Jamaican car rental company, MVP Imports Limited, has initiated legal action against emerging dancehall artist Byron Messia and record producer Wayne Campbell. The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court Civil Division on August 30, 2023, seeks compensation exceeding Jamaican $3 million. This demand encompasses damages, loss of income, legal expenses, and other related costs.
The dispute arises from an incident on June 10, 2023, when Messia and Campbell were reportedly in possession of a rented white BMW 316i from MVP Imports Limited, as per a documented rental agreement. The vehicle allegedly veered off the road and crashed near Junction in St. Mary, resulting in significant damage to the car and financial losses for the rental company. Media reports indicate that some occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries during the accident, though Messia, the dancehall artiste, fortunately escaped severe harm.
Subsequently, an agreement was purportedly reached between Messia and the rental company, obligating the artiste to pay J$2.5 million to cover the vehicle’s damages. A partial payment of J$1 million was reportedly made, leaving a balance of J$1.5 million, which Messia has purportedly declined to settle. Messia’s public relations representative contends that the artiste was not the primary renter of the vehicle, emphasizing that he had no formal contractual obligations with the car rental company. Furthermore, it is denied that Messia was driving the car at the time of the accident.
The PR representative clarified that Messia offered to assist Campbell, his producer, by contributing J$1 million toward the expenses associated with repairing the vehicle. However, Messia disputes responsibility for the outstanding balance and other expenses related to the incident. Additionally, it was noted that Messia’s team had not received any official legal documents pertaining to the lawsuit against him.
The outcome of this suit will depend on the presentation of evidence and legal arguments in court.
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