s addiction to prescribe medication.
Nores’ lawsuit references multiple news articles that suggest he served as Liam’s caretaker, a claim he rebuts. He argues instead that it was Geoff and Liam’s girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, who had the “capacity, opportunity and superior knowledge” to assist Liam, especially in the months preceding his death, and in Cassidy’s case, during the weeks leading up to it.
Nores also insists that he did not provide Liam with any “recreational drugs or prohibited medications.”
Who has been charged in connection to Liam Payne’s death?
Two other individuals have been charged with negligent homicide, or unintentional manslaughter, while two others face charges related to drug distribution linked to Liam’s death.
BBC and Sky News reported that a waiter named Braian Paiz allegedly supplied cocaine on two occasions on October 14, while another hotel staff member, Ezequiel Pereyra, reportedly provided cocaine to the One Direction star on October 15 and 16. Liam passed away on October 16.
Argentine authorities have charged the hotel’s manager, identified as Gilda Martin, with manslaughter for failing to prevent Liam from being taken to his room just before his fall. The chief receptionist, Esteban Grassi, is also facing charges for allegedly instructing three people to “drag” Liam to his room.
Authorities quickly dismissed the possibility that the fall was voluntary, believing that Liam was at least partially or fully unconscious at the time. In November, an official report determined that Liam’s death resulted from 25 injuries sustained in the fall, leading to “polytrauma” and both “internal and external hemorrhaging.”