The legal battle between ska legend Derrick Morgan and his daughter, reggae singer Queen Ifrica, has taken a major step forward after the Supreme Court fast-tracked the defamation lawsuit and scheduled a pre-trial hearing for December 11. The decision was welcomed by Morgan’s family, who say the 86-year-old entertainer now has an opportunity to clear his name through the courts after publicly denying allegations he says severely damaged his reputation.
The accelerated timetable marks a significant development in one of Jamaica’s most closely watched entertainment court cases. Morgan, through his attorney Charles ‘Advoket’ Ganga-Singh, is seeking damages over allegations made publicly by Queen Ifrica in social media videos and media interviews in August 2023. According to the claim filed in the Supreme Court on June 12, 2024, the statements allegedly caused serious injury to the veteran entertainer’s reputation and resulted in financial loss. Ganga-Singh declined to comment on the latest development, citing the sub judice rule, which limits public discussion of matters currently before the courts.
However, Morgan’s son, business consultant Merrick Morgan, welcomed the judge’s decision to expedite the proceedings, suggesting the court may have considered his father’s age and health. “The judge may have taken into account my father’s advanced age and his medical condition, so we’re extremely grateful that the case has been called up so quickly so that my father can finally clear his name of these wild, defamatory accusations,” he said. Derrick Morgan, who is blind and a cancer survivor, is reportedly in good health despite being 86 years old. The development also comes at a time when concerns have grown over the health and mortality of veteran Jamaican entertainers, with more than 20 prominent figures in the music industry having died over the past 19 months.
The lawsuit centres on Queen Ifrica’s public allegations relating to an incident she says occurred when she attempted to reconnect with her father as an adult. She has also previously stated that her 2009 song Daddy Don’t Touch Me There was inspired by her own personal experience with abuse. Following the interviews and online videos, Morgan’s legal team demanded that the singer retract the statements and remove the content. According to the Morgan family, those requests were ignored and additional videos were later published, prompting the defamation claim. Court documents state that the publications led members of the public to conclude that Morgan had committed serious sexual offences, allegations he strongly denies.
Represented by attorney Seymour Stewart, Queen Ifrica has attended several case management hearings as both legal teams prepare for what is expected to be a closely watched trial. The reggae singer declined to comment on the latest court development. Meanwhile, her music career continues, with recent performances including A Taste of Reggae Sumfest and the release of her latest single, Mom Like Me, a song celebrating motherhood, family and emotional resilience. With the matter now on an expedited track, the December 11 pre-trial hearing is expected to determine the next procedural steps before the case moves closer to trial.
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