MIAMI, CMC – A United States federal district judge has ruled against a New York-based online Haitian newspaper for publishing false and defamatory statements against Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe and his former business partner and prominent South Florida businessman, Patrice Baker. Judge Ursula Ungaro ruled that the Haiti Observateur's publications were “replete with statements that are outrageous, scandalous and reminiscent of a tabloid publication,” adding that the paper and its reporter acted with malice. According to court filing, in August 2012, Leo Joseph, a reporter for the Haiti Observateur, wrote two articles making allegations against Baker and Lamothe in relation to the sale of a bankrupted telephone company in Haiti.
