Rogelio “Roger” Nores, a close friend of the late singer Liam Payne, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Geoff Payne, Liam’s father.
In a new lawsuit, according to reports from Rolling Stone, Nores asserts that Geoff’s sworn statements to an Argentinian prosecutor investigating Liam’s death were false and defamatory, causing him over $10 million in damages.
Nores alleges that Geoff made false statements implicating him in Liam’s death, including claims that Nores was responsible for Liam’s care and provided him with drugs. Nores denies these allegations, stating he was merely a friend and had no caregiving responsibilities.
“All the proceeds will be donated to my friend’s son,” Nores told the publication. Nores added: “Geoff needs to backtrack on his [sworn] statement as he very well knows I wasn’t Liam’s nurse or caretaker. Liam, who I miss every day, was my dear friend and an independent, brilliant, respectful free man who did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted.”
The lawsuit states that, despite Geoff’s statements being made in another country, they were “accessed by individuals in the Palm Beach County/Florida area” and caused harm there.
Liam died after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, with an autopsy revealing a mix of drugs in his system. Argentine authorities have charged Nores and others with manslaughter, alleging they failed to prevent the tragedy. Nores maintains his innocence and intends to donate any lawsuit proceeds to Liam’s son, Bear.
Nores alleges that he sent a defamation retraction letter to Geoff’s attorneys on January 8. In a January 10 response, included in the lawsuit, Liam’s estate refused to retract the statements and accused Nores of “seeking to interfere with a police investigation by pressuring [Geoff] to change his evidence,” further stating they would “bring his actions to the attention of the Argentinian authorities.”
The response letter read: “The Estate could not take this matter more seriously, It has therefore taken the decision to support [Geoff] in this matter. [Geoff] denies, in the strongest possible terms, that he has defamed or otherwise caused any harm to your client (in the manner set out by your correspondence of 8 January 2025 or otherwise).”
This comes after five people were reportedly charged over Liam Payne’s death. Aside from Nores, Members of staff at the CasaSur Palermo hotel, including chief receptionist Esteban Grassi and head of security Gilda Martin have allegedly been charged with manslaughter.
Waiter Braian Nahuel Paiz, 24, and hotel employee Ezequiel David Pereyra, 21, have been accused of selling Liam drugs and given 24 hours to return to court, according to local news site Infobae. The crime carries a maximum 15 year prison sentence in Argentina.
Liam’s pal Nores, who said he left the hotel around an hour before the musician fell to his death, has been reportedly charged with negligent homicide and been banned from leaving the country.
Hotel workers made two 911 phone calls before Liam was found dead. A caller appearing to be the chief receptionist said they had a guest who had taken “too many drugs and alcohol”, and was “trashing the entire room”, before the line cut out. In a second call, the same caller warned the guest’s life “may be in danger” as the room had a balcony, and asked the operator to send someone “urgently”.
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