Newswire Houston Texas, Harris County jury awarded Haroon Shaikh, $700,002 that included $350,000 for Punitive (Punishment) damages in a defamation case against Manzoor Memon for false and defamatory statements Manzoor Memon made against Haroon Shaikh. Specifically, the Harris County Jury found:
1. Manzoor Memon intentionally published defamatory statements against Haroon Shaikh;
2. These statements were defamatory intended to injure HAROON SHAIKH’s reputation and exposed him to public hatred, ridicule, and impeach his honesty, integrity, virtue and reputation;
3. These defamatory statements were FALSE;
4. Manzoor Memon knew or should have known these statements were defamatory and caused harm to Haroon Shaikh;
5. The Jury found by “Clear and convincing evidence” that harm to Haroon Shaikh was from MALICE (Specific intent to cause substantial injury and harm to Haroon Shaikh;
6. Manzoor Memon had actual awareness of risk of harm that was created by his defamatory statements but preceded with conscious indifference to the rights, safety and welfare of Haroon Shaikh and others;
7. The Jury awarded following sums as damages: Mental Anguish (Actual)$100,001; Harm to Reputation (Actual) $250,001; Punitive Damages $350,000; Total Damages $700,002.
The Court entered a Judgment in favor of Haroon Shaikh for all of the damages awarded by the Jury in the amount of $700,002. The Court also added $15,917 as Pre- judgment interest plus future interest @ 5% per annum beginning October 3, 2011, until JUDGEMENT IS PAID IN FULL.
The Court, based on the findings of the Jury and other evidence, found that Manzoor Memon has engaged in wrongful conduct and he will likely continue that wrongful conduct after the Judgment and therefore a PERMANENT INJUNCTION against Manzoor Memon is justified by the Court.
The PERMANENT INJUNCTION imposed by the Court recites in pertinent part:
“…Manzoor Memon is ordered and commanded to immediately and permanently desist and refrain from writing, publishing, republishing, circulating, broadcasting or communicating any of the defamatory statements or comments concerning Haroon Shaikh. This permanent commandment applies to all websites, blogs, emails, broadcasts, blasts, text messages, tweets, memoranda, radio transmission, television transmission, faxes, flyers, newsletters, newspapers, correspondence, books, e-books, or other written communications of any type, and it further requires Manzoor Memon to remove all web pages, web postings, archives, prior publications, or other items on any website under direct or indirect control of Manzoor Memon containing any of these defamatory statements or comments from the internet. This commandment specifically prohibits Manzoor Memon from republishing any of the defamatory statements or comments in any way, form, or fashion, on or after the Judgment…” In addition Manzoor Memon has to pay the costs of court. The Judgment was signed by the Court on October 3, 2011.